Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Episode 1: Penal Colony Reviews
Altogether, the sum of the parts for this first episode makes for an enjoyable run and, despite the rocky start, will make gamers look forward to the next episode.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 gets off to a rough start with poor writing and safe design choices, but it's redeemed by strong doses of tension during the second act.
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.
It's a "decent enough" little shooter can raise a smile, but not expectations.
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.
Thus far, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is definitely living up to the Revelations name. I can't wait to dive into the next episodes.
A surprisingly good return to the world of Resident Evil, that could pave the way for something rather special.
Imagination takes a backseat in Revelations 2, but great co-op and an intriguing story pumps blood through its veins.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 feels like a budgeted release at times visually, but given the interesting environments and insanely detailed Raid Mode, that's okay. Either mode is worth the $6 entry fee alone, and I will be playing this for weeks to come both alone and with a partner.
A successful start to the first episodic Resident Evil, with some genuinely inventive co-op features and the most effective scares the series has seen in years.
An intriguing start to Capcom's episodic adventure.
The old-meets-new action in the story is solid but lacks spark, taking a backseat to what turns out to be an unexpectedly strong bonus Raid mode
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.
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.
It's hardly a revelatory release thus far – but this could yet be great.
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.
Unlike its predecessor, the campaign in Resident Evil: Revelations 2 thus far places more emphasis on action rather than slow burn tension, though Claire's chapter harks back towards the item management and the notable scarcity of ammo of earlier Resident Evils. Either way with its back to basics approach to narrative, and its deeply satisfying gunplay, early signs are that Resident Evil: Revelations 2 will be a worthy addition to the series.
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.
'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'.
I'll give Capcom the benefit of the doubt and assume it's going to be a decent game from start to end. I don't find it quite as engaging as Revelations HD just yet, but the setup alone for a larger game has me excited for more.