sisslethecat
With the slow, slow burn Capcom’s been going for with RE7‘s info, these new videos have been a wonderful treat.
Previously, we were given two, very short, trailers for Resident Evil VII: Biohazard that showcased both the telephone mechanic in the game (which is a pretty large element in all of RE7’s marketing so far), as well as confirming the return of classic Resident Evil item boxes, and our first look at the game’s shotgun. Just yesterday, we got two more videos, and both show off more of the game’s previously unknown mechanics, and of course some new environments.
The first video, titled “Vol. 3: Recorder” gives us our first look at how saving is to be accomplished in RE7, and it makes me quite giddy. Uploaded to Resident Evil’s official YouTube channel, the description reads: “Take the time to save in #RE7… You never know what will be lurking in the shadows”. Interesting, these videos are also unlisted, which makes me wonder if we’re supposed to have seen them yet.
Sadly, typewriters appear to be out, but manual saving is finally back (having been absent from every Resident Evil since Resident Evil 5). While fans had speculated that the telephones might be how we save, this video shows us that in fact, we’ll be using old-style cassette tape recorders (it’s a thing people born before about 2000 should remember). Another interesting point is that we also get to see both the previously leaked ECG watch and even a location from those same screenshots. It’s also worth noting the information displayed as the game saves, reading out that whatever this section of the game is, it’s about eight minutes into the game, and that it’s in “the main house 1f”. Huh.
The next video, “Vol. 4: Stock up” gives us our first look at RE7‘s knife. This video’s description reads “Your knife will come in handy in all kinds of situations”.
So yeah, AvidExpert (a Youtuber who, some time ago, made bold claims about having been told secrets regarding RE7) looks to be right on the money. While he described the knife as being like a “swiss army knife”, it being a folding switch-blade isn’t too far off. This area is completely new to us this time, although considering the sign that reads “garage”, it probably isn’t too far away from where the Family Man gets char-broiled in RE7‘s “The Bakers” trailer. It’s also interesting that we can apparently interact with the garage sign, as indicated by the icon popping up over it, but it’s probably just a description of the sign.
We also see a return of RE‘s now staple wooden boxes, which have been in nearly every title in the series since RE4, and were recently featured in the updated “Twilight Version” of the Begining Hour demo. Ethan slashes the wood apart, and we’re greeted with a small carton of regular handgun ammo, 5 shots in total. We also see that the knife has more than just combat uses, as Ethan uses it to slice through some tape holding a circuit box shut. This is actually pretty cool to see this sort of mechanic returning, using the knife outside of breaking boxes and slashing at fallen enemies hasn’t featured in too many of the games, but using your knife to escape from the cobwebbed subterranean lair of Black Tiger (the even bigger giant spider you run into in the original Resident Evil) is the first thing that comes to mind. It’s neat, and I hope this is something that happens often in the final game.
Something I also find interesting is that we’re actually able to place exactly where this cicut box is, as we’ve seen it before- in the previously mentioned “Bakers” trailer. I’m guessing that we flip a few switches inside, and it opens the shutter next to it- where the police officer seen in the E3 presentation and the “Bakers” trailer is beyond.
So that’s it for now- but just like the two videos before these, we can see that there are more to come. At least six are to be revealed in the next few days, and considering that the first two hit on the 14th, these hit on the 17th, I’d say it’s a pretty good bet that we’ll be seeing the next two on the 20th. This timeline keeps us with two new short trailers up to the 27, after which is… Halloween. You heard it here first, we’re probably getting a new, fully fledged trailer on the 31st (although if I let my imagination run really wild, maybe even a new demo update).
We’ll find out soon enough. See you again on the 20th, true believers!
