3DS owners are no strangers to the Resident Evil franchise. Last year’s Resident Evil: The Mercenaries was a somewhat simple title, but it was a blast to play. While Mercenaries was an arcade style zombie shooter without a story, Resident Evil: Revelations is a full-blown entry in the series. Should you consider getting this much hyped portable survival horror game?
If you just happened to love the time limits and straight forward mission system of Mercenaries, I’ve got to caution you. Revelations is a totally different fish. This is a far more polished, fleshed out effort. There is a coherent story that plays with zombies, conspiracy theories, and survival against all odds. There’s a fair amount of gameplay to sink your teeth into and more than a couple of twists and turns on this bloody road.
Admittedly, the mission list format of the previous title benefited the portable experience. It was very pick up and play friendly and you could easily kill a little time beating scores or playing online co-op. If you intend to take on Revelations be prepared for an investment. Revelations is true to the roots of the series in almost every fashion. From the level layouts to the scarcity of ammo- this is a true Resident Evil title.
This story-driven, survival horror title will likely divide fans of Mercenaries. Those that loved the arcade style of the predecessor may be turned off by the more atmospheric, exploration-based gameplay. If you’re just looking to mindlessly slaughter zombies instead of facing the true apocalyptic terror of the outbreak, you might not be as impressed. This of course comes down to personal tastes and if you’re a die-hard Resident Evil fan, you’ll be overjoyed.
Fortunately, Capcom didn’t completely leave out fans of Mercenaries. In addition to the main story, players can enjoy Raid Mode. This survival game mode plays similarly to its predecessor and even features co-op! It might not be as fully featured as ‘Mercenaries,’ but it is an excellent way to enjoy the game on the go without being too consumed by puzzles and exploration. That said, all of this can be solved by simply owning both!
The story itself is difficult to critic. Without a doubt, it is leaps and bounds better than every other portable Resident Evil- as well as many of the console releases. On the other hand, the game’s somewhat short length leaves you hungry for more. Given Capcom’s excellent support of the 3DS, gamers can likely look forward to another Resident Evil release for the console in the near future to satisfy them.
Visually Resident Evil: Revelations is fantastic. The character models are detailed, the levels are intricate, and you’ll be wowed pretty frequently by the capabilities of the 3DS hardware. For a portable title, the game can be downright breath-taking and the 3D effects are impressive. That said, it isn’t all perfect. There isn’t a great deal of diversity in the enemies, but that’s a minor complaint. At times you’ll spot the occasional area that could have used some extra polish, but again, that’s minor.
The game supports the much praised 3DS circle pad pro. The addition of which is absolutely game-changing. Playing normally is fun, but much more challenging than it should be once you’ve tried the circle pad pro. If you’ve spent time with Mercenaries or you have a diverse pedigree with shooters on the DS, you’ll be fine.
The portable market doesn’t often get much in the way of survival horrors, much less something just as impressive as Resident Evil: Revelations. The game has a sizable amount of content and a story that’s worth experiencing. If you truly want the best possible experience, I suggest you invest in a Circle Pad Pro. If you just want another helping of zombies on the 3DS after enjoying Resident Evil: The Mercenaries, it can scratch that itch too.