Early reports suggest that Jack and Marguerite of the Baker family from Resident Evil 7 act in a dynamic manner, reminiscent of the mechanics of the Xenomorph in Alien: Isolation.

The Resident Evil series is one that has occasionally reinvented itself in the face of gaming changes. While Resident Evil 4 in particular is remembered well for both its more fluid gameplay and Leon's stylish outfit, the changes coming for the upcoming Resident Evil 7 seem even more radical than those that have come before it. Now, fans of the iconic horror series have been given another glimpse at just how the title is going to work.

In particular, this comes down to the way in which the Baker family from Resident Evil 7 are set to function in the game. According to reports from IGN, based on early gameplay of the title, Jack and Margeurite from the sinister family are set to act in a dynamic manner, hunting for protagonist and player character Ethan as he searches environments.

Fans of horror gaming in general may find similarities between this approach and that found in Alien: Isolation, where Amanda Ripley was seemingly hunted throughout the game by one of the killer creatures. In Isolation, this proved to be an incredibly effective way to create tension and paranoia, and was a successful mechanic that many have been hoping to see utilized wider - even if the game itself failed to meet sales expectations.

Jack and Marguerite will apparently act in different ways, with both acting as boss-style encounters. Jack is the more aggressive of the two, even breaking through walls to try and get to the player. Meanwhile, Marguerite's role in the Old House annex is more of a tense stalk, with Ethan able to avoid her by looking out for her lantern.

The Baker family are far from the only threats for players to watch out for in Resident Evil 7, however. Alongside the family themselves, there are also some monsters looking for Ethan's blood. Named the Molded, these monsters are actually failed Baker family experiments themselves, and it will be interesting to see how these creatures fit in to the Resident Evil narrative as a whole.

Alongside these new features, however, there are also going to be some nods to early games in the franchise. Apparently, both exploration and classic puzzle solving will return for Resident Evil 7, alongside such series staples as the use of herbs for healing. Most of the game, of course, is still a mystery - but a greater understanding of the game will be revealed soon, even if players have to wait for the game's VHS tape flashbacks.

Resident Evil 7 will be released on January 24, 2017 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, and Xbox One.

Source: IGN