An immersive, frightening survival-horror and action hybrid, Revelations is the series' best entry since Resident Evil 4

User Rating: 8.5 | Resident Evil: Revelations 3DS
The Resident Evil series began back in 1996 on the Playstation, popularizing and establishing survival-horror as a legitimate genre in gaming. It gained popularity, and, like many of Capcom's best-selling franchises, it saw a slew of releases over the next few years but little changed in the formula. Many desired that the series be rid of fixed camera angles, odd pacing, frustrating item management and inventories. Fans have always been able to forgive the series odd mechanics, considering the overall experience to be enough compensation. However, Resident Evil 4, released in 2005 on the Nintendo Gamecube and later the Playstation 2, shifted the series into a new direction.

It was the perfect time to for a re-imagining, and while Resident Evil 4 was an incredible action game and third-person shooter, it maintained a chilling atmosphere like its predecessors. Resident Evil 5 took the action elements from the fourth game and adapted them as the sole aspect of its identity. This move further divided the fan base. Resident Evil Revelations is a surprising success, for it meshes the best of previous Resident Evils with its haunting environments and implements satisfying shooting action like that of recent installments. An immersive, frightening survival-horror and action hybrid, Revelations is the series best entry since Resident Evil 4.

Perhaps more surprising is that this action-shooter title works so well on the Nintendo 3DS. With only one analog stick (slider), many were skeptical or concerned with how Revelations would control. It was announced that the game would be compatible with the Circle-Pad Pro peripheral, and from what I have read, using that device is highly recommended. I did not, however, use the peripheral, and I obviously enjoyed the game. Not to say that Revelations does not have control issues, however.

You use the slide stick to move your character, R-button to aim your weapon in first-person mode, X to use a secondary weapon, Y to examine things, and A is the action button. The D-pad is used to switch between weapons and a scan device called the Genesis, but you may also use the touch screen for the same purpose. Either one works well. As with past iterations, the main character turns around and moves his or her arm while aiming very slowly, and though you can move and shoot this time around, it feels quite awkward.

Set on a ship, there are many tight corridors filled with enemies, some of which are fast and powerful, and trying to out-run them, turn around and shoot again can, at times, be irksome. This flaw does not impede on the gameplay to the point of ruin, however. Those who have savored the series unique experiences over the years in spite of unconventional mechanics will have little problems in this area, but those critical of the series for this reason will likely continue to be frustrated.

Resident Evil excels in just about every other way. The action is significantly scaled down compared to Resident Evil 5, and it embraces the shooter-survival horror experience of the fourth game instead. The plot is set in different locations, but the primary setting is on the Queen Zenobia, an enormous ship afloat somewhere in the Mediterranean. Jill and her partner Parker Luciani have been sent to the ship to find Chris Redfield and his new partner Jessica Sherawat. The story takes place in the middle of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, and those who have been close followers of the series' plot will enjoy finding secret documents, diaries, and curiously watching gorgeous cut-scenes. The cut-scenes look excellent in 3D, and character interaction is mostly solid throughout, but Revelations continues the franchise's infamously goofy dialog. Characters drop corny one-liners in the most unusual situations such as while fighting a huge mutated beast. It is a bit of a turn off, but I did find myself chuckling quite often.

The Queen Zenobia is probably bigger than the mansions in Resident Evil and Resident Evil 0, containing more rooms and hallways. Backtracking is involved but not excessively. Retreading through previously visited areas are thrilling and unpredictable, and with a fair share of darkened halls and rooms, Revelations has a high scare factor. The excellent sound effects play a role in that as well: faint growls can be heard from surrounding areas, faucets leak, floors creak, and the ambient sounds and music are some of the best of any Resident Evil game. An on screen map of the section you are currently in is displayed on the bottom screen. The map of the whole ship can be accessed through the menu, but it is a 3D map that is somewhat hard to use for navigation.

Bio Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) are the primary enemy in Resident Evil Revelations. To me, they resemble the Necromorphs from Dead Space, and they are fun to kill. These mutated creatures come in different shapes and sizes. The most basic kind walks somewhat slowly but vehemently grabs your character, chomping down on his or her face. Others have limbs that have mutated into weapons, and some simply explode. Hunters, a well-known foe in the series, also make a return. There are very few boss battles, but they are exhilarating. Often, you will be out-matched by a boss in speed and power, but this makes defeating one of these ugly monsters all the more satisfying. By pressing the B-button right before a boss or enemy injures your main character, you can perform a dodge maneuver. Its stylish but also helpful in surviving attacks, but it does not always work as it should, or, it can be difficult to determine when to attempt this move.

Ammo is littered across the Queen Zenobia, but you still have to be smart with how you use it. You start off with the standard handgun but will later find a shotgun, machine gun, and other weapons as well as a variety of grenades that are useful for boss fights and small herds of B.O.W.s. You can carry up to three guns at a time and store the others in weapon crates scattered abroad the ship and other areas. You will also find Custom Parts that allow you to upgrade your weapons to fire faster, pack a more powerful shot, increase reloading speed and more. A cool gadget makes its debut: the Genesis scanner. Using this device, you can scan the area to find hidden items, biohazardous material for research, and secret hand-prints. It is a very useful tool that adds a sense of investigation and mystery.

Revelations has something of an achievement system that rewards you for accomplishing combative feats and other tasks. By killing a certain number of enemies, dodging attacks, finding hidden hand-prints, and more, you complete side-missions and are given items and weapons to aid you in the campaign as well as new outfits for your characters and difficulty modes. Raid Mode is unlocked after completing the campaign. It is a mode in which you traverse through different stages from the campaign and, in arcade style, shoot enemies and rack up points. It's a nice addition that can be played cooperatively via local 3DS play or online.

The campaign is divided into twelve chapters (levels). And after each chapter, a cut-scene chronicling previous events, plays, and then you may be put in control of a different character. You play as Chris, along with his partner Jessica, in snowy mountains, Parker Luciana in the not-so-distant past, and a new character named Keith Lumley, accompanied by his computer nerd partner Quint Cetcham. Quint and Keith's segments are short with an emphasis on surviving raids by wild enemies. Switching between settings and playing as different characters gives the game a quick but steady rhythm, providing different experiences while tying the sub-plots into the bigger picture.

Resident Evil: Revelations is a surprisingly stellar survival-horror/action game. Though the controls are not perfect, and the dialog is goofy, its ability to change the pace from seasoned action to frightful survival in a ten to twelve hour campaign is a strength that anchors the game. Considering that Resident Evil is a blockbuster franchise, Revelations has sold poorly on Nintendo's newest handheld. Resident Evil fans who appreciate the core installments in the series from Resident Evil 4 on back should check out Revelations. It's the best Resident Evil in years.