Do you like the old Resident Evil games? Do you like their atmosphere and tension? Would you like to have that again? Now you can!

At least that is what Capcom promised with Resident Evil: Revelations, a game originally developed for the Nintendo 3DS, and released on January 26, 2012 in Japan; January 27, 2012 in Europe; February 2, 2012 in Australia; and February 7, 2012 in North America.

Of course, the 3DS was not exactly “printing money” during those days, so a lot of people did not play this game. So Capcom, fearing the low sales, started developing an HD version for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360. It is set to be released in just a few days, but nevertheless Capcom decided to put out a demo for all to try. With me being the scarehound that I am, I couldn’t let this chance pass me by. So how does it hold up? Does it really bring back the horror and abrasive atmosphere of the old ones? Or is this another game in the vein of a Michael Bay movie?

The demo begins with Jill and her partner Parker Luciani checking out the body of a B.O.W inside a cargo ship; also it seems our favorite Hulk wannabe, Chris, is missing.

Once you take control of Jill, you will notice that the game controls like Resident Evil 5, although there is an option to enable Resident Evil 4 type controls. Both are viable, and it feels great that we were given the option at all. There is also a scan system in place, which will enable you to examine enemies and look for hidden objects.

The game’s graphics are superb, and it makes great use of lighting and sound to make you feel uncomfortable. To anyone out there who played Cold Fear, this will feel very similar to that game. That is not a bad thing though, as you will constantly have the feeling that something will jump out at you at any given time, so any survival horror fans out there will feel right at home.

There’s also something that I believe you will find very interesting: The object placement is random, at least for ammo and herbs. This is a great mechanic to use, as it will ensure that everyone will have a different experience. It enhances the fear and the feeling of uncertainty.

The enemies… They are not exactly the scariest looking ones out there. They look rather cartoony, something that should not be happening in a Resident Evil game. Don’t be fooled though, for these guys are fast, strong, resistant and come in packs. So if you thought you were going to breeze through this one, I’m afraid you’ll have your bubble burst.

In conclusion, Resident Evil: Revelations looks and feels promising. The demo is good enough to where I became interested in the game. It is creepy, unnerving and challenging, just like a Resident Evil game should be. If you want to see for yourself, the demo is available on PSN, PC and XBLA, so go ahead and form your own opinion.

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