Capcom’s first reel of ‘Banned Footage’ took us by surprise. Although far from essential, it looked to cleverly rework parts of the excellent Resident Evil 7 – our review here – while giving us snippets of extra backstory. There was a great self-contained puzzle room wedged between a full-on survival mode as well as ‘Ethan Must Die’, an inventively brutal take on the roguelike.
This second expansion takes a similar route, albeit with a greater emphasis on the Baker family. ‘Daughters’ plays just like a chapter stripped from the main game, giving players control over Zoe in the events leading up to Resident Evil 7’s events. This sequence addresses a fairly major plot point, explaining what happened to the Bakers in grisly detail. There are certain revelations and spoilers though, so we’d recommend staying clear until you finish Ethan’s story.
In many ways it mimics the opening hours of Resi 7, condensing them at the same time so as not to reintroduce familiar concepts. Although set in the Baker mansion, returning players will appreciate the change in decor and tone. In line with the rest of the game, Capcom has worked in a number of cryptic clues and puzzles that can unlock a better ending.
Meanwhile, ’21’ has us filling in for Clancy – perhaps the world’s unluckiest cameraman. Having suffered at the hands of Jack and Marguerite, it’s Lucas’s turn to have some fun with the Baker’s captive. Waking up in a darkened room he finds himself strapped into a bizarre contraption that has a definite Saw-like vibe. Sat opposite is Hoffman, another one of the family’s “guests”. Instead of any actual survival horror elements, you play several hands of the blackjack against your fellow prisoner. The stakes are pretty high and whoever loses each round may end up losing something else…
With very little input needed, it can be a fairly clunky sequence and one that’s based on luck alone – unless you’re dab hand at counting cards. As the difficulty slowly ramps us thanks to new “power” cards being introduced, it can get frustrating and completely defies everything you’ve played of Resident Evil 7 so far. Still, it’s an intriguing breakaway and one that shines a light on some of the game’s secondary characters.
Out of the three parts, ‘Jack’s Birthday’ is by far the most combat-heavy. It’s also downright cookey – think Supermarket Sweep with less Dale Winton and more offal. As Jack awaits his birthday dinner, Mia is sent to scavenge the surrounding area for ingredients. The quicker you satisfy his hunger, the better score you receive at the end.
With food items usually occupying two or more slots, inventory management is key. Gunning for that top rank requires a knowledge of the different maps, which enemies will appear, and how to take them out with as few weapons and ammo types possible. Much like ‘Nightmare’, it’s a fun mode and one that allow players to hone their combat skills. If you’re not so keen on Resi 7’s shooting, however, you may want to give it a miss.
Banned Footage Vol. 2 is just as experimental as it is optional. Although Daughters gives some much-needed context to the game’s backstory, nothing here is a must-see.
