RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS 2

Although Resident Evil Revelations 2 doesn't recapture old glory or reach new heights for the series, it contains moments of inspiration where its action-adventure gameplay and mostly compelling mystery plot marry together beautifully. Capcom’s horror doesn't frighten, but as an action-adventure it’s elevated by this occasional synergy, and the excellent bonus Raid mode.

Revelations 2’s four episodes dance between two timelines, each with its own pair of characters, to weave together a mystery that kept me hooked right up until its finale. In one, reliably endearing Claire Redfield and ‘tude-filled Moira Burton - who I also liked, despite her tendency to swear for the sake of swearing -  are two unlikely friends, thrust together by an evil ‘overseer’ who is keeping them captive for reasons unknown.

Resident Evil fan-favourite Barry Burton is back in the second timeline, joined by mysterious newcomer Natalia, a little girl whose memory harbors half-remembered secrets. Each episode manages to keep its cards close enough to its chest that I was compelled to play the next one – perhaps the only justification for Revelations 2’s four-episode structure – and there’s a humour in the characters that I found refreshing.

Pairing off these characters does more than serve the story, though, as your companions are legitimately useful in ways that make gameplay more interesting. Moira’s flashlight is used to blind

Resident Evil Revelations 2.

FEBRUARY 25, 2015 [EPISODE 1 LAUNCH]

Uncover more secrets of the Umbrella conspiracy in Resident Evil: Revelations 2.

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LUCY O'BRIEN SAYS

Try This Game If You Liked:

The Evil WithinResident Evil 5Dead Island enemies and find hidden objects for Claire, and Natalia can see enemy weakpoints and crawl through tiny spaces where Barry can’t fit.

Revelations 2 is at its best when it makes us use all these skills at once. Its most satisfying moments involve switching between characters on the fly - or shrieking instructions at your partner if playing in split-screen or online co-op - in order to make it through particularly tricky or dangerous areas.

Both Natalia and Moira are physically underpowered, too, which can lend to a sense of hysteria. There’s a thrilling section in Episode 3, for example, where Moira and Claire must escape an enemy-filled building by working together against the clock. Moira can’t defend herself against giant enemies, so you’ve either got to make a run for it or you’ve got to switch to Claire and pump bullets into them from afar.

I would have liked to have seen more of this kind of co-op play across the board, but unfortunately Revelations 2’s biggest sin is its boring corridor environments.There’s a significant lack of environmental detail here - ‘unbreakable crates’ is as spicy as it generally gets - and its crumbling interiors are painted in far less than 50 shades of grey.

Equally unimaginative enemies roam them. While there are a handful that stand out - Claire faces off against a deliciously gross monster at the end of episode 3, while the final boss will likely inspire fan-art - most enemies are generic shamblers or walking pustules with glowing red spots. In 2015, these monsters aren’t only played out - they’re simply not scary.

Fortunately, traditional Resident Evil puzzles do eventually spice things up, after a conspicuous absence in the first few episodes. Episode 3 introduces some classic brain-benders, including one that involves Barry and Natalia working together to move a box from one end of a level to another. It’s all nonsense, of course - the justification is that the giant box is an outdoor ‘power source’ - but it incorporates some clever level design and provides a nice break from the running and gunning.

There’s far more consistency outside the main campaign. The Raid minigame is a highlight, played either solo or co-op. Raid mode challenges you to clear out a huge number of shooting galleries under the recommended level without healing yourself, offering bragging rights and unlockable characters as a reward. At 130 medals down, I’ve only scratched the surface, yet I’m compelled to continue: Raid offers real longevity outside of the main campaign.

VIDEO LINK : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ytrIg10Rpc

MORE CHARACTERS ON MORTAL KOMBAT X LEAK REVEALS

Ahead of the game's release next month, more Mortal Kombat X characters have been revealed by way of a leak.

Screenshots posted on Xbox360Achievements (via TestYourMight) suggest that gunslinger Erron Black, previously rumored for the game, is indeed a playable character in the fighting title.

