Resident Evil Revelations Review

Resident Evil Revelations Review Image

You can take the horror out of the handheld, but you can’t take the handheld out of the horror. This sea-faring fright fest wooed and terrified in equal measure as a Nintendo 3DS exclusive last year but washes up on the Wii U as a high-definition mutation – more akin to the clumsy, bloated, calamari freaks aboard its haunted cruise liner.

Zombie-fighting veterans Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine star alongside a blockbuster ensemble of forgettable newcomers and goers on board the Queen Zenobia, a luxurious ship crammed full of nautical nightmares and the potent salty stench of mystery.

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With the T-Abyss Virus running rampant on its decks, a choppy episodic narrative, and enough backstabbing to live up to its name, Revelations is a convoluted and largely throwaway tale.

Any fans hoping to tie together some of the Resident Evil series loose threads will be left wanting by the time credits roll on this 10-hour meandering spin-off. Instead, the Queen Zenobia’s dark, dripping interiors provide enough wistful winks and nostalgic nudges to make liner worth boarding.

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Fleeting puzzles, chilling set pieces, keys, emblems, and a shortage of ammo make wandering the tight corridors a tense experience akin to the Resident Evil’s that launched survival horror back in the 32-bit era.

Draped over Resident Evil 4’s timeless foundations, Revelations’ action is a little more current although it’s marred by its translation to console. Despite a wealth of fine-tuning, aiming never feels as accurate as it should — a problem exacerbated by the unreactive bullet-sponging Ooze enemies and a frame rate that struggles under pressure.

A much more welcome addition to this port is the revamped Raid mode, a co-op mission-based arcadey aside that soaks up hours of levelling BP, unlocking new characters and toying around with gun parts and attachable skill sets. It’s an absolute time sink with the right partner.

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Despite a wealth of game, Resident Evil Revelations is a hard sell to anyone who’s already played the handheld instalment. A new harder difficulty, new weapons, and extensive Miiverse integration are all welcome additions but even with its HD visuals, Revelations still feels like a portable production.

Version Tested: Wii U
Review copy provided by Capcom

8/10
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