Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is finally out, and it takes the series back to its proper survival horror roots as player explore the creepy Baker residence in search of a lost woman and answers to a horrifying mystery. It’s not exactly like the older games, though, as player perception has been switch to the first-person view, and there’s a much more ominous tone to the whole affair as campy humor is replaced with real horror and dread. Even though the presentation may be different, this is still a Resident Evil game, and it takes place in the same universe as the previous numbered entries. In fact it’s set four years after the events of Resident Evil 6, in a world that is just now recovering from the outbreak that almost destroyed several major cities.
With all the twisted, nightmarish things you see in the game, you know that it just can’t end here. The ending holds possibilities for what may come, but there are pieces of information that some players may overlook. Also, the fact that Resident Evil 7 contains two different endings helps add to the mystery.
We’re going to discuss both endings as well as some other questions left on the cutting room floor as the credits rolled. There will be heavy story spoilers ahead. So if you’re not ready to see the ending and have other story details revealed, turn back now. If you’re ready to see what happened in Dulvey, Louisiana, keep reading.
SPOILERS AHEAD! FINAL WARNING!
The Bad Ending
While nothing in Resident Evil 7 outright calls ending 2 the “bad” ending, Ethan’s tone before the credits roll let you know that he is not a happy camper. This ending is unlocked by choosing to give Zoe your one remaining serum after the fight with a mutated Jack Baker. Mia will be understandably upset (she is your wife after all), but you thought you’d help out an innocent stranger rather than someone you love who cut off your friggin’ hand during the opening moments of the game – we don’t blame you.
However, your altruism is severely punished as Zoe isn’t on Eveline’s good side. When you get far enough from the house on your little boat, Zoe is killed by the virus she was “gifted” by Eveline. She betrayed the family so she ends up being painfully dealt with. As she dies you’re thrust into the water as you fall unconscious with the wrecked tanker that the Bakers’ say started their problems looming in the background.
Players will then be placed in control of Mia who was brought to the wrecked tanker you see just before going unconscious. As she explores the ruins, which are filled with Molded, she starts to regain her memories, and her place in Resident Evil 7’s story becomes much clearer. It turns out that she is actually an agent for some company that created Eveline, a BOW that was to be sold to help some government or faction control their enemies. When Eveline was set loose, she infected Mia in order to keep her around as her parent forever.
Now that the truth is out, Mia knows that she must save Ethan and get the hell out of there. She finds him cocooned in black mold, the same process that infected her. Once she sets him free Eveline shows up and gets inside of Mia’s head. Since she wasn’t given the serum (such a bad husband you are) she can’t fight it and you’re forced to kill her, before escaping the ship and heading to your final encounter with Eveline.
While making your way back to the Baker residence, specifically the guest house where the first moments of Resident Evil 7 take place, you find a radio as well as notes from Lucas Baker. It turns out that a secret organization helped free him from Eveline’s mind control and he’s been providing status reports. Continuing on, you find the weapon needed to eliminate Eveline lying in a rather convenient place. Lucas most likely placed this under instruction from that mysterious organization after things started hitting the fan. Since she can’t be controlled, she’s a danger to the entire human race so you’ve got some help to take her out.
When you finally confront Eveline and inject her with your new weapon, it turns out that you’ve stared at her a million times throughout the game. She turns out to be the old woman that was presumed to be the Baker grandmother. While she is just a 10-12 year old girl, her status as an E-Series makes her age rapidly if she’s not given maintenance injections. This also causes her to go insane and become extremely violent, hence why she turned the Bakers into homicidal maniacs.
After she mutates, she’s impossible to just kill, and it is at this point that you find out who was on the other end of the radio calls Lucas was having. A weapon is given to you to kill the virus, then a man who introduces himself simply as Redfield saves you. The credits have him listed as Chris Redfield (one of the Resident Evil Series’ main protagonists), but something seems fishy, especially since as you leave on his helicopter the Umbrella Corporation logo is emblazoned on its side.
While on the chopper, leaving the nightmare behind, Ethan speaks about how it was all for nothing. Nobody was saved and all that will remain are the horrors he faced in the Baker residence. You’ll notice something odd as he looks out the side of the chopper though. His hand has no scar. It was stapled at the beginning of the game, and for hours players looked at it with disgust. But it’s all gone now. It seems like he is now a carrier of the new virus. Before the credits roll you see through the perspective of someone being wheeled down a hallway. Perhaps Ethan is the next weapon.
The Good Ending
The good ending is unlocked by choosing Mia over Zoe. Sure, this seems a bit on the selfish side, but it turns out that it saves more people and you don’t have to watch Zoe die a horrific death. Things aren’t all peachy though as you’ll still have some tough fights ahead. Eveline still attacks the boat, tossing both Ethan and Mia into the water of the Louisiana bayou where the wrecked tanker is located. From this point on, the rest of the game plays the same, with two key differences.
When Mia finally does reach Ethan after remembering the truth about everything, Eveline once again tries to take control of her to kill Ethan. Thankfully, since you gave her the serum she’s able to fight the influence and lock herself in the room before she cuts off another one of your hands. From this point on the game plays exactly as it did in the other ending. Upon completion, when you reach the helicopter, Mia is there, alive and well. The Umbrella Corporation was able to save her from the tanker remains, which makes us wonder just how long they’ve been watching both of your actions.
Ethan is far more positive at this point, and speaks about his future hopes, and how the Bakers were the true victims, forced into a gruesome life by a little girl with far too much power. Still, things don’t seem exactly “safe.” Ethan is clearly infected, and he’s now in the custody of the Umbrella Corporation, who have never been a lovable bunch. Still, his wife is alive, and he survived.
One thing left in the air is what happens to Zoe and her brother? We know Eveline didn’t kill either, and we know that Lucas was in touch with who we now know is the Umbrella Corporation. Perhaps they too have been rescued and are being taken to some facility. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Published: Jan 26, 2017 10:11 am