Things change pretty fast in this business.
Seven years ago, Capcom addressed the sudden staleness of one of its key franchises by
changing the blueprint.
This resulted in one of the best games of all-time, but it was a moment Capcom had arrived
at in large part by running from the very conventionsóthe very rootsóthey seem so
concerned with running back to now, seven years later.
See, with its legendary fourth installment, Resident Evil struck an exciting new balance
that would ultimately change its genre forever.
But that balanceóthat harmony between action and horrorówas completely derailed in its
successor.
Suddenly, weíre back to where we were in 2004, with everyone insisting Resident Evil
needs to change.
Again.
Ultimately, Capcomís answer to this problem is still being formulated.
But as the sixth game looms over the horizon, this new spin-off perhaps sheds some light
on the route Capcom is planning to pursue.
Because rather than reinvent the wheel, Resident Evil: Revelations simply balances the axle.
I mention this because context is vital in understanding what this game is about.
An exclusive release to the Nintendo 3DS, Revelations is a spin-off set between games
four and five in terms of its plot.
But in terms of its overall design, itís more complex.
Revelations blends the refined gameplay of Resident Evil 5 with the creepiness so characteristic
of the earlier titles, revitalizing the series by changing
its mixture.
The brilliance of this approach is evident within moments of taking control.
Playing as Jill Valentine, you find yourself on a veritable ghost ship, its silence providing
this eerie contrast to the raging ocean outside.
This place feels like a floating coffin, and as you make your way through its dark passages,
you quickly discover youíre not alone.
The game doesnít open with some action scene that couldíve been taken from the cutting
room floor of a Rambo movie.
Instead, it opens with this intensely moody sequence that reminds you of when the scariest
name in games was Resident Evil.
But one of the most interesting things about Revelations is the way it balances the traditional
with the new.
For example, inventory conservation is again important this time, which makes the addition
of the Genesisóthis Metroid-like scanner that locates hidden itemsóeven more useful.
And while the enemies appear to be a throwback to previous games, their behavior feels altogether
different.
They seem to attack from anywhere, with an unsettling and almost Dead Space-like degree
of surprise.
As strong as the design is, Revelations is also supremely well made.
Not only is the sound as stellar as it was in Resident Evil 4, but this is also the most
visually stunning 3DS game to date.
And though it does stutter from time to time, the gameís gorgeous appearance makes that
less annoying.
The fog effects, in particular, are just awesome.
And theyíre a great example of a visual effect having a tangible impact on the game.
You have no idea whatís crawling in the mist.
And thatís terrifying.
Up to this point, Nintendo has been the only company making 3DS games that are worth your
time.
If only because it so decisively changes that narrative, it feels great to play this game.
Capcom has not only shown what the system is capable of, but theyíve created a masterful
survival-horror game that stands with the strongest efforts of even Nintendo themselves
as one of the best 3DS games to date.