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RESIDENT EVIL 7: Beginning Hour Midnight Version [Final Update] Cryptic Grave Puzzle

Truant said:
Just tried the demo for the first time on PS4, and I loved it.

However, this game is cryptic as fuck, and not in a good way. Do we know if the final game will be like this as well?
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Don't believe it'll be like the demo, the demo I think the crypticness in the demo is more to give people a bit more to do in it than not. Keep in mind the demo updated three times (even if the second update was rather minor), I do think this third and final update is a worthwhile update and makes the demo altogether more interesting in my opinion (the original demo wasn't bad, but was missing some elements to make it from not bad to good or even a great demo in my opinion, but I think this update helped it). From what we know of RE7, the game has puzzles but relatively simple ones, nothing like this, and the gameplay has more focus in other faucets not even present in the demo, but the demo does focus a bit on exploration, which is in the main game, and shows us a monster now, the VHS concept, basic combat (though the full game does have a lot more than an non-upgraded handgun), and the like. I can't say if there isn't some secret in the main game hidden like this, but I don't think the game will be full of cryptic obtuse things to solve.
 
Just did another playthrough where I got the fifth giggle again. I can confirm that time does not play a role for the giggles. I took a hell lot of time in between the first and second giggles and again in between the second and third giggles.

I think the definitive factor is just as many of us suspected. Seeing the ghost at least once in each of two playthroughs of the VHS tape. The first time, I spotted her on the stairs, the second, in the room under. I tried other things such as running ahead of Pete and Andre every chance I got and it didn't do it. Also, I got the fifth giggle without the back door key, so that's another confirmed non factor.
 
Graphics Horse said:
I wonder if the VCR feature will be used to 'change the future' or if that was just a demo thing.
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That is something I'm curious about. we 100% know that VHS sequences are in the full RE7 game, and we also know you don't need to play or complete them to finish the game, but they do give unique gameplay experiences not in the 'main game', hold clues for what to do, and of course hold more story in them. It has been confirmed one doesn't need to play any VHS tape to finish the game, but I do wonder if maybe doing certain things in the VHS tape world changes things in the current world like is lightly demonstrated in the demo.

There were VHS sequences in the 3-5 hour demo the press got to play and reported on last week, but apparently they weren't allowed to talk about them. The Eurogamer lady did say the VHS segments were fantastic and well-handled, there was one VHS sequence in particular that blew her away, but they aren't allowed to talk about them right now.
 
I certainly think there will be things to do in the VHS tapes that will alter the present game. But it will probably be optional stuff like finding an extra coin or something. That way it's true that you could complete the game without playing them. It's a great idea, going into the past, altering something, then immediately resuming in the present with a door unlocked or whatever. But in practise it becomes very boring - if you're just a camera op or hiding from someone. It would be different if in the VHS you had an extra weapon, a different style of combat. Imagine if you did something in an early VHS tape which then altered a later VHS tape(!).

I also think there will be at least one giant cryptic thing in the game. I can't imagine what it would be like to play a 12 hour game like the demo, trying to get those giggles... But it might have a similar thing. It obviously wouldn't be the main focus of the game, but maybe to get the platinum you might need it. Capcom could really stretch out the play time of this in horrible ways if they want to.
 
Got the fifth giggle. Can confirm it has to do with the ghost.

I - like some - don't want to see the ghost, and actively ignore the spots she would appear so I would not see her. I knew I had to do the vhs sequence at very least, and while i saw that the ghost slightings were needed, I still try to ignore her. I was forced to see her though climbing down the ladder (the last one) so I figured that was more than enough. No giggle.

Did the vhs again with the intent of ghost slighting, saw the first one, she disappeared, than I stopped the tape. So I saw 2 intotal. No giggle.

Went back into the vhs AGAIN, did not get the first an last slighting again - couldn't active them - but I got the 3rd and 5th (2 in one playthrough), finished the vhs (did not quit). Finally got the giggle.

I think it might be 2 slightings in the same sequence or see the ghost twice and finish the video (don't stop it, doesn't have to be same sequence).
 
