Preview: Resident Evil – Revelations (3DS)
The Nintendo 3DS is something that I could have had a lot of love for and potentially still could.
On paper it sounds like an instant classic. The next iteration of the bigger–than-Jesus DS Lite, with no glasses required stereoscopic 3D, backwards compatibility and new control methods. Unfortunately Nintendo somewhat screwed this up slightly by going completely around the bend at the end of the DS’s life cycle and releasing the DSi and then the DSi XL completely confusing and fragmenting the market. Then they brought out the 3DS which is to all intents and purposes, a DSi XL with 3D slider switch.
I question the idea of building a line-of-sight sensitive 3D system with motion controls. I also question the concept of releasing the 3DS at an odd time of the year far away from holidays and such like, and releasing it with no AAA games (sorry one game, a remake of a game released in 1998) and at a huge price point. These facts, coupled with the poor battery life, the long charge times, poor online games shop/support, and the expensive games amazingly made the console sell like turkeys after Christmas. It sold well below Nintendo’s financial expectations and caused the CEO to formerly apologise to the Japanese markets.
Of course the 3DS is not operating in a vacuum and the poor sales matched the surging iPhone and other smartphone devices with their cheap downloadable games and ability to play those games on other devices.
The Resident Evil (RE) franchise is one of the best and most lucrative that Capcom possesses. Around since 1996, it has sold over 45 million games on myriad systems up to this year, several movies, books, comics and anime. Nintendo desperately need some third party blockbuster games for the 3DS and this will be one of them. It is somewhat of a retread of the earlier titles with more emphasis on exploration and puzzle solving along with the traditional survival horror element. In addition, as well as the traditional over the shoulder and snap to aim control of the series, you will be able to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives. I personally would like to see second-person perspective although this would prove to be very confusing but I would have relished the challenge.
There is a campaign mode where you can explore dank cruise ships and some snowy hillocks. There is of course trademark RE limited ammo and weapons to give it that claustrophobic feel. The story itself (yes, I can confirm there will be a story) is set around 2005 and it sets out the events that unfolded after the plot of RE4 and RE5. It follows the shenanigans of Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield who were the main characters of the very first RE. Of course this type of synchronicity within video games is a hoary old trope that is designed to instantly lend credence and reliability. That is because it does actually work.
There is a new raid mode that you can play either solo of co-op and it’s akin to the Modern Warfare Spec-Ops mode of the last two Modern Warfare games. Not a lot of information has been included or is available about how the co-op version will work. If it is limited to wifi then I can see where this may fall down as it always has; you will need a 3DS with the game cartridge for every player in the room. Nintendo simply does not do the internet experience very well so hopefully the years of criticism will have finally hit home and they will expand the experience beyond the friend code/in the same room scenario of countless other DS/3DS titles.
I actually think that the 3D that the 3DS offers can be very effective and so having a game that can actually truly scare you being built from the ground up for the handheld should very good. I can attest to being very scared as a young lad when playing RE4 on the GameCube and not being able to play it in hours of darkness in case the villager with the chainsaw ran up to the lounge window, jumped through, and decapitated me before it was tea time.
Revelations will also ship with the ‘circle pro’ attachment. This is allows the 3DS to slot into a gizmo that gives an extra stick and also more shoulder buttons. It will require an extra AAA battery. This came about when Nintendo realised that not having twin analogue sticks was a bit of a mistake as the Sony Vita is going to have twin sticks. Knowing Nintendo, you can just imagine that the inevitable 3DS Lite or equivalent will have this built in so I am not sure how successful the standalone attachment will be.
You will be able to buy the game and attachment together or separately and there will be a special edition 3DS version with all the stuff included. If you have a 3DS you will probably have to buy this game although you may be content at just taking 3D pictures of your friends and your dog and swapping the heads. Again.
Resident Evil: Revelations will be released in Europe on January 27, 2012 and North America on February 7, 2012.
Pre-order Resident Evil: Revelations now.
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Decent article, but the author should make sure he has ALL of his facts straight. There was no DSi Lite, and the 3DS is no where in size as the DSi XL. There also were no chainsaw zombies in the remake of RE for Game Cube. They were in RE4. Two different games.
Hi Anon,
You are quite correct, there was no DSi Lite, and the chainsaw zombies were in RE4. My bad. I will see if I can get that corrected.
However, whilst the 3DS is quite obviously not a DSi XL, it is my own personal opinion that the 3DS is “to all intents and purposes, a DSi XL with 3D slider switch.”
I could also say that “a baby zebra is, to all intents and purposes, an albino donkey that has been nicely char-grilled.” It is, of course, not the case, but a nice lazy comparison.
Keep reading.
Mark
Dude, why did you have to go on a big rant about how Nintendo ruined the DS with the 3DS and how much, much better the Vita is in comparison? When this is suppose to be just a REVIEW of Resident Evil: Revelations? Not an editorial on the merits of the 3DS?
Now I have to correct your numerable mistakes… see what you did?
1. The obvious mistake: The DSi XL is MUCH bigger in size than the 3DS. The 3DS is actually the same size as a DS Lite. Another BIGGER mistake you made: The DSi XL lacks the integrated functions and software that characterizes the 3DS (games, streetpass, Mii Plaza, 3D photo-taking, 3D video recording, QR Code functionality, the eShop that lets you download games, demos or videos, etc.). So its NOT just a DS XL with a 3D slider switch. What a silly idea coming from someone that brags to be a gaming expert.
