Resident Evil Revelations (Video Game)
Amanda Dyar
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Published by Capcom
Developed by Capcom
Rated M for Mature
Available for Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3, Nintendo Wii U (reviewed) and 3DS
Resident Evil Revelations released last year exclusively for Nintendo 3DS, leaving many console and PC gamers out in the dark. When it comes to the new console version, well, basically it is about the same as it was on the handheld console version but with a few subtle changes. The obvious modification is that you can now play the game on a much bigger screen and we lose the subpar graphics that the 3DS is known for in the process.
The fact that nothing has been changed is a good thing since it was already a great game. However, many gamers do not have a 3DS or refuse to buy one, so it was only natural that Capcom embrace all of its other fans out there by moving the game to consoles and PC.
The Resident Evil Revelations storyline happens in between the events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 . Our main characters are now a part of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), and the setup for the story is that the terrorists are back and well equipped with bioweapons. The main character that you control in Revelations is Jill Valentine, who is tasked with investigating the eerie Queen Zenobia with her partner Parker Luciani. Players will notice early on that the controls are extremely wonky in Revelations, mainly due to the fact they were programmed for a handheld console and take some getting used to.
Once you have stumbled around and gotten as used to the game’s controls as possible, then you can continue to explore the mysterious ship that is stranded in the middle of the Mediterranean. There are tons of twisted hallways and locked corridors to explore, and it immediately starts to remind you of the creepy mansion from the very first Resident Evil game. Players will face their fears in Revelations as they fight hordes of mutated horrors derived from the T-Abyss virus, and this time around the game is a hell of a lot scarier on consoles than it ever was on the 3DS.
Gamers will switch back and forth between playing Jill and other characters within the Resident Evil world throughout the game. Each character has its own partner to help him/her through the terror ahead, and each comes with its own corny one-liners and dumb yet charming banter as well. Revelations delivers the stripped down, pure horror that we came to know early on in the series and meshes it with the advanced graphics and sound of the latest games.
The game’s graphics have been improved with beautifully enhanced visuals and sound, more structured cinematics and better lighting effects. Even with all of these great improvements, however, there are still some downfalls, which consist of the occasional texture problems, slow load times and the use of the Genesis scanner. The scanner allowed players to become more immersed into their environment on the 3DS but somehow isolates the player on consoles and PC. The Genesis scanner is often used to scan the environment for items, collectibles or to research the enemies within the game. The fact that certain items can only be found by using the scanner completely destroys the survival horror aspects and ambiance of Resident Evil. The actuality that the game and the scanner are an indivisible part of Revelations is a rather exasperating and unsatisfactory part of the experience.
All in all, Resident Evil Revelations provides a unique and elaborate storyline within the series with a great deal of improvements over the originally released 3DS version. Revelations delivers a more structured game than any of the others so far and manages to maintain some of the original horror that we come to love from the early days of the series. Players get to return to the faintly lit, tight corridors combined with an over-the-shoulder perspective that delivers the chills of a perfectly haunting experience that is truly worth the $49.99 price tag.
In terms of the Wii U version, graphics seem a bit sharper and the sound is spot on. We recommend setting the aiming speed to “Very Slow” as a means to make the very loose camera feel a bit more manageable. The GamePad is sadly underutilized. It’s just your standard map and item management. It would have been nice to see the GamePad used as the Genesis scanner, but alas that’s not to be. Off-screen play is pretty wonderful though, and the game looks and plays great on it!
Resident Evil Revelations will release on May 21, 2013, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii U and PC. Resident Evil Revelations is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Language. To learn more, visit the official Resident Evil Revelations website.
Game Features:
3 1/2 out of 5
Categorized:Reviews