I'm interested in how the team will handle the mouse and keyboard controls without making the character feel unresponsive? I feel that the gun combat will be MUCH easier with a mouse if we have a responsive free look. Not saying the controller based analog input is bad, just saying that it seems Capcom deliberately designed the character to feel slow. It will be weird having a full PC FPS style look speed and sensitivity with the slow movement pace of the character lol.

Anyway, I'm completely sold on RE7 and can't wait for the final game. The graphics, atmosphere, and sound design have improved immensely since the original demo.

I do hope the team will give lots of options for replayability. I like being able to run back through the game with infinite ammo, or a funny Dead Space like "Hand Cannon"...pew pew pew.
 
Dantooine said:
I certainly think there will be things to do in the VHS tapes that will alter the present game. But it will probably be optional stuff like finding an extra coin or something. That way it's true that you could complete the game without playing them. It's a great idea, going into the past, altering something, then immediately resuming in the present with a door unlocked or whatever. But in practise it becomes very boring - if you're just a camera op or hiding from someone. It would be different if in the VHS you had an extra weapon, a different style of combat. Imagine if you did something in an early VHS tape which then altered a later VHS tape(!).

I also think there will be at least one giant cryptic thing in the game. I can't imagine what it would be like to play a 12 hour game like the demo, trying to get those giggles... But it might have a similar thing. It obviously wouldn't be the main focus of the game, but maybe to get the platinum you might need it. Capcom could really stretch out the play time of this in horrible ways if they want to.
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I don't think it's been confirmed anywhere 100%, but I think the VHS sequences do play differently from each other. I wouldn't be surprised like if one you're some action-loaded hero taking out a bunch of Moulded or something. Likewise, we know there are VHS sequences with Mia where we're defenseless. I suspect some others will be more story-based, ala the one in the demo. I mean, they've been mostly silent on the tapes in the full game outside of the Lantern tape/demo, but we do have some loose non-specific word from outlets.

From Eurogamer as I brought it up (she also talked about it in the video they did, but here's the site writing version):

"One of the things that ended up getting scrapped was, there was an idea to have the player cook some popcorn with the kind of aluminium foil thing, where the aluminium expands," lead game designer Hajime Horiuchi explains, complete with miming actions, "and it would pop and there would be a key there. But then we thought that foreigners wouldn't understand that concept, so we ended up scrapping it."

He mentions the film Scream, and I assure him that many would definitely have understood the concept. "It's a shock to know you guys understand that reference, we should put it back in! I feel a little bit better now," he replied. It's this inventiveness and dark sense of humour that I've missed from the recent Resident Evil games, and it feels like this time, the team want to have fun and get a little bit creative.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in the VHS tape segments; short standalone sections that switch up the gameplay. You play these sections by finding the tapes hidden throughout the household and loading them onto a video player, whereupon you assume the role of another victim of the Baker family. These pieces are clever because they give additional insights into the family members, show previews of new sections of the house, and focus on specific elements of both new and old Resident Evil gameplay, like puzzle-solving or sneaking.
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But I do hope there's some small changes one can make in the current day from the past ala' the demo. I do think there will be, but it's hard to say fully.
 
I'm wondering if there will be certain VHS tapes where you can actually determine the fate of a character? Like it's extremely hard to have a certain character survive a situation or successfully hide from the Baker family, but if you succeed in doing it in the VHS world, then that character will still be alive in the game world..

What would be even more clever is not picking up certain collectible items in one VHS tap will help another "victim" in another VHS tap that's further along in the time line. Like, you could ensure your wife/girlfriend survives over the 3 year period. Though it's hard for me to believe that someone would survive on the Baker plantation for 3 years without dieing, being mutated, starving, etc.
 
Newboi said:
I'm wondering if there will be certain VHS taps where you can actually determine the fate of a character? Like it's extremely hard to have a certain character survive a situation or successfully hide from the Baker family, but if you success with doing it in the VHS world, then that character will still be alive in the game world..

