Resident Evil Revelations 2 Review

The Resident Evil franchise has seen its share of ups and downs as it tries to find an identity while retaining what made it popular in the first place. The first Resident Evil Revelations was a pleasant surprise, modernizing the series with faster gameplay while still retaining its horror and tension. It was Capcom's best attempts to capture the best of both nostalgia and modern action. Resident Evil Revelations 2 continues that feat with more visceral gameplay and intense encounters. Everything feels better than its predecessor, but Revelations 2 struggles with momentum due to poor pacing and tedious puzzles.

Revelations 2 features one of the more engrossing stories in Resident Evil. A mysterious woman has trapped our heroes on a secluded island, putting them through horrific experiments. The story has two campaigns that alternate each chapter; one focuses on fan-favorite Claire and newcomer Moira, daughter of popular character Barry Burton, while another jumps forward in time, starring Barry and an enigmatic child named Natalia.

Bringing back two characters that haven't been seen for years works to the game's advantage. Finding out what they've been up to is just as interesting as discovering who's at the roots of these heinous occurrences. Moira and Natalia also hold their own secrets and surprises. True to the series, be prepared for some crazy plot twists, laughable dialogue, and campy moments. It all comes together in a very satisfying way, and every character has unique arcs and development throughout.  The only issue is the pacing feels uneven; sometimes the game lacks explanation and a reveal jumps out of nowhere.

The Resident Evil basics haven't changed; you're still blasting through zombie hordes, corridor-crawling, managing resources, and finding a way around occasional obstacles. Combat is smooth, and features precise, entertaining gunplay. Claire and Barry handle the guns, while Moira and Natalia work as support characters. Moira can shine her flashlight in enemies' faces to stun them or melee attack them with her crowbar, while Natalia can spot zombies through walls and throw bricks at them for damage. I enjoy how the characters' abilities work together, like having Moira use her stun so Claire can line up a headshot.

You can swap between characters with a click of a button, but a friend can also pick up a controller for local co-op. However, I had more fun playing solo, since Moira and Natalia have smaller combat roles and are more vulnerable, making them less fun to control long-term. The only hindrance to single-player is that the A.I. is anemic, and doesn't make a difference in battle. Due to bad decisions and questionable path-finding, I had some battles where it was hard for the A.I. to stay alive. Sometimes you're forced to switch away from your gun-toting characters to pry open doors, and this was always where the A.I. let me down, never keeping the enemies at bay.

Exploring the island, you encounter everything from creepy prisons to grotesque meat factories. Old standbys like the woods and sewers are also in place, but they are the least exciting of the bunch. I appreciate that the dialogue and setpieces have plenty of nods to longtime fans. The only big knock is you're doubling up on a lot of the same environments in both campaigns, since Barry is retracing Claire and Moira's steps. Granted, Barry takes new routes through these and has some different encounters, but these places lose their mystery a second time around.

At the very least, Capcom interjects exciting situations in every chapter. My favorite moments were when I was locked in with a horde of enemies rushing towards me, trying to keep the crowd under control. I also reveled in stealth-killing enemies, and enjoyed the stranger enemy types like invisible and instant-kill monsters. Plus, some of the boss battles are insane, requiring every last bit of ammo you have. I'd feel panicked as my ammo dwindled, wondering if I'd make it through, when the boss went down with only two bullets remaining.

I love the chaotic moments, but Revelations' weakest part is its dated puzzles. For instance, moving a power supply through various conveyor belts is tedious and unexciting. Every puzzle brings down the momentum. They aren't fun, and feel more like tacked-on busywork to prolong the episode. Thankfully, the story and intense encounters take center stage, and you only encounter about four of these tedious affairs. As soon as they're done, they're long forgotten and you're back in the fun of tracking down the lowlife that's out to make your life on the island miserable.

Resident Evil Revelations 2 gets a lot right. It left me on edge and invested in the world and characters. I just wish the experience was more even, because some dips in the action hinder the experience. Still, trudging through the slower moments does pay off when you experience the adrenaline rush from some of the unforgettable moments.