POSTED 23/5/13


RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS

Capcom
PS3 (also on Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, 3DS)

Woohoo! It's the latest videogame movie tie-in! Except it isn’t, of course, for the games came first. Just checking if you’re paying attention...

So, this latest instalment in the venerable undies-soiling Resident Evil series that isn’t really the latest, as it hovers somewhere between RE4 and RE5, takes a stab, gunshot and groaning icky blob creature’s wonky lurch towards returning to a survival horror vibe, but with mucho shootiness.

Initially, you wiggle into the bod of Jill Valentine, tasked with searching for Chris Redfield with new buddy Parker Luciani. Your investigation commences on a ghost ship somewhere in the Mediterranean. That Costa Concordia sure gets around...

We’re accused regularly of not properly reviewing things, so: Claustrophobic shooter with searchy stuff. Cool? Can we crap on about inconsequential shit now, please? Cheers.

Actually, let’s not.

Amongst your upgradeable weaponry’s a handy scanner doobrie, the ‘Genesis Device’ (the ‘Mega Drive Device’ outside of the US, natch). It’s a natty way to unearth ammo and, uh, pot plants – even if scanning everywhere gets tedious. Exercise caution too, as if you don’t swap to a blorty-yuk-yuk mutie-damaging weapon quickly you’ll be toastier than Saharan formaggio.

Of course this follows cold on the heels of the 3DS originator. Graphics have been given a respectable overhaul, plus there’s an infernal ‘Infernal’ difficulty mode as well as a ‘Raid’ co-op mode that’s more sensible now. The almost soapie-like episodic nature of proceedings is a blessing for those who don’t wish to invest hours on end, too.

The level of terrification you experience from RER (both a handy word-saving acronym and appropriate mutie-sounding grunt) will vary depending upon your place on a scale of wussy to jaded. But there’s no denying that it’s captivating and deftly pulled off – unlike that Tuscan drive-by manoeuvre from Captain Francesco ‘oopsy, ho slittato’ Schettino...

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