2. And what exactly is your point about reminding readers about the troubled launch the 3DS had? That was earlier in the year. It’s been like 9 months since then. Give them credit, they probably got the memo and are aware of all that. But presently, the 3DS has a more palatable price. It already has AAA games (Super Mario Land 3D, Mario Kart 7) that have boosted its sales so much that it stands at the top of the charts in Japan and has made the handheld hard to keep in stock in the UK, where they are reporting shortages due to the great demand. And about Iwata, he not only apologized but he took the necessery actions to correct things. And boy did he delivered on that. The 3DS is already pulverized the original DS’s 1 year sales record. And the x-mas season is still going. Its not over yet!
3. Smartphones might have cheap games, but they (the phones and the expensive packages and contracts) are not exactly cheap. Plus its very curious that you are very quick to bash the 3DS’s controls but seem perfectly fine using your sausage-size fingers to rub them all over the iPhone screen to play a cheap 99 cents “game”. Anybody else find that rather hypocritical?
4. And where do I begin with your incredible ignorance about how the co-op is done in Revelations. Okay… firstly, it has two-player local and full online co-op, as well as StreetPass support (and no, I don’t expect YOU to know what StreetPass is either). And yes, each player needs a copy of the game on their system because how else are they going to SAVE the progress they make on them? Raid Mode, for instance, allows users to UNLOCK new items, weapons and weapon parts. Elements that are then saved on their particular copy of the game. Do you get it know? Why its important for them to own a copy of the game? Sheeesh! Having to explain all this to a smartphone ‘gamer”.
5. Finally, if you had any idea what an actual 3DS looked like and had hold one in real life (and not get it confused with a DS LX), you would understand that there is no way possible that a “3DS Lite” can be made. If you were to open a 3DS up and look inside, you will notice that there just isn’t ANY space to accommodate a second slider-pad. In fact, looking inside, you would realize the reason a 2nd slider-pad wasn’t included in the first place. The fact is, the 3DS already out IS the 3DS Lite. Its the exact same size as a DS Lite. If they were to make a version of the 3DS that includes a 2nd slide-pad, then it would need to be BIGGER and chunkier. I highly doubt that that would be an option, considering how handhelds are suppose to be portable.
Jesus man, get informed next time. The whole article was written like someone was holding a gun up to your head. Like you could wait to get back to playing Angry Birds on your “cheap” cellphone.
Mr Ed: You are an idiot.
1. You say: “When this is suppose to be just a REVIEW of Resident Evil: Revelations? Not an editorial on the merits of the 3DS?”
The article clearly states PREVIEW at the top of it.
2. Actually… read the above. Kinda proves my point. You’re too dumb to read then you’re too dumb to have an opinion.
Mr Ed.
Wow, someone is grumpy this morning!
The only reference to a Vita is saying how it has twin sticks. I’m not sure that counts as “how much, much better the Vita is in comparison”. It also is a PREVIEW not a REVIEW.
1. I think that the guy was just making a comparision, he wasn’t saying one was the other. It does physically look like one!
2. The 3DS did have a crappy launch and the sales were low. Yeah, it is picking up now but Nintendo are probably still behind where they wanna be.
3. I guess a smartphone is expensive if you bought specifically to be a games device, but everyone just has one anyway so not really a point. I don’t see where he made any comment about how good controls where on a smartphone and the only reference to controls was how Nintendo has brought out a new periphal and will be brining it out with this game.
4. I dunno, I guess they will be using friendcodes still? You are probably right there.
5. Yeah, he probably got confused with the 27 editions of the DS that came out
Mr. Dead, you’re even a bigger idiot if you think preview means the same as editorial.
@JoeStalin Well, sorry about that first post. Its just that the “preview” had so many flaws on it that it made me spit my coffee on my laptop and that probably ruined my cheerful mood a lot more than the actual article.
1. Anyway, indeed the DS XL does kinda look like the 3DS. Two screens and whatnot. But that’s where most of the similarities end. Its kinda simplistic and foolish to simply call the 3DS a DS XL with a 3D switch. Ignoring the large amount of differences in functionality they each have. That would be like saying that the iPhone is just a iPod that lets you call Grandma. Same thing.
2. Never denied that it had a crappy launch. Just pointed out that after a full 9 months after the fact, it feels like an unnecessary old argument to make. More so considering how the 3DS already surpassed the original DS’s one year sales record within a year. The fact that its selling incredibly well despite the initial hiccup. All this probably rubs some analysts and some editors in a very bad way, considering they thought the 3DS was dead. Yes, dead. Or close to it. So now, they are like wondering “what the heck happened?”.
3. Exactly, smartphones are too expensive to use it as a dedicated gaming device. And none of the “cheap downloadable games” are worth more than the 99 cents you pay for them. Plus smartphones lack the interface necessary to play a decent game or without having stubby fingers all over the screen getting in the way. So I dunno why he even went there comparing a game handheld with a phone. Two different experiences. Not comparable at all.
4. Unlike with the Wii or DS, on the 3DS there is only one single/universal Friend Code used on any given console. And that very friend code is then used with any game that actually employs them. Some games will not require Friend Codes to play online. Including Nintendo games such as Mario Kart 7. I mean you can use them if you want. Or just play with whom you want online. In short, things are a lot easier on the 3DS.
5. Even if there were 100 version of the DS out there, if he’s going to cover videogames he better know the dang difference between all 100 of them. Or just stick to making editorials.