Resident Evil: Revelations Review

Resident Evil Revelations  (1)

Presumably, to keep Resident Evil relevant, the series has shirked survival horror tenet across the last several iterations. The fourth and fifth entries in the franchise prioritized trigger-happy action over trepidation, delivering capable shooters which were a radical departure from the game’s creaky origins. Resident Evil 6 proved to especially contentious, offering a potpourri of play styles in an effort to placate gamers. While Leon Kennedy’s campaign revisited the game’s apprehensive roots, Chris Redfield’s section offered up a lukewarm interpretation of the third-person shooter, suggesting a distressing trend for the series. Mercifully, the 3DS release of Resident Evil: Revelations demonstrated that Capcom’s blueprint for scares and stimulating riddles could still contribute to the congested survival horror genre.

In an usual turn of events, Revelations has inverted the typical trajectory- moving from portable property to console and Windows-based game. While this type of backward port might seem discouraging for Xbox 360, PlayStation and PC owners, the title handles the leap onto more powerful hardware commendably. Although a few niggling elements reveal Revelations handheld heritage, a number of praiseworthy additions substantiate the purchase of this fifty dollar product.

Resident Evil Revelations  (4)

Set between the events of the fourth and first Resident Evil games, the bulk of Revelations gameplay takes place on the extravagant luxury liner, SS Queen Zenobia. Investigating the last known whereabouts of Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and her new partner, Parker Luciani skulk through the vessel’s derelict casinos and shambolic cooking quarters. These types of claustrophobic interiors are reminiscent of the series’ early efforts, forcing players to pass by places where peril is likely to loom- effectively keeping the sense of tension high.

The Ooze, a new bioorganic menace which resembles a disfigured human is the most common obstacle about the Zenobia. With enhanced flexibility, this enemy is able to lurk in unanticipated areas, such as secluded alcoves and air ducts, supplying an obligatory number of scare jumps. Regretfully, eliminating these enemies isn’t as engaging as it should be. Typically, these foes don’t show much intelligence- shambling directly toward players as they absorb ammunition. While headshots incur a slight damage and limb damage sets up the creature for a devastating melee attack, targeting specific body sections isn’t particularly advantageous. Typically, players can get away with firing at Ooze variants until they collapse to the floor.

Resident Evil Revelations  (2)

Boss battles, as well as a new enemy specially created for this version do require a more tactical approach, making encounters engaging. The sole downside is that these confrontations require players to use the dodge move, which requires a simultaneous pull of the stick and a button press. Too often this maneuver isn’t as responsive as it should be, resulting in a few aggravating hits from adversaries. That said, Revelations handles much better with the addition of a second analog stick, which pleasantly replaces combined movement/camera control (or the need for a Circle Pro Pad).

One component which didn’t receive improvement was the implementation of the Genesis- a device which allows players to scour environments for hidden resources. On the 3DS’s diminutive screen, these objects weren’t rendered, as they likely would have amount to little more than a small cluster of pixels. For this high definition iteration, items remain undrawn, which can be a bit perplexing. On Revelations’ normal mode this isn’t a problem, but the extra sundries will help players brave through the elevated difficulty levels.

Resident Evil Revelations  (3)

While Revelations’ core campaign forces players to take on enemies with an AI partner, the supplemental Raid mode gives the option of online co-operative play. Building on the 3DS’s already exceptional side-game, this component pares the title to its raw essentials- challenging players to reach the end of twenty increasingly difficult stages. With puzzles and item seeking eliminated, Raid is delightfully hectic as gamers mow through enemies and gradually level up their characters. Bolstered by a robust set of new unlockable protagonists and weapons, this mode is capable of retaining Resident Evil fans for at least a week or two.

Although Revelations doesn’t quite match the detail and fluidity of the latest now-gen Resident Evil titles, the game is an apt port. Lighting has been remarkably improved, often created locales lined with ominous shadows and darkened recesses. Admirably, the game’s cinematics have also been given the HD treatment, shirking the artifacting that beset the portable version. Sonically, the game’s melodies foster a sense of the ominous, while the game’s voice work varies from proficient to downright peculiar.

