I'll simplify this review and remain upfront since it's not a traditional Resident Evil experience.
[b]Resident Evil Revelations 2[/b] is yet another spinoff in the franchise that follows Claire Redfield and Barry Burton in their interconnected paths to uncover the depths of another mysterious but deadly island that's been infested by nightmares. You've seen this before in previous entries and you're also stuck with switching characters and assuring they survive. It's nothing you haven't already done but it's not unforgivably annoying as [b]Resident Evil 0[/b] or both Outbreak entries.
I meant what I said about this not being tradition. The story is divided into four chapters for both protagonists and not completed unless you've bought the whole game. You don't get further context or bonus content without having them. Don't become comfortable with playing this out of context if you're playing the main campaign because you won't be satisfied. The main narrative itself is a bit disjointed but has intrigue as it unravels the diabolical schemes of its main antagonist.
Here, I'll break it down for you. Claire and Barry have separate but similar paths that involve navigating numerous areas. They both have partners that have certain abilities to their advantage that resolve puzzles and find hidden items. Through teamwork, all four characters have their own personal stories and connections that reflect the villain's motivations. They're also tested with familiar and newer enemy types, brutal traps and nonstop brainstorming to escape the villain's twisted plans.
What you see is what you get but there's plenty of replay value through bonus content. Aside the main story, and bonus episodes that give further context, you'll find more challenges and enjoyment with "Raid Mode" even with co-op. This mode isn't just challenging but very addicting once you've become too intelligent to lose. You'll find many locations from the story, as well as other nostalgic areas through DLC, that gives you the chance to truly become the champion of survival-horror!
You could play alone or with your friends but don't feel discouraged to play it as a spinoff to the mainlines. It has certain things holding it back from being a masterpiece but doesn't overstay its welcome as [b]Resident Evil Survivor[/b] and so on. It's a shame it's the only game where legacy characters truly "interacted" after the Raccoon City incident since there's potential. But that didn't prevent me from recommending this to anybody that's already played the other games and wants more.
