Name: RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS
Item: Resident Evil: Revelations
Rating: 8
Author: robiu013

And another Resident Evil game down. RE: Revelations is the first game in a spin off series of Resident Evil games and if the term "spin off" turns you off, I will say ahead of everything that Revelations is in fact a full-fledged RE game that barely differs from the mainline's gameplay. In fact, I believe the reason Revelations was treated as a spin off in the first place is simply because it was not given the mainline treatment release for home consoles, but was rather initially released for the Nintendo 3DS. That's right Nintendo's slightly older handheld console for playing Super Mario, Zelda & Pokemon on. I guess in a lot of ways that may seem like a doomed effort, but turns out it actually went quite well. So well in fact that Revelations was by some people's opinions the best RE game since RE4.

Full disclosure I did play the original version of the game on 3DS, but only completed about half of it. Overall there isn't too significant of a difference between the 3DS and PS4 version. There's about the same amount of content to play through, key differences lie in the improved graphics and quality-of-life improvements which simply weren't possible to be implemented for the 3DS such as: improved camera control thanks to not having to use the 3DS circle pad, less appearent switching into the aim mode and generally a quicker use of the scanner feature thanks to dual L buttons on the joypad.

Story-wise Revelations stands on it's own while borrowing characters from the mainline series. Main character is once more Jill Valentine, who was one of two options in RE1, as well as the lead in RE3. But unlike the main games there is quite a bit more in terms of playable characters to the game than in any mainline game as you will in fact play as 3 more characters to complete the story: Chris Redfield - the other main character of RE1, Parker, Jill's new team partner and who could forget Grinder and his teammate Jackass, right? ...yeah, if that last part got you a bit confused, let me tell you the game will sidetrack you with minor character perspectives quite a bit and several of these sections could just be cutscenes  or info dumps instead of full levels. Yeah, those sections are ok if you crave more gameplay, but the gameplay forcing another 15 minute shoot 'em up section on me just to explain the bond between two characters not too particularly interesting, didn't exactly fill me with joy right before the final episode. It's a shame cause overall the story is not unengaging. Jill and her new partner Parker enter a cruise ship only to discover the ship is infested with zombie-like creatures.

Honestly the cruise setting is a genius new spin on the claustrophobic survival exploration that are on brand for RE. Monster variety is great and quite a handful of weapons are made available at your disposal. In terms of monsters, the boss battles are quite diverse and fun and it's quite impressive all this was already on the 3DS version.

I guess I could nitpick some smaller gripes I have with the game other than the all too often perspective changes. For one, the story plays up some drama, that it's afraid to go through with and will walk back on in the end. If you know what's in the outro sequence, you know what I mean. This is also pre-remake RE, so some aspects of it are a bit campy. Voice acting is at times a bit stiff and dialogs a bit awkward. Some character designs are also a bit impractical - in particular the women - one of the partner characters Jessica has a whole leg and buttcheek out in the open and maybe if Rachel didn't let her breasts hang out for zombies to jump at them like toddlers craving milk, she might not have to (SPOILER) become one of the boss zombies. The game also plays up the "will they, won't they" romance between Chris & Jill, but doesn't do sh*t with it and the games programming makes it a bit awkward when Chris is showing you the way, but will completely un-gentleman-like close the doors before your nose whenever he leads you to a new room.

Anyway, none of that is a major issue. The game is a blast to play and doesn't get dull at any point. It's a Resident Evil experience alright. How great of a RE experience however? Eh, I'd probably say this is the weakest I played yet, but under the big disclaimer that weak isn't something I'd call any of my RE experiences to date. It's just obviously the oldest of the bunch, with slightly aged controls and mechanics and a story that's perhaps a bit derivative of other games in some corners. But if you like any of the newer RE games, there's no major reason, why you shouldn't give this one a shot as well.

Resident Evil: Revelations

RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS

Player Score

robiu013