Resident Evil Revelations  (6)

A tension between innovation and fan accommodation has seemly established the course of the Resident Evil series, with Capcom balancing the ambitions of designers with the desires of franchise devotees. The port of Resident Evil: Revelations demonstrates these two goals in congruence, delivering an absorbing title which revisits many of the elements which made the original Resident Evil resonate with players. Save for a few minor details, this game nearly feels it was built from the ground up to experience in your living room.

Presumably, to keep Resident Evil relevant, the series has shirked survival horror tenet across the last several iterations. The fourth and fifth entries in the franchise prioritized trigger-happy action over trepidation, delivering capable shooters which were a radical departure from the game’s creaky origins. Resident Evil 6 proved to especially contentious, offering a potpourri of play styles in an effort to placate gamers. While Leon Kennedy’s campaign revisited the game’s apprehensive roots, Chris Redfield’s section offered up a lukewarm interpretation of the third-person shooter, suggesting a distressing trend for the series. Mercifully, the 3DS release of Resident Evil: Revelations demonstrated…

Review Overview

Gameplay - 84%
Story - 75%
Aesthetics - 80%
Content - 80%
Accessibility - 80%

80%

Good

Summary : If you overlooked the 3DS version of Resident Evil: Revelations, this adept port allows console and PC gamers to experience a pleasing return to survival horror fundamentals.

User Rating: 3.03 ( 10 votes)

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

25 comments

  1. The 3DS version probably isn’t quite as good, but if have a Target nearby, it’s either $13.98 or $9.98. Well worth grabbing at that price.

  2. Jill, why do you look so constipated?

  3. How the framerate? Cause looking at the screens, it looks so much better than the 3DS version.

  4. Thanks, Robert. Damn good review.

    One question: when is the next podcast?

  5. I might have got this had it been $10 cheaper. $50 seems a bit high for a older game even if it has extra content.

    • You know yesterday, knowing the new Xbox was coming I would have said the same thing. It’s 6 months away right?

      But after seeing the Xbox One, I think I’ll be keeping my 360 for a while.

  6. I have to admit, the screens look better than I thought they would.

    Hopefully this is netter than 6. I didn’t like that one at all.

  7. So is out just scare jumps?

  8. devildakimakura

    I wish Capcom had added coop to the main game. Also strange about Genesis scanning.

  9. When I first heard that they were porting the 3DS version to PS3, I thought it was just Capcom being Capcom, trying to make extra money. But my friend brought this yesterday (He’s a total RE fanatic) and it’s actually REALLY good. Maybe even better than 6, IMO.

    If you can get past enemies called the Ooze, it’s good stuff.

  10. “the game’s voice work varies from proficient to downright peculiar.”

    Have you ever played any of the other RE games? That’s they way they always are.

  11. Which version did your review. I’m leaning toward the PS3 version (any Move support) but I’m curious as to how the Wii U version plays with the gamepad.

    • I tried the PC and Wii U demos, both were great. PC with visuals, Wii U was like the ultimate 3DS version what with the 2 screens and better graphical details.

  12. Good review. As a Resi nut, I really want to get Revelations on console.

    Also 6 wasn’t as bad as the hive mind wants you to think.

  13. Spot on review! Im going with the Wii U version because itll be nice to line up all my Gamecube RE games(0-4) and bookend it with this 🙂

    • Man, I wish the Wii U played Gamecube games. If Nintendo could get that going, (Wii U plays Wii games, Wii plays GC games) that could be a big advantage. Considering MS doesn’t care about people with collections and Sony will offer streaming ‘at some point’.

      • It would be an astounding collection. Its not like those discs cant hold all those games.

        • devildakimakura

          I’m thinking allowing the hardware to play the games…but hasn’t Nintendo said they’re going to resell you GC games? Welp.

    • For me, it’s GC 0-4, Wii for 4, and Wii U version of Revelations. 3DS version of Mercenaries sits by it’s self to the side.

  14. Christ and a bowl of rice you have a lot of views on your reviews. Share any tips ?