I suspect most of us secretly adore this game, but keep downplaying it because we have this notion it's a "budget title." We're also so used to recent REs feeling like missed potential... It's like we're not allowing ourselves to fully enjoy it because we've conditioned ourselves to see the classics as untouchable and everything new as suspect.
I'll straight-up say that Rev 2 is already one of my favorite games in the series (with the disclosure I'm primarily a fan of the "action" REs).
Rev 2 has the best pacing and variety in an RE title since RE4. It has more puzzles in one episode than the entirety of RE4, RE5 and RE6 combined. It has more meaningful lore connections than RE4, more mystery and intrigue, and more heartfelt character development than RE4, RE5 and RE6.
People say this is a "budget" title, but it doesn't look or sound like one, and it's certainly not lacking in content. The occasional bad texture is the exception, not the rule (and RE6 had as many, if not more, I can confirm from playing it the other night). The environments in Rev 2 look "lived-in." They have a real sense of place. They have an undeniable atmosphere, and attention to detail. Then you have the Easter eggs, and the alternate ways things can play out between Claire's scenario and Barry's scenario, which goes a long way toward rekindling that sense of wonder.
And it just feels good to control this game. The snappy aiming and shooting... Dodging with deft directional inputs... The fluid character and camera movement. Switching between characters to stun --> melee --> finish. Scouring the environment with the flashlight, making hidden items *pop* into existence. Pumping shotgun shells into the gut of an Ironhead, or luring him into a Vulcanblubber's line of fire. Rushing past Sploders and hearing them clear out a throng of enemies as they explode. So many satisfying moments, strung together with just the right frequency.
And these boss battles, while only a handful in number, are just fantastic. Especially the one at the end of Claire's Episode 3, where Moira is just as important as Claire, requiring fancy footwork and focused handling of the flashlight to burn away the enemy's armor. Great feedback there, clearly conveying the simmering heat. The creature introduced in Barry's Episode 3 was also memorable. It already feels like a classic.
The wait for Episode 4 will be unbearable. And I read in a review that if you like the storytelling and atmosphere in this game, the two extra episodes (one focused on Moira, the other on Natalia) will apparently deliver in spades. That sounds great.