Even though it features a new location and protagonist,Resident Evil 7connects to the previous games in the franchise in a number of different ways.

WhenResident Evil 7was revealed at E3 2016, fans were excited for its return to the franchise’s horror roots, but it wasn’t immediately clear how the game would connect to pastResident Eviltitles. Its switch to afirst-person viewpoint, focus on virtual reality, and use of new characters left many fans wondering how it could be called aResident Evilgame at all.

As it turns out,Resident Evil 7is unmistakably aResident Evilgame, with a number of small references and big connections to previous games in the series. For those that have beaten the game and aren’t worried aboutspoilers, here are all the waysResident Evil 7connects to olderResident Evilgames.

Albert Wesker

Ever since his shocking betrayal in the originalResident Evil, Albert Wesker has served as the main antagonist of the series. However, inResident Evil 5, Wesker finally bit the dust, thanks to the combined efforts of Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar, who used molten lava and rocket launchers to kill him. Wesker may be dead, but his legacy lives on inResident Evil 7, as the weapon players use to defeat the final boss, theAlbert-01R handgun, is likely named after him.

Chris Redfield

For the majority of the game, there are no returning characters inResident Evil 7. However, that changes during the last five minutes when protagonist Ethan Winters is saved by none other than Chris Redfield. Chris’s appearance is brief, but it sets the stage for the probable sequel, not to mention the upcomingNot A HeroDLC that is set to star the former S.T.A.R.S. and BSAA agent.

Classic Sound Effects

This is a minor throwback, but it’s a neat reference nonetheless. After completing the’Happy Birthday' tape puzzle, players have to input the numbers 1408 in a keypad to pursue the maniacal Lucas Baker. Some fans may notice that the sound effects heard when using the keypad seem to be pulled straight out ofResident Evil Code: Veronica.

Nods to the Original

Ever sinceResident Evil 7wasrevealed at E3 2016, it’s been said that it would bring the franchise back to its roots. This is accomplished by reverting the gameplay from being action-oriented to playing more like a classic survival-horror title, and by littering the Baker family plantation with references to the very firstResident Evilgame.

Among other things, players encounter a foreboding staircase with a creepy white door at the bottom that looks exactly like the kitchen entrance in the firstResident Evil. In the same mansion as this familiar basement door, players can find a painting hanging in the main hall that depicts the Arklay Mountains, better known as the area where the firstResident Evilgame takes place.

If all that weren’t enough, one of the game’s manyhidden filesalso makes reference to the firstResident Evilgame. In the kid’s room, players can find a note about the Baker family plantation’s construction, which seems to suggest that George Trevor, the architect that built the infamous Spencer Mansion, also played a role in building the strange hidden passages that the Baker family utilize.

Umbrella

Perhaps the biggest wayResident Evil 7connects to past games is its inclusion of the Umbrella Corporation. While the Umbrella Corporation was said to have been dismantled between the events ofResident Evil 3and4, the corporation makes its presence known at the end ofResident Evil 7when a company-branded helicopter saves Ethan Winters, and depending onwhich of the two endingsplayers pursue, his wife Mia as well. There are many unanswered questions about the Umbrella helicopter and the company’s new role in the franchise, but more information should come to light in the sequel.

Writings by Familiar Characters

Eagle-eyed series veterans may notice a number of files inResident Evil 7that serve as direct references to characters or events from the franchise’s past. For example, in the den next to the kitchen at the beginning of  the game, there’s a book written by Clive R. O’Brian, also known as the head of the BSAA.

A little bit later on, in the main hall, players can find a newspaper article sitting on a table. The article is about the people that have gone missing around the Baker family plantation, and it’s written by Alyssa Ashcroft. Ashcroft is a survivor of the Raccoon City incident, and was a playable character in bothResident Evil: Outbreakspinoff games.

The final file that serves as a direct reference to past games in the series isn’t written by a familiar character, but it does make direct reference to the events ofResident Evil 2and3. On the ship that players have to explore at the end of the game, they can find a newspaper that talks about the aftermath of the Raccoon City incident for those that survived the nightmarish ordeal.

Now thatResident Evil 7has hit store shelves, it’s clear that fans didn’t have any reason to worry about whether or not it would feel like a trueResident Evilgame. These references tie it to theResident Eviluniverse established by the previous entries, not to mention there’s some major story developments involving important franchise characters like Chris Redfield and organizations like the Umbrella Corporation. Time will tell just how importantResident Evil 7is to the franchise’s lore, but from what we can tell, it is an integral addition to the story.

Did we miss any classicResident Evilreferences that you spotted? Let us know in the comments below!

Resident Evil 7is available now for PC, PS4, PlayStation VR, and Xbox One.