What originally started off in life as a portable Nintendo 3DS game back in 2012, Resident Evil Revelations has had its fair share of upgrades and ports since that time, with each one being an improved version of what came before, and considering its roots, somehow Resident Evil Revelations does not look out of place on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Set between the events of Resident Evil 4 and 5, the story follows series favourites Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield. Although their stories play as separate chapters, their path’s will ultimately lead us to their entwined destination. Now members of the BSAA, both Jill and Chris aim to bring down a bioterrorist organisation that plans on releasing a new and more deadly B.O.W upon the world and it’s up to our trusted heroes to save the day once more.
Largely taking place on the cruise ship known as the Queen Zenobia, the location offers the narrow corridors and claustrophobic paths that once made the series so iconic and it may not being this way, but you’ll soon find yourself running low on ammo, savouring every last bullet, giving you a sense of desperation as you attempt to land that oh so vital headshot. Even in the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 4, while it had its fair share of horror, this was considered by many as the turning point that directed the series into more of the action genre, rather than its signature Survival Horror.
So at the time (before we were recently graced with the awesome Resident Evil 7), Resident Evil Revelations gave us the taste of yesteryear, something that loyal fans were churning for. In some ways looking back in hindsight, perhaps Resident Evil Revelations was more of an important game then we first realised. Resident Evil 7, while it provided us with a new direction for the franchise, a first-person perspective, this is considered to be a return to form for the series and rightly so, I totally agree. However, in 2012 when Resident Evil Revelations released on the 3DS, it gave fans a taste of what they were missing, which arguably could have sparked the renaissance that the series was crying out for.
Aside from the fantastic campaign, Resident Evil Revelations also has its highly addictive Raid mode. Here as we’ve seen in previous instalments, similar to the Mercenaries mode, you will be tasked with beating set stages in the best times possible, while taking on hordes of enemies. Raid mode can be played on your lonesome or with friends online and will unlock new weapons and mods along the way. It’s a mode that gives you that “one of more go” feeling that offers something a little less tense in its arcade style format.
In conclusion, while Resident Evil Revelations might suffer with a lack of enemy design, its tension and suspense offers something that the series had overlooked for so long. If you’re new to the series and have recently jumped into Resident Evil 7, then Revelations gives you a taste of nostalgia, complete with the cheesy characters and dialogue that fans love, but most importantly, it’s a horror game at its core and even if like me you’re a fan from back in the day, Resident Evil Revelations offers you a chance to once more to step into the world of Survival Horror.
You can also read our review of the sequel, Resident Evil Revelations 2 here, which is also set to release for Nintendo Switch later this year, along with the original game on the handheld hybrid console.