Resident Evil 7 is full of ooze monsters and creepy cannibals. It can be hard to get your bearings. Fear not, would-be victims. I am here to share some tips for making it out alive.
Play on Normal
You’ll initially have two difficulty options: Easy and Normal. There’s actually not too much difference between the two. Easy mode has less monsters, some more items laying around, and the nasty folks who stalk you will have a little more trouble finding you. If this if your first Resident Evil, it’s a good introduction.
That said, I’d encourage most players to stick with the Normal difficulty. There are more monsters and less ammo than in Easy, but the tension and excitement are ramped up. This is already forgiving game. Be confident and you’ll do just fine.
Save Often
Unlike previous titles, you don’t need a special items like an Ink Ribbon to save your game if you are playing on Easy or Normal. You should save often, particularly after major encounters.
Explore Everywhere
There are a few hidden items and puzzles in the game awaiting those who can find them. Dig around, take a close look at your surroundings. You’ll not only get to enjoy the game’s superb art directions and design, you might actually be rewarded for your efforts.
Explore Everywhere Again
If you’re having trouble with supplies, head back to a checkpoint and retrace your steps for a while. Resident Evil 7 isn’t the Caribbean vacation that RE4 or RE5 were. Taking time to backtrack and stock up on spare ammo will help avoid frustration.
Throughout the game, you’ll also find special keys. They will help you progress forward but can also be used in previous areas. Remember where locked doors are and double back later for some really good items.
Fully Examine Objects
Some the objects you find might seem useless. Don’t be fooled. Rotate the object and look at it from all sides. Boxes will open, keys will be found, and you’ll also discover puzzle hints and lore snippets. Always take a closer look.
If You Can Pick It Up, Take It
There are a few knick knacks that don’t have obvious uses. Keep them. These are actually the keys to solving hidden puzzles and unlocking items.
Aim for the Head
The enemies in Resident Evil 7 are much more robust than the zombies from earlier titles, but headshots still do a lot of damage. Headshots will help you preserve ammo, which you’ll need for boss fights.
Speaking of Boss Fights...
The bosses in this game take a lot of punishment. Don’t give up if it feels like you’re not doing much damage. Be aggressive and let loose. The game tends to give you a lot of ammo and goodies right before fights. Use them!
Additionally, take time to run through the arena to look for special items that might give you an edge. You’ll save items and defeat bosses faster.
You Can Eat Herbs
Even as someone who’s played the series from the start, I didn’t realize this at first. Resident Evil 7's best healing items are medical fluids, which you can craft with herbs and chem fluid. For some reason, I thought that had completely replaced the old healing system.
But herbs aren’t just for crafting. If you’re in a pinch you can actually munch on an herb for a minor amount of healing. It’s not much, but it could save your life.
Craft Special Ammo
It’s tempting to use your chem fluids to exclusively craft healing items, but you can also use them to create special pistol or grenade launcher ammo. Beef up your arsenal with special ammo types and you’ll blow up plenty of baddies.
Remember to Block
If you do run into trouble, can take a defensive stance to mitigate some damage. It’s easy to forget in the thick of combat. Try to block often, particularly if you can’t outrun an enemy. Block to stop damage and then blast the enemy’s head off when there’s an opening.
Run Away!
Resident Evil 7 usually gives you what you need to deal with enemies. In the rare case that you’re having trouble, it’s alright to run away or even just rush past them. The Molded tend to avoid bright light. If you know there a bright area nearby, quickly head there for some momentary safety.
Close The Door
Hitting the interact button near open doors will close them again. The goopy, sharp-toothed Molded aren’t too smart. They won’t open the door. Closing doors will slow them down and give you some breathing room if things start going south.
Repair Broken Weapons
You’ll find two seemingly useless guns during the game, which you can fix with repair kits. The kits are a little hard to locate. You’ll find one hidden under the porch directly across from the trailer in the back yard. I highly recommend using it to repair the broken shotgun.
Spend Coins On Upgrades
Antique Coins can be used to purchase special goodies. You’re best to use them on health upgrades and reload speed boosts. That fancy magnum might be tempting but the game offers you plenty of weapons already.
Don’t Worry
The tips up above will help stock up your inventory and fend off foes. If you do run into trouble or if you get scared, remember that it’s just a game. The worst that happens is a game over. Relax. Take it slow. Learn from mistakes. You’re going to do great.
Good luck out there, gang!