Resident Evil Revelations 2 Episode 4 Review (Xbox One)

The end is nigh. Following a very strong 3^rd episode, containing some of the best elements that the Resident Evil franchise has had to offer, anticipation (and expectation) for the finale was high. Do Claire and Moira survive? Does Barry find his daughter, and do we finally discover Natalia’s secret?

The meaning of the word disappointment is given as: ‘sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of one’s hopes or expectations.’ Episode 4 – Metamorphosis – didn’t cause me any sadness, but heaps of displeasure. For multiple reasons. We start with Claire and Moira’s segment, which is barely but a few minutes, as the pair suddenly find themselves on a rapid escape mission, time limit cliché and all. It’s a great cliffhanger but never resolved. What the hell?!

Based on that, you would hope the best was being saved for Barry and Natalia in their ‘6 months later in the same place’ storyline. You’d be wrong. Aside from a nice but brief ode to the Spencer mansion and a pretty suspenseful build up to the final battle, episode 4 is just a messy mound of horseshit. It is mostly padded out through a very tedious ‘let’s wade through this underground mine’ sequence, complete with gas. Poisonous gas no less, which pads out the padding out, unbelievably. And for a title that was seemingly letting the plot unfold before our eyes, all of a sudden you’re finding out vital plot elements through the ever more frequently placed paper files. That no one usually really reads. Not good.

Then there was the finale. A typical, contorted bad guy in the most clichéd and unnecessarily long sequence that no one asked for; more of a hindrance than a challenge. Which leads onto the most bitter of all pills to swallow. The ending I received upon defeating said beast didn’t resolve anything, in fact one question was left beyond all others: What the fuck just happened?

What the fuck indeed, as it turns out that a particular action I took in episode 3 from Claire’s story is the mother of all good/bad ending crossroads. This would be fine, except there is NO indication of this, or any way around it, except of course to play through differently the next time. No thanks Capcom, I’ll catch the ending I missed on YouTube. Would anyone who knew they’d already screwed up the ending pay another £5 to see what they could have won? Of course not.

Resident Evil Revelations 2 was a great concept, yet the episodic format (or the use of) becomes its biggest downfall. Should you make the right choice in episode 3, then the those initial plot questions are indeed answered, with a little doubt left to entice a potential sequel. I’m not saying don’t buy Episode 4 – it’s hard not to once you’ve come this far – but please heed these words; don’t underestimate Moira in episode 3, as your interest in the Resident Evil franchise may well depend on it.

Resident Evil Revelations 2: Episode 4 is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

See Kevin’s reviews of the other Resident Evil Revelations 2 episodes here.