Editorials
“Resident Evil VII: Biohazard’s” Incredible PSX Demo Left Me Drooling (Video)
If you’ve been following my work since this year’s E3, you know how much I love the direction that “Resident Evil 7” is headed in. I took a deep dive into the Beginning Hour demo for my vide, Why “‘Resident Evil 7’ Could Be the Best ‘Resident Evil’ Yet”, and at this year’s PlayStation Experience I got to play the finished version of that demo… in VR.
I’ll get this out of the way now: Yes, the finished demo has combat. It’s awesome.
After divulging that I had finished the demo and gotten every available ending so far, I was told to pull the lever in the fireplace first and that it would kick off the new portion of the demo. I did just that and what followed was a mixture of the two paths I could previously take. The difference was that after lowering the staircase to the attic on the second floor, I was finally able to open the door just to the right of the living room’s exit.
We’re about to get into spoiler territory, so if you want to go in fresh, stop reading now.
Still here? Rad. The basement is where you encounter the first enemy you can fight in “Resident Evil VII: Biohazard”. Fans of the Revelations series will instantly recognize it as it looks just like the goopy, disgusting common enemy-types from that series, but with a more human, sinewy look. I think it’s a big improvement, and that explains how it ties into other games in the series, but I hope there are some traditional zombies in the full game.
I encountered it in a spooky, dark cellar with body bags hanging from the ceiling, and I’ll be honest – this is the one part that creeped me out.
I ran from the monster since I was defenseless, but I was able to pick up a lock pick and a valve on my way out. Luckily, the monster couldn’t traverse stairs. I made my way to the bathroom and used the valve to shut off a switch and get a gun from a blood-filled toilet, which is basically the most “Resident Evil” thing ever.
I searched high and low for pistol ammo and made my way back into the basement only to get hit a few times without killing the monster. Even after 10 headshots it didn’t go down. I searched the house again and got more ammo, but I just couldn’t kill it. I used the lock pick to get an axe, but again it wasn’t enough. This lead me to believe that it was regenerating health when I left the basement. So if you try it for yourself, make sure you hoard your ammo and get the axe before you try fighting it.
I was pretty bummed I died, but the PR rep told me I got farther than anyone else who tried the game, so I felt okay about it. The shooting itself felt great. The aiming is controlled by your head, and a dot will appear where the bullet will hit. It’s very tense and the gunshots feel raw and real.
I did get a little motion sick since the game allows you to move the X-axis with the thumbstick AND your head. Also, when you crouch, your character warps to crouching stance instead of actually simulating a crouch and that gave me a little bit of a headache. I think it also had something to do with the fact that the main character is much shorter than I am in real life, but I’m not totally sure. I thought VR was cool, but I think I needed more time to get acclimated to it to pass a real judgement.
If you’re a “Resident Evil” fan who’s scared that “Resident Evil VII: Biohazard” is too different from past entries, you can rest assured that this game is actually made for you. The puzzle solving, combat and story all felt incredible, and I’m still confident that this is the right direction for the series. You can try out the same demo I played now on PS4, and I definitely encourage you to do so. If you’re on Xbox One or PC, the demo will be out soon for you to try out too!
“Resident Evil VII: Biohazard” launches on January 24, 2017 on PS4, Xbox One and PC and after grilling multiple Capcom representatives, I’m confident it won’t get delayed.
Editorials
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Concert Event Launches New Season With The Ultimate Expression Of Fandom
There are thousands of passionate fans decked out in gothic chic and champing at the bit like feral creatures. They’re screaming for Lestat, a legendary vampire-turned-rock star, as if the entire crowd has been glamored into submission.
The entire experience is magic, but not because some supernatural thrall has been activated. What’s going on is even more special. It’s the power of the effusive fandom that’s been authentically assembled by AMC’s sublime Immortal Universe, namely Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, now, The Vampire Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat is far from the first Anne Rice adaptation, and it’s not as if there’s been a lack of erotic vampire material for audiences to sink their teeth into. On June 2nd, during a one-night-only spectacle, New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre shook from Sam Reid’s bravado performance and an audience full of adoring fans who had already memorized Lestat’s songs.
It’s clear that The Vampire Lestat just hits differently than its predecessors. It’s become more than just a TV series at this point, and this opulent display of ego, swagger, and pure sex is the perfect way to premiere the new season and give back to the fans who helped make Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat such a breakout success. It’s exactly the sort of hyperbolized hedonism that would make Lestat cackle.
For all intents and purposes, AMC has successfully created the illusion that this concert/premiere is just one of the many destinations on Lestat and his band’s 54-stop tour that is simultaneously playing out on this season of television. It’s such a sophisticated and thorough level of interactive fan engagement that the audience doesn’t just understand, but also manages to accentuate through its involvement.
It’s a level of seamless synergy that’s not unlike the give-and-take relationship of vampire and victim.
Before the concert started, “LeStans” were sitting in the Beacon and flipping through a fake Rolling Stone issue with Lestat emblazoned on the cover, complete with interviews with the undead frontman inside. Other fans were admiring the vinyl pressing of Lestat’s EP as they walked past a section of undead band merch. Fandom and fantasy blur together, and it all becomes this elaborate, immersive experience. Fan celebration, erotic gothic fantasy, and a lavish rock concert transform into one beautiful thing.
To this point, AMC Global Media’s Chief Content Officer and President of AMC Studios, Dan McDermott, introduced the event by reiterating to fans, “You are the heartbeat of the series.” That’s abundantly clear on nights like this as that heartbeat collectively pulses to this performance. In terms of how AMC engages with The Vampire Lestat’s fans, it’s as bold a reinvention as the season itself.
This intuitive gamble speaks to AMC’s creativity in this department and a fandom that is eager to seize such opportunities. It’s the same innovation that led to zombie walks for The Walking Dead and real-life Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant pop-ups from Breaking Bad. It’s a great way to pump up the audience for The Vampire Lestat and then maintain that enthusiasm for the whole season.
For most series, a rock ‘n’ roll concert just doesn’t make any sense as a promotional tool. The Vampire Lestat finds itself in a very unique position where it can deliver an excellent concert at an iconic theater, but also use it to showcase The Vampire Lestat’s music by Daniel Hart (who was shredding on stage alongside Reid and the rest of their band) and, more than anything, Sam Reid’s endless charisma.
The way in which Reid feeds off of the crowd’s energy, modulating his performance and giving different sections of the Beacon life, is a perfect distillation of the series’ thoughtful relationship with its audience and how it’s become such a breakout success for AMC. AMC Studios President Dan McDermott emphasized that the fans are the reason that the show is still here and why an event like this is even possible. It’s rare to see a series in which every single cog in the machine is so perfectly attuned to its fans. Reid’s fans already cheer whenever they see him, so why not translate that to a concert setting?
It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.
Now bring on the encore and get this show on the road!
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