What Common Sense Media says about Resident Evil: Revelations

Common Sense Media Says: Not for kids

Violent, carnage-filled survival horror game with zombies.

What Parents need to know

Parents need to know that Resident Evil: Revelations is a violent and bloody third-person shooter with "survival horror" elements. This "Mature"-rated game shows acts of strong violence, primarily weapon-based combat, against zombies and mutated creatures. Enemies can spray blood when shot and collapse on the ground in bloody chunks. Some profanity can also be heard and female characters wear revealing clothing.

Families can talk about a portable Nintendo platform with "Mature"-rated games. Should Nintendo embrace games for older players to expand its appeal or focus solely on family-friendly games like its first-party titles that are mostly rated "E" for "Everyone" (except for the "Teen"-rated Metroid series).
What is the impact of violence in a game like Resident Evil: Revelations?

Educational value:This game is meant to entertain rather than educate.

Positive messages:There aren't any positive messages, aside from the fact you're destroying evil zombies. This might be a bit of a stretch for some, but it's the only "positive" message one could take from this.

Positive role models:You play as various Resident Evil characters in this handheld game, including Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, out to stop a bio-terrorist plot and take down zombies in the process. The characters all seem heroic, and performing a job that must be done opposed to enjoying the killing. But because they all wield weapons and focus on killing (with some puzzle solving) they're not the best role models either.

Ease of play:After playing through the first tutorial level with tips, it's fairly easy to play, employing the Nintendo 3DS's buttons to move and shoot, and the touchscreen to solve puzzles and switch between weapons. The game is also compatible with the new Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro, which adds another analog stick to the game.

Violence:This game has a lot of strong violence, blood, and gore. This third-person shooter has you shooting guns, rifles, and rocket launchers to kill hundreds of thousands of zombies and other mutated creatures. Enemies scream in pain, fall to the ground, and leave pools of blood and fleshy chunks. Some cut-scene sequences are also potentially disturbing with scenes of death and mutilation.

Sex:Some of the female characters in the game, including Jill Valentine, show ample cleavage through a low-cut top. Chris Redfield's new partner, Jessica Sherawat, flirts with him quite a bit.

Language:The words "s--t," "damn" and "hell" can be heard in the game. It's not often but it's there.

Consumerism:This Capcom game features many familiar characters from past Resident Evil games.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking:Not applicable.

Privacy & safety:Some safety and privacy concerns. The game supports local and online multiplayer support for two players, but there isn't an option to chat with other players. The game also offers a StreetPass features to wireless exchange missions with other nearby players.

What's the story?

RESIDENT EVIL: REVELATIONS takes place in between the events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. The action focuses on familiar characters Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, who, depending on the mission, are looking for one another, with their new partners from the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA). It's 2005, and there's a deadly bioterrorist attack that destroys the island city of Terragrigia. For much of the first half of the single-player game, you're scouring a giant abandoned cruise ship -- which holds the secret to the global bio-terrorism conspiracy -- and you'll be warding off the horrors there, including undead zombies and other nasty creatures. You'll be joined by an A.I. (artificial intelligence) partner to help take down the baddies.

Is it any good?

Resident Evil: Revelations is a fantastic third-person survival horror game -- which looks and plays great on the portable Nintendo 3DS platform. While your A.I.-controlled partners lack personality (and at times, usefulness), the game delivers intense stop-and-pop action and memorable moments, impressive 3D visuals, many playable characters, multiplayer co-op options (local and Internet), and support for the optional Circle Pad Pro accessory ($20) which makes it feel more like a console game. The bite-sized "TV episode"-like feel also works for a mobile platform, when you might not have a lot of time to play in one sitting (and with a recap to the previous mission). If the violence and carnage isn't an issue for you (take heed to the "Mature" rating), then you'll no doubt like shooting your way through the creepy Resident Evil: Revelations.