The new episode leaves a lot to be desired with a lack of tense enemy encounters, interesting level and puzzle design and any other elements that would make the game stand out in one of the gaming industry's most popular franchises. Fans of the series will still have fun with the new release, but we'd like to see a bit more out of the episodic release before giving it a full recommendation to all survival horror fans.
The narrative for Resident Evil Revelations 2 delivers another interesting tale for fans of the series that sees longtime favorites teaming up with a couple of newcomers. The action is split between the teams of Claire Redfield and Moira, the teenage daughter of Barry Burton, and Barry and Natalia, a mysterious young girl with strange abilities. As in any other strong Resident Evil storyline, there are plenty of secrets that are uncovered while playing through the episode, but the plot never gets to overly complicated or confusing during the two-hour long campaign.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 builds on the success of the series' previous release with new controls that were clearly designed with consoles in mind. Gone are the clunky Resident Evil tank controls that forces players to stop and go and shoot with awkward animations. Players are allowed more freedom of movement in the new release and pulling off headshots is a breeze with the new control scheme. Players will also have access to new maneuvers such as diving and ducking behind cover to make combat more fluid and enjoyable overall.
The game's four playable characters all have different abilities and benefits in combat, and switching between the characters is key during much of the game. Claire and Barry are the stronger of the four characters and will handle most of the fighting in combat, while Moira has access to a flashlight that is used to find hidden items and blind enemies, and Natalia can reach inaccessible areas, distract enemies and spot enemies before Barry can. The two new characters add a new element not seen in other games in the series and makes playing as each team feel different from the other.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 stresses cooperative gameplay, and the new game is available to play in local multiplayer across PlayStation and Xbox consoles. PC players definitely get the raw end of the deal with no splitscreen multiplayer available for their game at launch though. Since two of the game's characters are underpowered and used as more of support in combat, it's important not to split up too much when enemies are around. When playing the game in single player, switching between characters is as easy as a button mash, but AI partners are more capable in the new release than in the original Resident Evil Revelations to save some headaches.
Raid Mode is back in Resident Evil Revelations 2 to give players another way to enjoy the title beyond the game's main campaign. Raid is all about clearing out an arena full of enemies without falling in combat. There is a good amount of depth and strategy involved in Raid not seen in other Resident Evil mini-games such as Mercenaries Mode, as players must level and equip their character with the proper weapons and items for any given match. The mode can be a lot of fun and a great distraction from the campaign whether playing in single player or splitscreen multiplayer.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 struggles to present a real survival horror atmosphere that the series is known for. The game only explores the early hours of the episodic campaign, and as such, there is little enemy variety, and what enemies are present are easily disposed of. The few boss encounters lack any real drama or suspense either. Exploring the prison that occupies the largest portion of the episode is also bland with repeating segments and too much backtracking. The classic puzzle design popularized in earlier releases in the franchise also seem to be nearly non-existent in Resident Evil Revelations 2 Episode 1 as well.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 sets the foundation for the final three episodes of the game, but it does little else to compel players to drop money on the new release. The game has made some improvements in the introduction of interesting new characters, and the title boasts some improved controls, but the title just isn't very strong as a standalone release. Resident Evil Revelations 2 may eventually be one of the best games in the series, but it is just too early on to know for sure. Resident Evil fans that simply can't wait for the full game's release should go ahead and download the first episode, but we would rather wait until we've had a chance to sit down with the whole game before giving a full recommendation of the title. Resident Evil Revelations 2 Episode 1 is out now on PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE and Steam.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 is now available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC and can be purchased for $24.99 or $5.99 for single episodes. Resident Evil Revelations 2 is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence & Strong Language. For more information on the game, check out the official Resident Evil Revelations 2 website.
Game Features:
- Local Multiplayer 1-2 (on Consoles)
- Four Playable Characters
- Raid Mode
- DLC Support
- Trophy/Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One (reviewed), Xbox 360 & PC
Release Date: February 24, 2015
