Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Almost, but not quite"

Resident Evil: Revelations is not a fantastic game; it's not ground breaking, and it's certainly not what we expect in 2013. It is, however, the best damn Resident Evil game since Capcom released Resident Evil 4 all the way back in 2005, and those of us who have longed for Capcom to abandon their new ideals on creating games and simply tread in those murky waters again will find a lot to like in Revelations: and that is a game that actually feels like you're playing Resident Evil 4.

We'll start with what isn't quite up to par with Revelations, and that is, well, pretty much everything if you're comparing it to other big-budget releases that have come out this year. The controls need some work, this is a game coming from a handheld with an optional second joystick, after all. Controlling the game can feel a bit clunky at times, but it certainly captures the Resident Evil 4 feel well enough.

The graphics from the 3DS are quite well done, but they don't have the same "wow factor" as they did on the smaller screen. Blowing this game up on my 46" 1080P flat screen, certain blurry, smaller details definitely stand out.

But as stated in the introduction, what's got me coming back to this game over and over again is how much it feels like, in my opinion, the best game in the series. Yes, I'm biased toward Resident Evil 4; only behind Ocarina of Time, this is my second favorite game ever. I finished it almost 20 times over the years, and I certainly have come to view the game with the certain rose-tinted glasses you find doe-eyed saps seeing their girlfriends through. So, it stands to reason I'm cutting Revelations a bit of a break because of this, but I honestly don't care.

I remember the first time I walked into the dining room, watching fog swirl around on the floor, wondering what might be lurking beneath it and screaming in my head, "WHY DID IT TAKE CAPCOM SO LONG TO DO THIS AGAIN?!" That's the essence Capcom's captured with Resident Evil: Revelations, and it's something I hope this release inspires them to do more of, because as it stands now, the series is in grave danger and has been for a long time. This could change everything. This could bring back the Resident Evil we all know and love.