Originally released as the 3DS console’s killer app, Capcom’s Resident Evil: Revelations has now made the jump to home consoles. Has the transition from the small screen to the big screen been successful, or does this survival horror lose something in the upscaling process? Zip up your wetsuit, grab the nearest firearm and join us as we prepare to find out.
The good
One of the best things about the Nintendo 3DS original was the nautical setting: Revelations takes place on a decaying ocean liner, an environment which amplifies the feeling of isolation and gives rise to several genuinely frightening moments. The setting is complemented by the return of some series fan favourites, including Jill and Chris. If you’ve been following the series since the days of the original PlayStation, you’ll find a lot that’s familiar here.
Unlike the disappointing Resident Evil 6, this effort is more focused and traditional, calling to mind the classic entries in the lineage. It’s all about keeping things tight and tense, and the designers have successfully used the claustrophobic nature of the game’s setting to dial up the scares.
Another massive plus point is the Raid Mode, which allows players to team up in a score-based challenge which takes place in various parts of the derelict liner. A killer feature of the handheld version, Raid Mode has been expanded and works brilliantly with the established online connectivity of modern consoles.
Finally, there’s the visuals. Although Revelations has a few moments which betray its origin as a modest 3DS title, it brushes up surprisingly well when viewed as a whole. Environments which felt underwhelming in the portable iteration are dramatically improved in this HD offering, as are some of the enemies and bosses you face.
The bad
Resident Evil: Revelations certainly manages to capture the spirit of the series, but even in HD format it is handicapped by a few shortcomings – most of which can be traced back to the 3DS version.
Most notable is the control system, which is adapted from a handheld console which only sports one analogue stick. As a result, things feel clunky and unresponsive – although somewhat ironically, this does serve to make things even more tense.
Another problem is that the ooze-like enemies aren’t all that scary, and this robs the title of much of its impact. While it’s nice to see Capcom try to do something slightly different, we’d have preferred some old-fashioned flesh-eating zombies, if we’re honest.
The bottom line
Resident Evil: Revelations wasn’t exactly a solid-gold classic entry in the series on the 3DS, and it hasn’t been massively enhanced in this HD version. If you pick up this title expecting an epic of Resident Evil 4 proportions, then you’re going to be disappointed, but played with a more open mind, Revelations is an enjoyable addition to the franchise. It would have perhaps worked better as a digital download, but we’re still thankful that we’ve finally been able to experience this adventure on a display that is larger than the one on the 3DS console.