What would be even more clever is not picking up certain collectible items in one VHS tap will help another "victim" in another VHS tap that's further along in the time line. Like, you could ensure your wife/girlfriend survives over the 3 year period. Though it's hard for me to believe that someone would survive on the Baker plantation for 3 years without dieing, being mutated, starving, etc.
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This is a lot - but actually really cool. I hope the demo is some indication that we are getting a few more supernatural elements a la early RE4
 
SargerusBR said:
C379DF3EFFF981AB88B9A02815105CF0AAE420D1
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Sheesh, I forgot how gross family man looked like in pre-midnight..
He's all updated to be like his full game self now, someone should make a updated gif!

I kind of miss the phone ringing, those endings are totally gone now.
 
It's weird that they added a show phone icon option but the phone doesn't ring anymore. Will the phone be important in the full game?
 
Oh man just tried the demo in VR on PS4Pro, SOO good.

Almost "noped" out of it when I got to an area I hadn't seen before.
There's some nice detail in this creepy house, even if it is compromised it looks good in VR. Definitely going to play the full game like this.

And maybe they patched in more foliage outdoor in the VHS section, it looked a lot better.

SPOILERS
The combat felt nice. Reminded me of REmake, fighting an enemy in a small room. Lots of tension. The camera moves at 30 degree increments (reduces motion sickness) so it was kinda difficult to look where I needed to at times however. I died (was nice seeing the YOU DIED font heh), not sure if he was an invincible enemy.

Was very impressed with it.
 
Saw the ghost twice in my first vid walkthrough got no fifth giggle, went two more walkthroughs without seeing it and no giggle then the fourth time I looked at the doll it triggered. Huh.
 
Just did a full playthrough and finished it. I saw the ghost 4 times in total.

-First time through I found her in the room under the stairs
-Second run through I found her again under the stairs
*This did not trigger the doll*
-Third time through I saw her just inside the door and going down the ladder. The doll triggered after this playthrough.

So if you need to see her at least 2 times it has to be in different locations because my first two were in the same location and it didn't work. I saw her twice on the third VHS visit so It's hard to say if it's 2 or more but it is at least 2 times in 2 different places.
 
imo, with the idea of the game not relying itself on bad movement anymore, it makes sense that the enemies are as bullet spongy as they are.
 
vanDoughnut said:
Oh man just tried the demo in VR on PS4Pro, SOO good.

Almost "noped" out of it when I got to an area I hadn't seen before.
There's some nice detail in this creepy house, even if it is compromised it looks good in VR. Definitely going to play the full game like this.

And maybe they patched in more foliage outdoor in the VHS section, it looked a lot better.

SPOILERS
The combat felt nice. Reminded me of REmake, fighting an enemy in a small room. Lots of tension. The camera moves at 30 degree increments (reduces motion sickness) so it was kinda difficult to look where I needed to at times however. I died (was nice seeing the YOU DIED font heh), not sure if he was an invincible enemy.

Was very impressed with it.
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You can switch it to smooth turning.
 
Wanted to come in and thank Dusk Golem for putting this together. I ran through it last night. To add more confusion to the mix, I ran through the tape three times and finally managed to spot the ghost the third time through (in the closet under the stairs). After that, I finally got the giggle. That's the only sighting that I'm aware of unless I just didn't catch one of the others.
 
Dusk Golem said:
That is something I'm curious about. we 100% know that VHS sequences are in the full RE7 game, and we also know you don't need to play or complete them to finish the game, but they do give unique gameplay experiences not in the 'main game', hold clues for what to do, and of course hold more story in them. It has been confirmed one doesn't need to play any VHS tape to finish the game, but I do wonder if maybe doing certain things in the VHS tape world changes things in the current world like is lightly demonstrated in the demo.

