Resident Evil: Revelations Uses The 3DS To A High Level, With Some Amazing Action and Adventure Sequences
In regards to the plot and story-line of Revelations, it's quite a tried and tested plot, as Jill Valentine searches for Chris Redfield, and vice verse as both of them go missing with their in-the-field sidekicks at roughly the same time. In among this search for each other, Jill and Chris come across a shadowy organization intent on causing atrocities and instigating attacks against the Central governments with monsters created from the Umbrella Corporation's mistakes, and playing God with their viruses. It's not the most original plot or story-line, but for a Resident Evil installment it is acceptable.
Graphically, is where Revelations outshines its 3DS predecessor, where Mercenaries appeared to not truly use the power of the hand-held console, and looked chunky, and frayed at it's edges. Revelations looks beautiful, both in-game and in it's CGI, movie worthy cut scenes. I have to admit that it seems the creators of Revelations have put quite a lot of emphasis on turning Jill Valentine into a sex-symbol, as much of the in-game graphics and cut scenes truly show her as a sexual character.
Monsters, and environments are smooth, and at times you are quite surprised at how enemies look, when they're about to bite a chunk out of you. Some of the animations of your enemies, and in-game buddies are quite beautiful on the 3DS, both in 3D or 2D.
Musically, Resident Evil invokes the eerie tones of the originals, particularly as you explore, dank, dark hallways and when you're ambushed by enemies there is a frantic, heart-pounding score that urges you on, to escape or stand and fight the oncoming monsters. Reminiscent of some of the elements of the motion-pictures, a chase through a hallway on-board the cruise-ship can really hit you hard, as an enemy crawls through a broken window towards you.
Control-wise, Revelations is smooth and fluid - as most of the time you don't need to use the stylus, to switch weapons and kit, you can do this with the D-pad to switch weapons out, or use grenades or health-packs. The stylus is used still for puzzles, from unscrewing a panel off a door, to access the wires behind it or use a gadget in your kit.
Now we come to the game-play, which like the controls behind it is smooth, the frame rate holds up very well, and when fighting enemies the quick-snap lock-on really helps, when fighting a pack of infected dogs off, or a large swarming blob of dead flesh, and gaping teeth. Switching to the next weapon in your arsenal, or reloading one is quick, once you get the hang of which button does what. This for me personally only took about thirty minutes, before I was able to press the corresponding button, without looking at it.
I enjoyed this aspect, as I never had to take my eyes off the top screen to check that I was pressing the correct button, and the action was never interrupted by that. Being an hour into the game, I have played both perspectives as Jill and Chris, and up-to-my most recent playing of the game, I have played as Chris with a powerful shotgun, and grenades so I am eager to try more weapons in Revelations.
The Good:
- A good, Resident Evil story and plot, that almost pays homage to earlier installments in the series.
- Graphics look beautiful in 3D, but even with the 3D turned down low, it still looks amazing.
- Cut scenes are visually stunning, with CGI elements it feels like you're watching a CGI Resident Evil movie, like Degeneration.
- Jill Valentine is given a more sensual, sexual appearance in a skin-tight outfit, it really draws you in to see her in CGI design and style.
- Game-play is smooth, frame rates are stable and when fighting dozens of enemies on the screen, it never falters and or slows down graphically.
- Controls are smooth, in particular with aiming and firing your weapons, the use of a snap lock-on is a good element.
The Bad:
- I can't truly find any real issues or problems with Revelations, other than it being on the 3DS, that by playing it in 3D mode, after about twenty minutes my eyes began to ache, and itch and so I had to turn down the 3D slider. This isn't truly a problem, as it's an issue with the system, but putting the 3D mode on for about five to ten minutes, and then switching back to 2D has eased this issue for me, as the game still looks good in 2D.
Resident Evil: Revelations is one of a kind, in the franchise on a system like the Nintendo 3DS , while Mercenaries was not a true Resident Evil sequel, or installment - more of a pick-up-and-play game, Revelations is what Resident Evil fans such as myself have been waiting for. A true, stand-alone Resident Evil title on a hand-held console, that goes back to it's roots of survival-horror and doesn't lose any of it's elements, being on a portable gaming console.
I found Revelations for just £12, at a local game shop as pre-owned, so it's not a game that's truly going to make a hole in your wallet, at the moment it seems to be quite cheap on both the internet and in stores, so I would buy it up before it along with Mercenaries go back up in price, as 3DS titles.