Chris Redfield looks different. That was the first thing everyone screamed about when the credits rolled on the main game. By the time Resident Evil 7 Not a Hero actually dropped as free DLC, we’d mostly gotten over the face-model controversy, but the gameplay shift still feels jarring even years later. It’s a weird, punchy, tactical expansion that basically flips the bird to the "helpless" horror of Ethan Winters. You aren't hiding under a table anymore. You’re wearing high-tech HUD goggles and punching Molded into paste.
Honestly, it works.
The DLC bridges the massive gap between the localized, intimate horror of the Baker ranch and the global bio-organic weapon (BOW) conspiracy that the series usually obsesses over. It’s short. Maybe ninety minutes if you’re taking your time. But those ninety minutes do more heavy lifting for the RE lore than most of the mainline sequels.
What Actually Happens in Resident Evil 7 Not a Hero?
Lucas Baker is the worst. We all knew it from the main game, but Resident Evil 7 Not a Hero makes it personal. The DLC picks up right where Ethan’s story ends, with Chris Redfield—now working for a reformed "Blue Umbrella"—chasing Lucas into the salt mines. Lucas isn't just some crazy hillbilly; he’s a researcher for "The Connections," and he’s been feeding data on the E-001 infection to his handlers the whole time.
The stakes are tight. Lucas has rigged the mines with traps and captured several Umbrella soldiers. Your job is simple: rescue the team and shut Lucas up for good.
Chris plays differently because he's a professional. He starts with the "Albert-01" handgun and the "Thor’s Hammer" shotgun. You’ve got a HUD that tracks your oxygen because the mines are filled with a specialized, lethal spore that kills in seconds. This isn't just about resource management; it’s about environmental navigation under a literal ticking clock. You'll spend half your time hunting for filters for your mask just to survive a walk down a hallway.
Why the Gameplay Shift Pissed People Off (and Why They Were Wrong)
A lot of people hated the combat-heavy focus. They felt it betrayed the "return to roots" vibe of the base game. If RE7 was Texas Chain Saw Massacre, then Resident Evil 7 Not a Hero is basically Aliens. It’s loud. It’s aggressive.
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Here is the thing: Chris Redfield is a human tank. It would make zero sense for him to be scared of a standard Molded. Capcom leaned into this by giving Chris a melee system. Stagger an enemy with a headshot? You can follow up with a massive straight punch that can clear a room. It feels satisfying in a way that Ethan’s clumsy swinging never could.
- Tactical Depth: You aren't just shooting; you're using specialized ammo. The RAMROD (Rapid Anti-Regeneration MOP) bullets are mandatory for the "White Molded." These things are bullet sponges that regenerate faster than you can damage them with standard lead. You have to swap magazines mid-fight to survive.
- The Lucas Factor: Lucas Baker is the best antagonist in the game because he doesn't just transform into a giant eyeball monster immediately. He plays games. He puts a bomb on your wrist. He forces you through "Saw"-style gauntlets.
- Blue Umbrella: This is the big lore nugget. Seeing the Umbrella logo in blue instead of red was a massive deal. The DLC explains that this is a "PMC" (Private Military Company) comprised of former employees who want to atone for the original company’s sins. Chris doesn't trust them. You can hear it in his voice. He’s only there to keep an eye on them.
The White Molded Problem
The biggest challenge in Resident Evil 7 Not a Hero is the introduction of the "Fumer" or White Molded. If you try to take these guys down with your shotgun, you’re going to run out of shells and die. Period. They are effectively immortal until you hit them with a RAMROD round.
This introduces a layer of inventory anxiety. You only get a handful of these special bullets. Do you use them now on a lone Fumer, or do you try to dodge it and save the rounds for the inevitable swarm in the shield room? Most players fail their first run because they get trigger-happy.
It’s a different kind of horror. It’s the horror of being "the guy" and realizing your gear might not be enough.
Breaking Down the Shield Room
There is a specific sequence toward the end—the Shield Room—that acts as the ultimate skill check. You’re locked in a room with waves of enemies and a cooling system that’s failing. It’s pure chaos. You have to juggle the oxygen meter, the RAMROD ammo, and the physical space of the room. It’s the closest RE7 gets to the "Mercenaries" mode intensity.
If you're playing on Professional difficulty (which unlocks after your first clear), this room is a nightmare. Enemies move faster. They hit harder. Your parry timing has to be frame-perfect.
The Ending and What It Means for Resident Evil Village
The final boss fight with Lucas—who eventually mutates into a spindly, horrific mess—is actually one of the more mechanically sound fights in the game. It’s not just a "shoot the weak point" affair. You have to manage the arena's heat and keep your distance while managing your dwindling oxygen.
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When Chris finally puts a bullet in Lucas, it feels earned. But the real takeaway is the final scene. Chris gets a call about "the incident" at the main house being wrapped up, but you can see the toll it’s taking. This sets the stage for the cynical, tired Chris we see in Resident Evil Village.
He’s a man who has seen every version of this nightmare, and he’s tired of the world not staying fixed.
Speedrunning Potential
Resident Evil 7 Not a Hero is a speedrunner's dream. Because it’s linear and relies heavily on movement tech and parrying, you can shave the runtime down to under 20 minutes if you know what you’re doing. The parry mechanic is the secret sauce. If you time your guard right, you take zero damage and knock the enemy back, allowing you to bypass entire combat encounters.
Most casual players ignore the parry. Don't. It is the most broken tool in Chris's arsenal.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Run
If you’re going back to finish this or tackling it for the first time, keep these specific strategies in mind:
- Don’t waste RAMRODs: Only use them on the White Molded. If you see a standard Molded, use your knife or a single headshot/punch combo.
- Master the 180-turn: Lucas’s traps are designed to catch you from behind. Get comfortable with the quick-turn (Down + Circle/B) to escape the tripwires he triggers.
- The Knife is God-Tier: Against the "Crawlers," the knife is actually more effective than the handgun because of the swing arc. It saves ammo for the final boss.
- Oxygen Upgrades: Prioritize finding the filter upgrades early. They are usually tucked away in side-rooms just off the main path in the central hub. Without them, the final gauntlet is nearly impossible.
- Watch the HUD: Your health isn't the only thing that matters. If your oxygen hits zero, your health drains in chunks. Always keep an eye on the blue bar at the top of your vision.
Resident Evil 7 Not a Hero might be a departure from the slow-burn dread of the Baker family dinner, but it’s a necessary bridge. It reminds us that while the world of Resident Evil is scary, there are still people like Chris Redfield willing to punch that fear right in the face. It’s a tight, focused, and free piece of content that every fan of the series needs to play at least once, especially if you want the full context for where the series went next.
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Check your ammo. Fix your mask. Go get Lucas.