TL;DR is available at the end!

Resident Evil 7: biohazard was looked down upon at first: after many a questionable choice that led to the hot mess that is RE6, fans were understandably skeptical of the new installment. Couple that with a new perspective and a story that is seemingly detached from the narrative centered around zombies and morally bankrupt corporations and you have an extremely hard audience to please. And RE7 does just that.

The story in this game revolves around Ethan Winters, a systems engineer from Texas, going to the Dulvey parish, Louisiana, after he receives a message from his missing wife Mia. However, things quickly go south as Mia warns Ethan of his mistake upon the latter's arrival, and soon after that the unlucky hero gets captured by the Baker family, who have been holding Mia captive for the last three years. The southern gothic horror story doesn't start out the way you would expect a Resident Evil game to, but it quickly reminds players of its roots: the crazed Baker family members stalking you a-la Mr X from RE2, the familiar setting of a decrepit monster-infested mansion with many a puzzle to solve and a constant sense of dread and despair that accompanies you through your journey as you scavenge for what little supplies there are. At the same time, you don't need to know the lore of the previous 6+ games to immerse yourself in this one - the most that you're going to miss is a couple of throwbacks and nods to previous titles.

The gameplay is yet another callback to the early titles in the franchise: Ethan moves slowly and wields his weapons like a rookie would, needing to pause in between shots to achieve good accuracy. The switch to first-person mode allows the game to shine in a new light, hiding items in places that fixed camera angles or behind-the-shoulder view wouldn't allow as well as introducing perspective- and light-based puzzles, on top of making the horror much more intimate and personal. Doesn't matter if you get stabbed in the abdomen with a shovel or pushed down the hallway with the force of a revving truck, you will feel it.

The pacing in the game is, for the most part, well done. You slowly begin accustoming yourself to the mad house that is the Baker estate after defeating foes and solving mysteries and puzzles, gradually feeling more and more powerful, yet still vulnerable to the many dangers that lurk around you. The beginning section is great for establishing the world of RE7 to first-time players, but can drag on for longer than welcome on repeat playthroughs, and the combat-heavy gauntlet closer to the end of the game feels heavily rushed. Other than that, playing this game is a satisfyingly brutal challenge.

In conclusion, Resident Evil 7: biohazard is a welcome addition to the collection of any survival horror fan, no matter if you're a veteran or a newcomer. The controls might feel a bit clunky and unresponsive at first, but you quickly get used to it.

TL;DR: A satisfying, if slightly flawed return to the roots of Resident Evil.