Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Episode 1: Penal Colony Reviews
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is off to a pretty good start. It's fun, campy, and even manages to throw in a few good scares. Once you get past the somewhat predictable first half, the game really comes together in the second with a blend of solid action, horror, and stealth. Dividing the game into episodic chunks is already shaping up to a successful experiment for Capcom, and we can't wait to see where it all leads to in the coming weeks.
Both the Raid and Campaign modes are off to great starts, although the episode ends just as things are getting going. As a new idea for the Resident Evil series though, I think the episodic feel could be a hit. I'm loving that each one is only a week apart too. Raid mode has eaten up my weekend, the unlocks are starting to come together and the mode will surely continue to grow with new content each week.
'Resident Evil Revelations 2 Penal Colony' is a promising, but ultimately flawed first episode for Capcom's new series. Aside from its visual issues, there are some questionable design and publishing decisions: why is the game episodic, seeing as how each episode is already completed? Why doesn't it have online co-op for the campaign? Why didn't they wait to release it until Raid's co-op was ready? Still, at $5, that 'Resident Evil' charm is there, and you could do worse for survival horror than 'Penal Colony'.
An episodic Resident Evil premieres with great characters and gray rooms
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Episode 1 – Penal Colony has a lot of ups and downs. Combat isn't great, and the environments are boring, but the story is fun, and playing the game in co-op, while certainly weighted toward the combat character, makes the experience a lot better. It's not quite the Resident Evil we all wanted, but it's a lot better than Resident Evil 6 was, and I was one of those weirdos that liked Resident Evil 6. If Capcom keeps making Resident Evil games closer to this formula, then maybe one day it will take its place on the throne as king of survival horror once more. We just aren't quite there yet.
Thus far, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is definitely living up to the Revelations name. I can't wait to dive into the next episodes.
Overall, this first foray into Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a good one. The two campaigns are both fun, tense and engaging with a strong Raid mode to back it up. The co-operative gameplay is interesting to experiment with and provides the player with a variety of ways to tackle situations. While the lack of online co-op is a bit of a head scratcher and the graphics aren't up to par, Penal Colony was very enjoyable and more than worthy of a playthrough. If Resident Evil Revelations 2 continues in the same vein, then we can't wait to get our hands on future episodes.
just the first episode of Revelations 2 offers more play value than some recently released full-priced AAA games.
It remains to be seen if Capcom will be able to stick the landing with this latest spinoff after a rather shaky takeoff.
It's always scary to try new things, but what Capcom has done with Penal Colony helps relieve some of the concern fans may have had going in. While it's not the most innovative Resident Evil to hit the market, the new episodic format is a breath of fresh air, especially with Capcom following through with the weekly schedule.
Resident Evil Revelations 2's first episode is a strong start to the game and the only fault I can find with this method of release is that the next episode can't come out soon enough. Penal Colony provided just the right amount of backstory and twists to leave the player wanting to find out what's next in the story.
For six dollars you really can't wrong since there is plenty of game here to be had with the really fun Raid Mode and new game plus type unlocks for the campaign. You'll just have to put up with very dated visuals and the general Resident Evil weirdness you've come to know and love all these years.
If this first episode is a sign of things to come, I think most Resident Evil fans have a lot of good times to look forward to. While the graphics in Penal Colony are pretty disappointing, the atmosphere, pacing, and amount of content are easily worth the price of admission. You'll want to grab a friend to play with in order to enjoy this game to its fullest potential. It'll be interesting to see where Capcom is going to take the story, and those looking for a couple of scares should download a copy of Penal Colony today.
A great start to what will hopefully result in a solid and memorable entry in the Resident Evil franchise. If the following episodes are as good as this one, I firmly believe it will be.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2's first episode is a welcome return for the franchise, but it's a little lacking in the depth department. The mystery is interesting, but we hope there's a bit more explanation and story to explore in the next installment.
The first two chapters of Resident Evil: Revelations 2 represent a sound but unremarkable beginning to the episodic series. What's here is unlikely to appeal much beyond fans of the genre.
Although light on plot and suffering from a flow-breaking episodic release, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 introduces interesting new characters and unique co-op in an entry that has more than enough scares and personality to become a fan-favorite.
Ultimately, the first episode of Revelations 2 sets up a good followup to the first Revelations — which I actually liked — and portends a solid addition to the Resident Evil series. It's quite amusing when you find yourself in a desperate situation where you're out of ammo, low on life as your screen flashes bloody red, and running away from a large hammer-wielding brute.
A different episodic experience that excels based on its gameplay and not its story. The hook has been established but the next installment of the story is going to have to come harder.
The first episode of Revelations 2 starts off a little slow, thankfully Raid Mode keeps things interesting and alone justifies the price of admission. Hopefully the story picks up in the future chapters.