We’re gonna need a bigger drill
I didn’t expect to enjoy the first episode of Resident Evil: Revelations 2 as much as I did. It was nice to see Barry and Claire back in action, and the co-op elements were implemented in a neat asynchronous manner. Not to mention the killer Raid Mode that might be the best iteration yet.
The good times keep rolling in Episode 2 with a great atmosphere, more Raid levels, and an compelling-enough narrative.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2: Episode 2 (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One [reviewed])
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Released: March 3, 2015 (Episode 2)
MSRP: Four episodes ($5.99 each), Season Pass ($24.99), boxed ($39.99)
[For a better idea of what to expect in terms of mechanics, you can check out my initial review of Episode 1, which includes an overview of the base package.]
The story picks off minutes from our last journey with Claire and Moira, braving the unknown island and coming to terms with their captor. I’m really liking the pacing in each episode, as you’re given little nuggets here and there to help uncover the mystery. It helps keep you interested without giving away too much, and I’m especially enjoying the ties to the older games in the series. Towards the end, there’s a big reveal that deals with a particularly popular character.
Claire and Moira’s starting area is one of my favorites yet, evoking more Resident Evil 4 memories, including a crazy chainsaw (drill) fiend. My favorite bit? A Michael Jackson “Thriller” house survival portion. Like I said, RE4. There’s also lots of nooks and crannies to explore with items to help you on your journey. Item placements are frequent but never overdone, leading to a good compromise between the scarce-ammo old titles and arsenal-based new ones. Don’t get it twisted, though — this is a linear game at heart.
Barry and Natalia once again steal the show, especially with a new type of monster that is completely invisible to Barry. It’s really fun if you’re playing co-op, as the second player will have to literally direct the first — which can be tough even in split-screen. It leads to some tense and hilarious moments, and helps accentuate how Capcom nailed co-op in Revelations 2. Claire’s tale has a few new enemies as well, including one boss fight that’s a (delightful) pain in the ass on higher difficulties.
As I’ve progressed through each episode and unlocked more of the experience tree, Revelations 2 has started to show its depth. I think the evade cancel maneuver is probably the biggest game-changer, as it allows you to cancel out of moves instantly, turning the experience into more of a technical action game. Again, the legacy controls are still there if you want them. Truly the best of both worlds.
In terms of replay value, there’s a lot here for a budget-priced game. The collectibles are very well hidden, and I’ve only found half of them with a decent amount of searching. It will easily take multiple playthroughs to find and complete everything, and I’m happy to do it. Oh, and the new Raid Mode stages (roughly 50 with each episode) are par for the course, which is a good thing.
If you enjoyed the first episode, it’s safe to say you’ll get your money’s worth in the second. So long as you can deal with some backtracking, Resident Evil: Revelations 2: Episode 2 has enough action to keep you interested throughout, in addition to a few unique concepts. But really, it’s Raid Mode that keeps me coming back for more on a daily basis. The episodic presentation is odd, but at this part it’s starting to feel like a complete game.
[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]
