10 Things Resident Evil 7 Must Learn From The Evil Within

7. The Atmosphere

That idea of establishing a gritty atmosphere is quintessential to effective horror - the whole 'you against them' approach is only frightening when you don't know what you're up against and are working to turn the tides in your favour. It's something that's been completely lost when playing as a man whose arms are bigger than his thighs for example, in Resident Evil 5 and 6's Chris Redfield.

The earlier levels of Evil Within play out something like Manhunt's openers did - putting you on the back foot against scores of enemies who will rip you in half if you let them near. You're forced to rely on the shadows, skulk around and lure enemies into the various traps around the land, dispatch them as effectively as possible.

It's in the third chapter that everything starts to slip into place, with you slowly making your way through a seemingly abandoned village where across a lake there shines a spotlight, illuminating the foggy water in a way that's effortlessly classic horror. There's not a single moment like this anywhere in the last few Resident Evil titles, and being that Evil Within's atmosphere is one you'll soak up yourself through exploration alone, it makes for a far more involving and personal experience than the shooting gallery Resident Evil has turned into.