Resident Evil Revelations 2 Review (Xbox One)

good
key review info
  • Game: Resident Evil Revelations 2
  • Platform: Xbox One
  • Show system requirements
  • Reviewed on:
Resident Evil Revelations 2 review on Xbox One

The Resident Evil series has been around for many years, and in recent times, its popularity has fluctuated greatly depending on the titles released by Capcom. While Resident Evil 5 or 6 did little to draw in veterans, Revelations went back to the survival horror roots and really surprised fans.

Now, Capcom is back with Resident Evil Revelations 2, a sequel that has very little to do with the adventures of the first game. It's been delivered as an episodic experience through the last few weeks, and now, after the launch of all the chapters and the promised feature-filled patches, the game is ready for examination.

Does Revelations 2 manage to take the series into a good direction or should it be left unrevealed? Let's find out.

Story

Revelations 2 contains four main episodes and two smaller chapters that are available only to those who get the digital season pass or the retail box set. The four main episodes are composed of two sides, one focusing on Claire Redfield and Moira Burton, and one that deals with Barry Burton and Natalia.

Claire is already well-known among Resident Evil fans, as is Barry, but Moira and Natalia are newcomers. Moira is Barry's estranged daughter, and while the first few chapters don't necessarily offer a lot of plot development for her, things get a bit better over time. Natalia is a mysterious little girl encountered by Barry just as he gets to the equally mysterious island, and one of the smaller episodes focuses specifically on her.

The story is fairly good, with Claire and Moira, alongside their colleagues at TerraSave, being abducted and dumped onto a mysterious and, as you guessed it, zombie-infested island. Barry and Natalia's storyline takes place six months after and sees them retread the steps of Claire, Moira, and their allies.

Overall, the story does have some sequences that linger on for way more than they're worth, but it does provide a good background for all the action and keeps things moving at a reasonable pace in most situations. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the final episodes isn't all that great, but at least the ride up until that point is fun enough.

Claire and Moira in Revelations 2
Claire and Moira in Revelations 2

Gameplay

Revelations 2, as its name suggests, is more akin to the first Revelations than Resident Evil 6, for example. There's a big emphasis on slowly moving through the environment, engaging zombies at range, and only getting up close to deliver finishing blows, which not only look cool but conserve ammo.

While both Claire and Barry can use weapons, as we saw in previous games in the series, newcomers Moira and Natalia aren't able to employ firearms. Instead, Moira uses a handy flashlight to blind monsters and leave them vulnerable for Claire, as well as a crowbar for finishing downed foes. Natalia, on the other hand, can use her ability to spot zombies through walls, as well as highlight weak points. She can also throw bricks at them, to temporarily stagger the opponents.

You can play through the main episodes alone, as the game allows you to alternate between the characters, or with a friend locally through the split-screen mode. While there are plenty of situations where you have to split up to fulfill various goals, there aren't that many big tasks that require keen cooperation.

There are plenty of hectic situations that require teamwork to get through in one piece, as resources are pretty scarce and enemies are pretty strong on the Normal difficulty.

Level design alternates fairly well between more open areas and tight, confined buildings. As always, there are many situations where paths overlap and doors, provided you have the necessary keys, can make things easier.

Unfortunately, there are also quite a few instances of maze-like interiors that make it quite hard to judge where exactly you need to go. You're able to find maps to make things easier, but even then you can't really examine them, as they're just relegated to the corner of your screen as a mini guide.

Enemies lack variety, and while there are some new designs that weren't seen in previous Resident Evil titles, they lose their charm after repeated battles.

However, while that may be an issue during the story campaign, things are much better in the Raid mode, which is basically the Revelations 2 gameplay experience distilled into short, bite-sized stages that reward speed, style, and accuracy.

The Raid mode is pretty much the star of the Revelations 2 package, as it includes all sorts of unlockable elements, and what with the latest patch, it can be played online with a friend. The whole experience is fun and provides a palate cleanser for those who get tired of the story, and a short but sweet time for those who want pure action. Besides the many different stages included in the mode, Capcom has also started unrolling daily missions that should keep things fresh for some time now.

Raid mode in Revelations 2
Raid mode in Revelations 2

Visuals and sound

Resident Evil Revelations 2 isn't that pretty of an experience, as visuals feel dull and unimpressive, even if they're supposed to use that theme to highlight the spooky environments. Character design is relatively good for Moira, Barry, and Natalia, but Claire doesn't look that well. The zombies also tend to sport similar looks, so expect to keep shooting the same few creatures over and over again.

The soundtrack complements the action pretty well and knows when to shut up or when to play just a little, in order to really enhance the action on the screen. The voice acting is quite well, but the writing disappoints a bit when it comes to Moira. Barry, however, has plenty of lines that reference previous games in the series and will definitely delight veterans.


The Good

  • Some pretty great moments scattered throughout the story
  • Really addictive Raid mode
  • Shooting feels good

The Bad

  • Ending disappoints
  • A few confusing environments
  • Dumb teammate AI
  • Poor enemy variety

Conclusion

Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a pretty good entry in the series from Capcom. While the actual horror elements, barring some jump scares, aren't that common, you'll still feel a bit spooked out in various moments of the story. For those that want action, however, the Raid mode is by far the star of the package.

story 8
gameplay 8
concept 8
graphics 7
audio 7
multiplayer 7
final rating 7.5
Editor's review
good
 
NEXT REVIEW: Pillars of Eternity

Resident Evil Revelations 2 screenshots (16 Images)

Resident Evil Revelations 2 review on Xbox OneAvoid zombies in Revelations 2Raid mode in Revelations 2Use allies in Revelations 2Customize your character in Raid mode in Revelations 2
+11more