Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Reviews
The first episode offers enough twists and turns to keep us intrigued as to what will happen next on this adventure, and so long as Capcom can keep up the quality on offer here then the complete package should be a fine comeback for the revered series.
But each cleansing of the palimpsest leaves the material beneath pulpy and weak, and Resident Evil was weak in the first place. The soap opera pleasures of this installment can be replicated in the next, but there are only so many times the series can get away with having action that's only serviceable set in a place that's entirely forgettable.
No matter how many times I cringed at the ugly environments, or was flustered as story details were pushed out in favor of fixing lifts, at the end of the day, I enjoyed 'Resident Evil Revelations 2' so much that I want Capcom to make a number '3' in a similar mold. That really sums it up.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 is, without a doubt, the best modern Resident Evil yet. It has a perfect bland of action and survival horror gameplay, and one of the best implementation of co-op since Resident Evil 5. The short and focused campaign is a fun experience and the episodes are designed in a way that allows for multiple playthroughs. There are also plenty of secrets hidden throughout each episode, which should increase the replay value.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 offers an interesting campaign in a unique format, cleverly promoting switching between four diverse characters.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a pretty good entry in the series from Capcom. While the actual horror elements, barring some jump scares, aren't that common, you'll still feel a bit spooked out in various moments of the story. For those that want action, however, the Raid mode is by far the star of the package.
The low price point and episodic release of Resident Evil: Revelations 2 don't hide its status as a budget title. It has its strengths, including some pretty cool monster design and fun puzzles, but by and large, almost everything it does has been done better by another RE title. RE fans will enjoy themselves, but otherwise, there isn't a ton to boost Revelations 2 above its predecessor. It's not a bad game, but it lacks any real strengths. The Raid mode is the meat of the game, but it can only hold one's interest for so long.
This final episode was shorter than we were expecting and leaves more questions than answers. Some bad habits crept back in too as the horror atmosphere from earlier in the season has been replaced with backs-to-the-wall action. As an overall package though, the episodic take on Resident Evil has been a success. At half the price of a regular game release, the value for money is excellent. A nine-hour campaign, co-op options and a deep Raid mode make this an essential buy for Resident Evil fans.
While it plays solid enough, there are a few hiccups along the way like poorly coded AI, missing animation or some sluggish character controls. Episodic structure ultimately was pointless and the way it was handled ended up hurting the flow of the game by having players redo areas back to back with different characters.
Capcom are very lucky. It's rare to have a formula that works so well. From the episodic formats, (not to mention the brilliantly produced "previously on" and "next time on" segments), to the strong enough gameplay, there's enough content here for a lot of people to enjoy. I am disappointed about the features that have taken a step back, however if you're looking for a solid, single player, B-grade horror game, this is where to go.
Revelations 2 has plenty of action and atmosphere, but it's the emphasis on gunplay and tight mechanics that really make you feel like there's a glimmer of hope for the series again.
The replay value is extended quite a bit with Raid mode and with fun gameplay, and some humorous nods to previous RE titles in the script, gamers will definitely want to check this title out.
Resi Rev 2 is a much needed return to what makes the series so special. An intriguing story and Barry Burton are worth the asking price alone.
The season is now complete for Resident Evil Revelations 2 and here we follow the tale of series veterans Claire Redfield and Barry Burton, only this time they both have friends to tag along with as they try to discover and escape the dark secrets of a mysterious island. But what will the latest instalment to the long running series bring?