Resident Evil Revelations 2: Episode 1 Review

Release Date: February 24, 2015
Platform: PS4 (reviewed), PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Survival Horror

While the original Resident Evil Revelations was heralded as a return to the series’ survival-horror roots, it’s clear from the onset that Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a much more action-oriented affair. In many ways, Revelations 2 feels like a slimmer version of Resident Evil 6 with a much sharper focus. Capcom decided to split the game up into four parts and deliver them at a rate of one per week, in order to better mimic the heated discussion that often surrounds an episodic TV show. It was an interesting and rather unexpected decision, but one that ultimately pays off in the end, given what the game itself has to offer.

"Episode 1: Penal Colony" finds Claire Redfield abducted and held captive in a prison along with Moira Burton, the feisty teenage daughter of Resident Evil veteran Barry. They’ve also been outfitted with mysterious blinking bracelets, and there’s a creepy gamemaster-type woman who seems to be calling all the shots from a remote location. The entirety of the episode takes place within this island detention center and the surrounding forested area, and the story is just dripping with some kind of conspiracy.

Revelations 2 definitely has the look and feel of a low-budget title, with simple textures and the occasional wonky movements throughout. The script itself is equally B-horror, including a cringe worthy reference to almost becoming a “Claire sandwich” after narrowly avoiding a spinning blade trap. But hey, this is Resident Evil. For what it’s worth, the story held my interest for the entire time, and I appreciated how the game let me jump right into the action from the very beginning. This is a brisk and frantic gameplay experience, and frankly it’s something much needed in today’s age of long cinematics and quick time events.

Claire is the real star of the show here, but the newcomers bring an interesting spin to the gameplay. Moira refuses to use guns of any kind (I’m hoping we find out why at some point later on), so her contributions include a helpful melee attack via crowbar and temporarily stunning the Afflicted with her flashlight. Switching between Claire and Moira on the fly is a real thrill, especially in the heat of combat.

Barry and Natalia, a little orphan who's also been kidnapped and brought to the island facility, offer a similar dynamic, with the latter being able to sense nearby enemies and set Barry up for a perfect stealth kill. However, these stealth sections can be hit or miss at times, and I just couldn’t seem to get used to Natalia’s ability to melee enemies with the small bricks you find scattered about.

As you might have guessed, Episode 1 is very short. I finished both Claire and Barry’s sections in less than two hours on my first go around, and a fair chunk of the time spent playing as Barry is used to confusedly retread through the detention center that you just fought through as Claire. But the emphasis in Revelations 2 is distinctly placed on replaying these two hours, rather than making it a “one and done” experience. In fact, the sheer incentive to do so can be overwhelming at times.

For starters, you have the unlockable Countdown and Invisible modes, which have you racing against the clock or dodging invisible monsters, respectively. Then there are medals, organized into unique lists of secondary objectives that must be completed across an entire playthrough. Conquering these tasks nets you further rewards, from character figurines to additional BP points that can be used to upgrade your abilities across all future episodes.

And then there’s Raid Mode, the quintessential add-on that became such a huge hit in the first Revelations game. Basically, Raid Mode consists of a series of action-based scenarios, which have you trekking through famous Resident Evil locations, killing hoards of enemies, and leveling up your skills and characters along the way. Here in Revelations 2, Raid Mode has been amplified by tenfold, and it is easily worth the price of admission alone.

With dozens upon dozens of missions and a huge roster of fan-favorite characters and weapons to complete them with, Raid Mode is still one of the most addicting and rewarding components of the Resident Evil franchise today. A handful of missions are available right from the start alongside Episode 1 (some of which feature a few familiar locations from Resident Evil 6), and its appeal is only heightened by the promise of online co-op support later down the road.

Capcom knew exactly what kind of game they wanted to make with Resident Evil Revelations 2. No bells or whistles, just a quick and satisfying burst of furious gameplay that’s nothing but fun. At first, I didn’t think I would like the episodic formula as implemented in a horror-action game like Resident Evil. But by the time the credits rolled and the cliffhanger twist sunk in, I was sold. And the game has so much replay value already from a single episode alone that it won’t be a difficult wait until the next installment comes around next week.