Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Episode 1: Penal Colony Reviews
The first episode of 'Resident Evil: Revelation 2' sets the scene for future episodes with familiar gameplay and local co-op, but is graphically unimpressive.
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.
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.
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.
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.
An episodic Resident Evil premieres with great characters and gray rooms
A so-so start to this new series. The multiple character stuff is interesting, but weak shooting and bland environments let it down.
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.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is a promising start to this four-part horror title, with some interesting gameplay dynamics let down by dodgy presentation and some technical hiccups.
It remains to be seen if Capcom will be able to stick the landing with this latest spinoff after a rather shaky takeoff.
just the first episode of Revelations 2 offers more play value than some recently released full-priced AAA games.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
'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'.
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.
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.
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.