WHEN it comes to games and films, there are two kinds of horrors.

There are those which lean more heavily on the power of suggestion – creaky floorboards, howling winds and shadows which seem slightly out of place. Then there are the stories where the terror is more tangible – scenarios where you have to survive the gory and grotesque.

The great thing about Resident Evil 7 is that not only has it revitalised Capcom’s iconic but previously flagging franchise but it has combined these two distinct experiences. Sometimes you are hopelessly trapped and alone, in other moments you are among maniacs and monsters desperately trying to conserve your limited ammo and resources.

Of course, the big headline-grabbing change for the latest Resident Evil is the first-person perspective and it really adds to the immersion. Think Condemned or Outlast but genuinely scarier.

But Resident Evil 7 also benefits from its back-to-basics plot, reminiscent of the first 1996 game. You play as Ethan Winters whose search for his missing wife, Mia, leads him to a creepy, derelict mansion in Louisiana.

Yes, it is clichéd but there is nothing like a ‘haunted house’ for classic chills and thrills. The only downside is that some of the enemies are invulnerable and it can feel like a cheap trick when you are being hunted with little means to defend yourself while trying to solve the game’s puzzles.

It is also difficult to warm to Ethan. He seems more nonplussed than petrified about his terrible situation. And while his weapons look good, many of them sound a little weedy.

But essentially Resident Evil 7’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Its marriage of old and new really works. The first-person perspective makes it feel more modern and fast paced but all the essential elements fans will be looking for are there including survival horror, puzzles, mystery and resource management.

Play with the lights off and the sound up...if you dare

RATING: 8.5/10