There were VHS sequences in the 3-5 hour demo the press got to play and reported on last week, but apparently they weren't allowed to talk about them. The Eurogamer lady did say the VHS segments were fantastic and well-handled, there was one VHS sequence in particular that blew her away, but they aren't allowed to talk about them right now.
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There's no way VHSes will affect what has already been traversed or interacted. I would expect to either reveal stuff that you missed out on in your beaten path or give you a layout of what lies to ahead and potentially affect that area to your advantage.

But...I'll be honest...if this is how diaries will be done...itchy, scratchy...but interactive.
 
Playing through VR was cool. Can't quite get the movement where I want it, though. The angle turning doesn't feel right, but the smooth turning makes me nauseous. I'll have to fiddle with it some to get it down to where I want it.

Anyway, is it possible to kill the monster in the demo? I unloaded all 12 bullets into and it still didn't die
 
Lord Frieza said:
Playing through VR was cool. Can't quite get the movement where I want it, though. The angle turning doesn't feel right, but the smooth turning makes me nauseous. I'll have to fiddle with it some to get it down to where I want it.

Anyway, is it possible to kill the monster in the demo? I unloaded all 12 bullets into and it still didn't die
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About six shots to the knee or head will do it.
 
Just got the dirty coin finally, Basically only thing holding me back was seeing the ghost twice, Went through the tape, Made sure i seen her twice and then got the final giggle.

Great in VR, I wont be playing it any other way.

The 35% snap turn suits me fine, The smooth turning wasn't for me.
 
I'm giving this a try for the first time, but I'm running into some problems, don't know if my play conditions are affecting my chances.

I can't get the second giggle to activate at the book shelf. I'm playing with PS VR, but I did some stuff ahead of time, like go down to the basement, get the valve and the key to get the monster to despawn, and grabbed the gun and ammo just for fun.

I went up to the attic, looked at the scrawl with notebook in hand, got the first giggle, then went down to the bookshelf on the main floor, read the notebook, and tried aiming the completed mannequin hand, but nothing is happening. No giggle, no vibration, no sound effects.

Do I have to NOT touch the gun, or go into the basement early or any of that stuff? Or do I have to NOT be playing this in VR in order to get it to work?
 
Shoeless said:
I'm giving this a try for the first time, but I'm running into some problems, don't know if my play conditions are affecting my chances.

I can't get the second giggle to activate at the book shelf. I'm playing with PS VR, but I did some stuff ahead of time, like go down to the basement, get the valve and the key to get the monster to despawn, and grabbed the gun and ammo just for fun.

I went up to the attic, looked at the scrawl with notebook in hand, got the first giggle, then went down to the bookshelf on the main floor, read the notebook, and tried aiming the completed mannequin hand, but nothing is happening. No giggle, no vibration, no sound effects.

Do I have to NOT touch the gun, or go into the basement early or any of that stuff? Or do I have to NOT be playing this in VR in order to get it to work?
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VR doesn't prevent any of the puzzle events from triggering. I don't know why you can't get the first murder scene to trigger, though. When you turn the hand until it's pointing its finger directly at the fallen bookshelf, it should make the screen distort a little and play a sound effect of a bookshelf falling over. If that's not working, it sounds like how some people (myself included) have trouble triggering the third giggle. Perhaps there are things that prevent you from completing steps of the puzzle if they've been done too soon — intentional blockers or glitches, who knows. (RikkTheGaijin knows, if he'd like to elucidate.)


fantomena said:
Is it worth playing through? Any action?
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There's some action, but really, the best part of the demo is just how much it makes you dread exploring the house because you don't know if you're going to be killed from one moment to the next. Your first playthrough is pretty spooky. It's worth it.


