The Platinum Diaries | Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Why This Game?
I would be lying if I didn't say that this one wasn't personal. Resident Evil is one of my favorite series and I can confidently say that this latest entry is one of the best yet. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard being a relatively short game overall also contributed to my drive to make this my first platinum trophy of the series, though it being an immensely fun game didn't hurt. Looking at the initial trophy list, it didn't seem like too much of a tough one to tackle, but like any platinum, there are a few obstacles that are easy to underestimate when you're simply staring at a list. That being said, let's break this one down.
Was it Quick?
While it is certainly faster than something like Bloodborne, it's not especially quick either. The game itself is beatable in a short amount of time, around 4 hours if you hurry, but it's not quite that simple. Due to some trophies that require beating the game under certain conditions, you are definitely on the hook for multiple play-throughs. Personally, I accomplished this in four separate play-throughs, with a total of approximately 27 hours in the game. I highly recommend at least one completely blind play-through of Resident Evil 7, but if you are simply in it for the bling, you could likely do it in three. Even with a guide, it's unlikely you could manage it in two, so you're likely in for a minimum of about 15 hours. (5 out of 10)
Was it Easy?
Every now and then, I'll hit a wall with a platinum that feels nearly insurmountable. It's not that I don't know what to do, but that I'm simply not good enough at the game. Madhouse difficulty in this game forced me into this situation a few times. I spent a few hours with a sequence in that difficulty that took me about five minutes in the standard mode. In addition, there are several conditional trophies that you can complete all at once to save some time. Let's go over these really quickly: Never unnecessarily open the item box, use three or fewer healing items and finish the game in under four hours. I accomplished all three of these at once and felt damn proud. It's not insurmountable, but there are some tough as nails trophies in this game. (3 out of 10)
Was It Fun?
As I mentioned, Resident Evil is one of my favorite series of all time and I had a blast with this one. I happily play this game basically four times back-to-back and will likely play it again sometime in the future. There were some frustrating moments on the higher difficulty, but succeeding in those tasks was satisfying enough that it felt worth the effort. If you like horror games, you owe it to yourself to at least give Resident Evil 7 a try. I personally had a ton of fun going for the platinum in this game and will likely continue to try and get the trophies from the DLC as well. (9 out of 10)
Any Other Thoughts?
More than most of my other platinums, this one was all about my passion for the Resident Evil series. Most of the other games have a trophy list that is beyond ridiculous, so being able to grab this one felt good. As for the game itself, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is the best game I've played this year so far. In fairness, I have yet to play either Horizon: Zero Dawn or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, so I guess we'll just have to see how that goes down in the end. I would recommend this game to almost anyone regardless of whether you're looking to get that platinum trophy. If you are a trophy hunter, this game is a highly satisfying platinum, though it does require a good bit of time and skill.
