Next year Capcom is planning to bring back zombies with a vengeance with two new titles in the Resident Evil franchise. Actually, "new" may be a bit of a stretch in the case of the remastered release of the original Resident Evil, which is coming to current-gen and last-gen consoles as well as PC in 2015. Of the two upcoming releases, the more interesting one by far is Resident Evil: Revelations 2, a (sort of) sequel to Capcom's 2012 Nintendo 3DS title Resident Evil: Revelations.
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Whereas Resident Evil: Relevations was only ported to PC and consoles a year after its original release, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is heading straight to Microsoft and Sony's consoles (both current-gen and last-gen) as well as PC, but there's no indication yet that it will release on either the 3DS or the Wii U. While this is undoubtedly disappointing for Nintendo fans, some new gameplay and story details about Resident Evil: Revelations 2 have now emerged - and they're pretty enticing.
In a feature published in the latest issue of GamesMaster magazine (via Push Start), the first screenshots from Resident Evil: Revelations 2 have been released and some key details about the game have been revealed. Claire Redfield, who has previously been playable in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica, will return as the game's main protagonist. Resident Evil: Revelations 2's campaign will be playable in either singleplayer or co-op, and Claire will be supported in co-op mode by Moira Burton, daughter of Barry Burton.
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The two characters have very different attributes that will affect their respective play styles. Claire is described as a "seasoned veteran" and her abilities are therefore focused on combat, whereas Moira will offer support by controlling the flashlight, providing Claire with health herbs and generally trying to keep her alive. It's important to do so, since Claire's death is the only player death that will result in a Game Over screen. The feature mentions a new enemy type called the "Afflicted," which are fast, deal heavy damage and require careful planning in order to take them down or escape them altogether.
In terms of story, the game is set between the events of Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6, and will begin with Claire and Moira waking up on an abandoned island detention facility after being abducted. The big action set pieces of the more recent titles in the franchise will be eschewed in favor of a return to the survival horror style of the series' roots. Producer Michiteru Okabe explained that “The project has been finding the line between listening to fan feedback and also doing something different to confound expectations.”
As a final note that will be of interest to graphics enthusiasts, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 will apparently run at 1080p and 60fps on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. That's a great promise, but we'll believe it when we see it.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is set to release on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One in 2015.
Sources: GamesMaster, Push Start