AlexFlame116 said:
Do I dare play this with VR?
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DO IT
 
Will0827 said:
Just playing the game in the non VR mode, on the headset. Playing in a movie theater like screen just had a wow factor that provided a better experience for me then the VR mode.
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What happens when you use this mode? Does it downsample the picture on the PS4 pro even further than in vr mode? Since you're just using it for a display
 
OK, I just got a true ending dirty coin run using this order of operations, I think it's interesting, at least from a speed running perspective:

Fuse, fusebox
Blank notebook
Dummy finger
Hit attic staircase button
Basement key
Celluloid object, combine with dummy finger
Read wall message to get First Giggle
Point at fallen bookshelf to get First Murder Scene
Boltcutters, VHS tape
Look at dead-end hallway's boarded-up door to get Second Giggle
Unlock basement door
Point at body on gurney to get Second Murder Scene
Grab valve
Try to leave basement, mash X to kick down door and leave room
Turn back around, get attic key, run out of basement
Get ammo in bathroom drawer and medicine cabinet
Use valve, flush toilet, get handgun
Fire at picture on staircase to get Third Giggle
Look at boarded-up door beneath staircase to get Third Murder Scene
Quick-turn away from black mirror to get Fourth Giggle
Point at beam above attic bed to get Fourth Murder Scene
Watch VHS tape, touch nothing, see no ghosts
Check basement doll, no giggle
Watch VHS tape a second time, touch nothing, see one ghost (No. 2 in hallway from back door)
Check basement doll, no giggle
Watch VHS tape a third time, touch nothing, see two ghosts (No. 3 in kitchen window and No. 4 above kitchen doorframe leading to staircase's hallway)
Check basement doll and get Fifth Giggle
Point at closed pot in kitchen to get Fifth Murder Scene
Get Dirty Coin, go up ladder for True Ending

So I never got the axe, I never interacted with anything in VHS World, I never opened the pot at any point, I never read the note in the fireplace room or looked at the helicopter photo, I didn't pick up all the ammo, I never grabbed the back door key let alone used it to unlock the back door and I didn't even read the notebook a single time. I still completed the riddle. So that should show just how little you actually have to do to complete the demo. Don't have to do any of the paranoid little things people have been doing like reading the notebook all the time or opening the pot constantly.

I really think the Third Giggle has a time element relative to when you trigger the Second Murder Scene. If you take too much time between doing those two things, you won't get the Third Giggle.

The only thing I'm not sure about is whether the Fifth Giggle is triggered by seeing at least one ghost in two different videos or it's triggered by seeing two ghosts in a single video. Either way, it's very RNG-based. Like a test of endurance to see how persistent you are in ghost hunting before you're allowed to proceed with the riddle.

[edit] I just did another runthrough using the order above (except this time grabbing the ammo on the hallway shelf on my way to unlock to basement and ignoring the ammo in the bathroom for speed purposes), and I saw two ghosts in my first viewing of the VHS tape (No. 1 next to the porch and No. 6 in the voodoo doll room). I ran to the basement to crouch down and look at the doll ... but no giggle. Went back and ran the VHS again, saw one ghost (No. 5 on the staircase), then went to the basement and got the Fifth Giggle. Unless there's some minor detail we're missing, it's practically confirmed that you need to see at least one ghost in two different watches of the VHS tape to trigger the Fifth Giggle. I timed the run this time and got 19:35 from the moment I selected Start Game at the title screen until the moment I unlocked the attic door. Considering it took a full minute to run down to the basement and back to the TV room after the first VHS runthrough, and I had some minor movement inefficiencies, I'd say the fastest this demo can be speedrun (assuming RNG cooperates) is about 18:25.
 
Danthrax said:
So I never got the axe, I never interacted with anything in VHS World, I never opened the pot at any point, I never read the note in the fireplace room or looked at the helicopter photo, I didn't pick up all the ammo, I never grabbed the back door key let alone used it to unlock the back door and I didn't even read the notebook a single time. I still completed the riddle. So that should show just how little you actually have to do to complete the demo. Don't have to do any of the paranoid little things people have been doing like reading the notebook all the time or opening the pot constantly.
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I didn't read the notebook at all and as far as the axe goes you don't even need to hit the picture with it I was standing at the bottom of the stairs and swung at air and it triggered.
 
I felt it was really easy and had no issues with finishing it on my first try.

I do suggest a set of instructions that are cut way down for those that want a quicker simpler simpler set though.

