“RESIDENT EVIL” that very much familiar voice chimes out as I enter the game. How many times have I heard this since 1996? A thousand? It certainly feels like it. In reality I have probably played 8 versions of Resident Evil since it’s PlayStation one debut. I even played the broken online Japanese version on PS2. I remember how exciting a new Resident Evil game made me feel. Experiencing the true jump out of your skin horror of number one and two. Dogs smashing through windows, those terrifying groans and a fascinating intriguing story. Cut to 16 years later and Resident Evil 6 last years, things had changed and not just my waist line. There was nothing frightening at all, everything sound wise was just annoying and the main narrative is so convoluted that it makes the writers of Lost look simple. Here’s the thing though, however weak the franchise has become lately; I just can’t stop buying the next one.
So here we have Resident Evil: Revelations. It first worth noting that this game is not a new Xbox game. It is rather an HD port of the successful Nintendo 3DS version from last year. You can tell instantly that this is a transfer straight from a small screen on a hand held console from the graphics. It’s of course been HD within an inch of its life and the characters are really well defined. But the rooms and details are a bit jagged and it looks like something from a very much younger period in the Xbox life span.
There are good things though, hidden in these murky depths. The first level puts you straight on board the stricken ship ‘Queen Zenobia’. Here it very much feels like the best of Resident Evil. Dark brooding corridors, frights and cleverly crafted action sequences with monsters that are littered throughout. Then 15 minutes later I had finished the level. Bit of a surprise. Next I am on a beach having to scan ooze corpses (yes I said ooze corpses) for some reason that I am a bit unsure about. This genesis scanner machine that I am using to do this is one of the many new additions to the franchise. I am sure it was great on the 3DS probably using it's other screen really cleverly. Here on the Xbox it tires so very quickly. 10 minutes later I had finished that level. Next I am Chris Redfield (yes he’s back) stuck in the mountains with a woman who is complaining about not bringing her thermal underwear. I shoot a few zombie wolves and then 15 minutes later that level is finished. Now the intelligent among you might of noticed a pattern here. The 3DS is used mainly with people on the daily commute to work, or in a quick tea break, or on the loo. So the small episodic chunks are ideal for that particular gamer. Here on the Xbox you feel shortchanged and you quickly can get through the game without really being truly immersed. Compared to Resident Evil 6 which was over 20 hours worth (not always good) this feels more like an Xbox live arcade game.
The story itself is the usual mental mess of global threats, creature changing virus and the multi relationship melodrama, that soon very quickly just becomes white noise. The dialogue is over the top as in every Resident Evil game and you always hate the characters you are playing as.
The usual suspects are evident here, handguns, shotguns, green, yellow and red herbs. You're always are a second away from running out of ammo, which in the olden days helped the tension, nowadays it just feels …annoying. The combat itself is very familiar and sometimes it’s quite hard to connect with your target, due to the swaying of the ship you on. This is a nice touch, adds wanted dramatic tension and is a relief after the combat heavy Resi 6. The guns can be upgraded as you progress very neatly and there are secret rooms to go back on that hoard to collect a bounty of specials treats in the violence department.
The sound is really excellent, offering a mixture of a brilliant horror soundtrack with subtle special effects. Doors creaks, the ship groans and sometimes you hear the screams of humans turning into the monsters. This gave the desired effect when I was very scared and kept looking behind the curtains after switching the game off. I am 42.
The creatures themselves are a mix bag. The zombie wolves, crawlers and anything fast soon becomes very dull and you just stand their shooting away hoping not to run out of bullets. The slow moving creatures oozing gore and swinging their heavy arms at you are always fun, frightening and much more rewarding to play with. The boss fights are also very well designed and are quite hard even on casual.
You’re always partnered up in Resident Evil nowadays and Revelations isn’t any different. The AI of this relationship isn’t at times great. Your partner seems to shoot any creature for hours with even hurting them a tiny bit. When you shoot them it just takes a couple of shots. When you are separated from them in the game and you find yourself on your own, that's when it feels that this game really comes alive. You don’t miss your partner at all and when they appear again you silently wish they didn’t quite make it back.
There is a mode called “RAID” which is separate from the campaign but allows you and an online partner to join up and take on some of the locations of the campaign. You get points and extra weapons depending on your level of skill when completing this. I found this mode to be really enjoyable and frenetic, even though my online colleague kept calling me terrible things that I cannot repeat here. Clue: something to do with my mother, her weight and her sexual activity. Even though I had some issues with matchmaking it is a serious mode that’s makes a really great addition from Capcom giving the game more of a lifespan.
Conclusion
It’s a hard game to sum up this one. If you were a Resident Evil fan I would say you must get this. It’s goes back to the best of series when frights, scare and persistence were everything that you remember about it being great. It has a number of problems but I was still entertained throughout and the raid add on was a welcome addition. Now if you’re not a Resident Evil fan I would turn away now, there is nothing for you here, nothing will change your mind. Walk away now and take a couple of points off the final score.
Lost Island