The image above shows what appears to be Erron Black's Brutality, which is a point-blank, execution-style bullet to the brain.

Developer NetherRealm Studios in February confirmed that Brutalities would return in Mortal Kombat X.

In addition to Erron Black, images posted on the site show off other characters, including Baraka and Shinnok, both of whom were also previously rumored.

The Mortal Kombat X release date is April 14 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of the game were recently delayed and are now due this summer.

In other recent Mortal Kombat X news, NetherRealm has confirmed that Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees will be released as DLC, while Mileena, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade will be playable out of the gate.

For more on the fighting game's roster, check out GameSpot's list of every confirmed and rumored character so far.

SURVIVAL TIPS TO SUCCEED IN EVOLVE

The four-on-one multiplayer of Evolve looks deceptively simple. Jump into the shoes of a Hunter, and it'll feel like a first-person shooter. Even playing as the Monster can initially feel like an action-focused roaming brawler. But this is a game with a great deal more depth than it appears at first glance. No, don't shy away, we're here to help: Follow these key bits of advice to get yourself up to speed.

Know Your Role

In Evolve, every character is unique. And every Hunter is vital. Since you're never entirely sure which character you're going to spawn as, you need to get familiar with them all. But, more importantly, you need to operate within that character's given role. For example, if your Medic spends more time trying to damage the Monster than healing your team, you're gonna have a bad time. Learn the roles, and play the role you're given. You'll have plenty of opportunities to play other roles in the future.

It's Dangerous to Go Alone

Because each Hunter class supports every other, it's absolutely crucial to stick together as much as possible. The last thing you want is to have your Assault Hunter halfway across the map when you've trapped the Monster. And being low on health without a Medic around is nothing short of infuriating. So keep tabs on your teammates... and at the very, very least, stay in constant communication with each other.

For Monsters, a Little Stealth Goes a Long Way

Let's review the basics of Evolve: One player controls a Monster. Four players do everything in their power to destroy the Monster. As powerful as the Monster can be, it's hard to escape the fact that it's four against one. One way to gain an edge as the Monster is to be as stealthy as possible. At the start of the match, of course, you'll want to run like hell. But as soon as you've got some distance between you and the Hunters, take it slow and careful. The quieter you are, the harder it'll be for them to find you. And for the love of all that is holy, avoid the groups of roosting birds. They'll put the Hunters on your trail immediately.

Don't Get Tunnel Vision

No matter your role, it's easy to get too focused on the ultimate goal of the match, whether it be taking down a Monster or simply surviving as one. But remember that some sidetracks are worth it. Most especially, hunting albino creatures can result in seriously beneficial buffs for you or your team. You can harvest bonuses that slash your special-ability cool-down times, boost your armor, or even expand your clip size. Just don't get too distracted, or you might find your enemy creeping up behind you.

Mix it Up...

When you look at the progression path for both Hunters and Monsters, you'll notice that each item or ability has its own individual challenge. For example, the Medic needs to heal a certain amount of teammate damage, tranquilize the Monster a certain number of times, and place a certain number of targets on the Monster with the sniper rifle. Each class has similar challenges, and so does the Monster. Only after completing all of these objectives can you level up and unlock a new character. It can feel like a bit of a grind, but it serves two important purposes: First, it forces you to get comfortable with all of your role's abilities; and second, it gets you access to upgraded characters, who are dramatically better than the base model.

...But Not All at Once

Here's the trouble: If you try to focus on all these objectives in a single game, you'll find yourself overwhelmed. Monsters really need to specialize; you only get a handful of upgrade points when you evolve to Tier 2 and Tier 3, and trying to spread those points to all your abilities is going to leave you underpowered and vulnerable. So whether you're playing as Monster or Hunter, pick just one or two abilities to focus on each round.

The most important thing to remember about Evolve is that it's a much more complex and strategic game than it appears. Pay attention to your roles and your goals, though, and you'll survive.

Well, some of the time.

You can test your monster-hunting abilities immediately; Evolve is available right now on Xbox One!

EVOLVE GAMEPLAY VIDEO