While the 5th giggle didnt happen when I first went to the doll, after going in the video and seeing a ghost it worked easily. I didn't worry about when I did things and just grabbed what I needed in any order. I felt it was made to be a lot harder than it is.

Just grab all the things you need and get to the giggles, get through the vhs and make sure you see a ghost and get the axe etc and it wont be hard to get this done for any of those that feel its tough
 
Danthrax said:
I really think the Third Giggle has a time element relative to when you trigger the Second Murder Scene. If you take too much time between doing those two things, you won't get the Third Giggle.
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Doubtful. On Wednesday night, I did a few playthroughs just to try and nail down the factors for the giggles, and I intentionally took more than 5 minutes to trigger the third giggle after discovering the second murder scene, could be close to 10 minutes as well.
 
jond76 said:
This is up in Xbox now, FYI.
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Yup. Didn't even know it was coming out, but I was just browsing the store and saw it there, so I'm downloading it now.

I haven't been sure what I think of Resident Evil 7, so it'll be nice to finally try it out for myself.
 
I tried the ghost sightings but couldn't find her. I tried matching up to the dialog Dusk Golem had but I think I've only gotten half a glimpse after 4 or 5 loops. No idea how the hell you guys figured this out.

Edit: for anyone having trouble seeing 2 ghosts, I always saw her on the stairs after using the lockpick. After Anchorman turns the corner into the stairs hallway, follow him and you should see her in your peripherals.
 
I think the easiest ghost sighting to get is the final one on the ladder leading to the basement. Right before Pete goes to the ladder and starts talking, descend the ladder and you can see the ghost.

BTW only needed one ghost sighting for the giggle to unlock for me. Unless i missed a second one, but i was actively looking for it lol.
 
Ok, Im trying to do all the steps, but the part in the basement with the monster doesnt make sense. Murder Spot 2. Following all the steps , how would I kill the monster, I havent picked up any weapons, or know where any are. It says I could despan it by picking up the attic key and leaving, except, you cant leave because there is now a crate blocking the exit door on the other side. So I was just trapped in the room with the monster and nothing I could do? Now gotta start all over.

Steps should be clearer in this part.
 
majik13 said:
except, you cant leave because there is now a crate blocking the exit door on the other side. So I was just trapped in the room
Click to expand...

Keep backing up and then pushing the door open - eventually you'll get the prompt to press A/X to kick the door. You have to get the prompt at least twice to fully kick the door open.

You're better off running in and grabbing the valve the first time, triggering the monster and giving you more time to break down the door as above. When you come in a second time then to grab the key, you won't have to worry about unblocking the door.
 
Oh man, I had no idea the demo was this extensive. I've been on an intentional blackout of anything RE7 related since it was shown, so I haven't been following developments or even watching trailers.

So I see the demo is up on XBL, and figure, eh, why not? Download, play through, remain semi-impressed, but curious as to why the file size was so big for what appeared to be so little. I saw that I got the "bad ending", but didn't know what it entailed.

Now I see this thread, and so much seems to be centered around a bunch of puzzles that have to be done in (to me) seemingly random order for things to occur. I do not like this. If this is indicative of the final product, I may well be skipping the game.

It's not that I'm against the puzzle nature of the series, or even that I'm for the action slant of the last several games. It's just that puzzle variants based entirely on performing tasks in a specific order that isn't tied into progression goes against what I want from Resident Evil. Even more so than Resident Evil 4 deviated.

I'm really hoping this isn't what I can expect from the finished game. I want to like it, but damn...
 
majik13 said:
Ok, Im trying to do all the steps, but the part in the basement with the monster doesnt make sense. Murder Spot 2. Following all the steps , how would I kill the monster, I havent picked up any weapons, or know where any are. It says I could despan it by picking up the attic key and leaving, except, you cant leave because there is now a crate blocking the exit door on the other side. So I was just trapped in the room with the monster and nothing I could do? Now gotta start all over.

Steps should be clearer in this part.
Click to expand...
Grab the two items and leave, upon returning it's gone. Kick the door open.
 
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