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80 of 88 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
It Should've Been So Much More, November 16, 2007
Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars
The Resident Evil games outside of the main series haven't really done too well. Especially the first person shooter ones such as Resident Evil: Survivor or Resident Evil: Dead Aim. And they performed poorly with good reason. It's nice to say that Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles isn't bad, but it would've been so much better to say it was good.
Umbrella Chronicles is not entirely a new game. It only serves to show you the downfall of Umbrella. You'll play through Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 1 and Resident Evil 3. It's a shame that the classic Resident Evil 2 isn't included in this package, though. As it is one of the best games in the series. Still, you're getting quite an adventure and a nice trip down memory lane. A lot of the game is narrated nicely by Albert Wesker as you plow through the game.
You'll have your stock of weapons and ammunition as you go through the game. Your standard handgun has infinite ammo and can be used to take down most of your basic enemies. You'll also pick up other weapons which do have ammunition in limited supply. Most enemies can be taken down quite easily. Every enemy also has a weak spot you can shoot that results in a one-hit kill. Unfortunately, it's not easy to hit these spots.
Like the Wii Edition of Resident Evil 4, Umbrella Chronicles feels natural for the Wii. It's no problem getting acquainted to the controls. You can look around a little with the nunchuck, and you'll use the wii remote to aim and shoot at your foes. The game is also compatible with the wii zapper. In addition to blasting your enemies you'll also be able to use your knife by swinging the wii remote. In short, Umbrella Chronicles is easy to pick up and play. The overall adventure isn't too hard either.
You'll have some fun with the game because its really simple stuff, but it feels a lot like the House of the Dead arcade shooters. In a sense, it feels very empty at times. You have enemies coming at you left and right, but the gameplay eventually turns into something repetitive. Throughout the adventure it just feels like something more could've been done with the game. More variety in the gameplay would've been nice. It's fun at first but there's just not enough thrown at you. There are moments where you're reflexes will be tested and you'll have to shake the wii remote or press certain buttons. This'll keep you on your toes, but it's still not enough to drive past the fact that the game grows repetitive really fast.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Umbrella Chronicles is that it simply could've been a better looking game. The environments have the look of Resident Evil, but the textures are not all that smooth. It doesn't look bad, but it certainly needed a bit of a polish to make it look better.
The music is a little strange. It's this aspect that doesn't make the game feel like Resident Evil. The music doesn't carry that eerie tone. It's not bad, though. For the most part it has a good soundtrack but you can't help but think that you're playing a game that looks like Resident Evil but feels like something else.
Umbrella Chronicles isn't a bad game by any means. But it sure isn't good either. Die-hard Resident Evil fans might like it, but it would probably be better to wait until the list price comes down for a game that would've fared better in the arcade rather than the home console.
Pros:
+Relive some of the best moments of the Resident Evil series
+Simplistic and easy gameplay to grasp
+Nice voice work
Cons:
-Not enough variety in the gameplay
-Graphics could've used a polish
-Doesn't include Resident Evil 2
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun re-invention of the RE/light gun formula, November 15, 2007
Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles marks Capcom's long running horror series' return to the light gun shooter formula. For those that remember the series' first foray into the genre, the less than enjoyable Resident Evil: Survivor for the PS1, have no fear that Umbrella Chronicles improves on the formula in nearly every which way. With environments and characters straight out of previous games in the series (including the classic mansion and Raccoon City), long time fans of the series will be rejoicing at all the nostalgiac touches that populate most of The Umbrella Chronicles. The shooting action is more than solid, and the Wii controls are quite good as well for the most part. What hurts The Umbrella Chronicles are the repetitive moments that also populate the game, as well as graphical and character animation glitches. It won't take you long to see a majority of the enemies the game has to offer, and as far as light gun shooters as a whole go, Umbrella Chronicles doesn't offer anything new. Despite that though, there's still a lot to admire. The music score is spooky, the side quests are fun with extra content to unlock, and the boss fight with Nemesis is worth the price of admission alone. All in all, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is a fun re-working of the RE/light gun formula, and is worth picking up for light gun shooter and Resident Evil fans alike.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The reason I purchased a Wii, November 15, 2007
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
With the obvious exception of the big name Nintendo series' such as Mario, Zelda, and Metroid, Resident Evil is the only thing I believe that Nintendo has going for it.
Now, for starters I only want to give this game about 4 stars, but I'm giving it 5 to help balance the reviewers who didn't do their homework. They obviously have this wonderful piece of technology called the internet, and for them not to find out that it was a first person rail shooter before buying it is just ridiculous.
I'm an avid Resident Evil fan, so this game was a must for me - most simply because of the name, "Umbrella Chronicles". The Resident Evil Series has one of the most confusing plots - especially when concerning the character of Albert Wesker. This game does a nice job of filling in the gaps and plotholes that have existed for years in between the RE games that have been released, which is a nice thing to have before playing Resident Evil 5 (hopefully to be released in 2008), where I think Chris and Wesker will have a showdown (probably a final one).
The game itself is fun. It's the first rail shooter that I've ever played. It's appropriately named though, since it's like you're on fun house ride where you can't control where you're going, which does add a bit more tension. There's certainly no running away or getting into positions of your choice in this one. You also have to be very quick and aware or else you'll miss items that you, of course, cannot go back and get.
They did a nice job recreating the scenarios from the older games in this. As another reviewer put it - it's nostalgiac fun. It goes further than being just a recreation of the older games though. You also get to play as characters that you didn't get to before (Wesker, Richard, Ada, and Hunk) in scenarios that you didn't see before. Some have complained about not being able to play Leon in any Resident Evil 2 / 4 scenarios, but I honestly didn't care since I already know what happened to him during and between those games. Besides, it would have been annoying to have the view on the right side of your screen obstructed by overlong bangs.
The replay value is quite high, since there are many unlockables. There's a ratings system in this game, just like all of the other games, and it's based on things like shooting accuracy / percentage. I did pretty terrible on the first level, since I wasn't familiar with the controls and gameplay, but I've sort of mastered it now. Just don't go for headshots all of the time. The enemies like to fall back with their heads bent slightly out of sight when you get the first head shot, so don't go for a second one right away. You have to be quick in taking them out too, or else they like to jump on you, which is frustrating. You should also always be on the look out for explosive barrells and stuff, because it's really hard to take out a large group of enemies otherwise. My favorite part of the gameplay is taken right out of Resident Evil 4, where you have to press buttons as they appear on the screen at certain points to avoid death. All of that together keeps you on your toes / on the edge of your seat - as it should. All of it is also complimented nicely by great settings / atmospheres, and the same kind of unsettling music that can be found in it's predecessors.
Right now I'm waiting for the Wii Zapper before I replay it. Hopefully the zapper will not be a piece of crap like so many other Wii accessories before.
If you're a Resident Evil nut like me, then pick this up (or at least rent it). Exclusives like this and the Mario/Zelda games are the only reason for owning a Wii right now. Other than that you have multiplatform games (which are always inferior on the Wii) and Foo Foo kiddie games.
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