Resident Evil Revelations 2

The Resident Evil series has always been a bit of a love/hate franchise for me. Love how it plays, hate the horrendous scripting and storylines. Resident Evil Revelations 2 is no different.

 

Resident Evil Revelations 2

For: PS4/PS3/XboxOne/Xbox360/PC
From: Capcom
Three and a half stars (out of five)

 

If you've played any Resident Evil game post the superb Resident Evil 4, you'll know what you're in for here.

Co-op shooter, set against zombies infected with a virus, featuring a rotating band of familiar characters.

This time around, there's two somewhat overlapping campaigns.

The first features series mainstay Claire Redfield and newcomer Moira Burton, as they are taken hostage by a mysterious woman, and trapped on an island.

They wake with bracelets on that change colour depending on their fear, and as you get into it you'll see what happens to them (and the other unfortunate souls you meet along the way) when fear overcomes them.

The other campaign features Barry Burton, Moira's father, and a small girl named Natalia who appears to be Capcom going for the creepy little girl horror vibe.

Barry's on a mission to find and rescue his daughter.

Right, what I've just described is all you need to know about the plot, it's not exactly thought-provoking.

The quality of the voice acting and the scripting will have you wincing more than the so-called scares the game offers up.

Once again Resident Evil Revelations 2 favours the action heavy approach, attempting to go for a psychological horror approach but failing miserably due to the aforementioned scripting.

You won't be scared by this game.

Enemies don't sneak up on you, they're more mutilated, violent roadblocks in the way between you and the next room.

However, that's not to say you won't be entertained, because the gameplay has been refined to (almost) perfection.

Sure, it's all a bit clunky, the inventory system is a bit of a hassle and is a bit complex.

But it works.

You'll be merrily kicking zombies in the face, bashing them with crowbars and blasting them to bits with grenades throughout the game.

You'll even begin to get your head around the odd logic that a green plant + a red plant = three green plants.

Slightly different this time around is that it's in an episodic format.

There are four episodes, all released now, which means you can buy the first episode cheap and get a feel for it without having to take the plunge.

The episodic format does mean that the game is on the shorter side (about two hours per episode), but I think it works.

Basically it boils down to this - have you enjoyed Resident Evil since the fourth one?

If yes, you'll like this.

If no, this won't change your mind whatsoever. But if you want to try it, episode one is ready and waiting for you.

Simon Bishop

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