New gameplay shown of upcoming Resident Evil 7 DLC 'Not a Hero'

Redfield's fully-equipped, capable nature is a far cry away from the game's earlier protagonist.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard launched at the beginning of this year, and with gameplay that placed an emphasis on deranged, creepy characters, a disturbing (and frequently disgusting) atmosphere, and a general feeling of helplessness surrounding the player, the game pretty much redeemed a franchise that had long ago become stale and repetitive. This success is heavily owed to the slow-and-steady mindset of the development team, which a few months ago delayed one of Biohazard's DLC packs with a humble apology citing a need to refine the expansion before releasing it.

RELATED: Capcom explains Resident Evil 7 'Not a Hero' delay in recent announcement

Now, five months later, Capcom has finally released its first trailer. Not a Hero features one of the series' more iconic characters, Chris Redfield, as he attempts to uncover and eventually destroy the new monsters that appeared in Biohazard. Check it out:

While Biohazard frequently challenged the player with insurmountable situations from which the player could only run and hide, Not a Hero seems to have returned (at least partially) to the gameplay of recent installments. It's still first-person, and ammunition is still seemingly a scarce commodity, but the actions of Redfield in the above trailer are a far cry away from the helpless behavior of Ethan Winters. He easily and with little hesitation dispatches the monstrous "molded," having to retreat only when an especially large version appears at the end of the trailer.

Fans have already begun to criticize the gameplay online, voicing concerns that the brutal effectiveness of Chris Redfield detracts from the game's horror elements. It's hard to feel fear, after all, when the threat has the consistency of a paper bag in comparison to the protagonist. That said, it's possible that the trailer is a poor demonstration of the contents of the DLC, and that the full release will follow similar thematic and gameplay elements to Biohazard.

Not a Hero launches free on December 12 alongside the Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition, which will arrive as a free upgrade for all current owners of the game. Follow the official Twitter account for all Resident Evil related news, or visit the series' website.