Reviews

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The Resident Evil series has always been about big bad bioweapons mutated by gene-altering viruses, fought against by the members and associates of Raccoon City’s S.T.A.R.S. police unit, manipulated by the devious Albert Wesker, and all caused by the megalomaniacal pharmaceutical company Umbrella Inc.

Resident Evil 4, however, took Umbrella out of the equation, without giving gamers the big climactic battle that the series had been building towards for the best part of a decade. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles fills in the gaps; taking gamers through the series’ defining moments before heading to the never-before-seen Umbrella Stronghold for a long-awaited Umbrella-ending finale.

It does this not like traditional, puzzle-packed Resis, but in the form of a lightgun game that’s closer to the Resident Evil Gun Survivor titles. Where Gun Survivor fell down however, Umbrella Chronicles succeeds; thanks to the wonderful motion-sensing of the Wii Remote and a simple, intuitive control system.

A picks up items, B shoots, C on the Nunchuk cycles weapons (or the Wiimote D-pad if you prefer) and the Nunchuk analogue moves your head slightly, letting you peer around to grab the all-important health an ammo pickups you’ll see dotted around as your character progresses with the typically on-rails movement of all lightgun titles.

Umbrella Chronicles is fun, uncomplicated and slick, but by no means perfect. Visually, it’s detailed, but looks a little muddy, and doesn’t hit the heights we’d hoped for in our Preview. In gameplay terms meanwhile, the critical hit zone on enemy heads is definitely on the small side, and the aiming reticule isn’t perhaps as precise as the one in Link’s Crossbow Training, so shooting in Umbrella Chronicles can sometimes feel less skill, and more sheer luck.

However, the relatively slow pace affords enough time to stop this being a huge problem, while the choice between using your infinite-ammo handgun or limited ammo power weapons adds a tactical edge, quick-reaction QTE’s prove entertaining, and diversity of iconic Resi enemies stops Umbrella Chronicles becoming a one-trick zombie. In effect, Umbrella Chronicles achieves an atmosphere and gameplay balance lightgun titles rarely manage.

Compelling

At least, it does on Easy mode. On Normal and Hard, Umbrella Chronicles can be immensely difficult, so players will want to get a friend on board to tackle the higher difficulties.

Having said that, Umbrella Chronicles is a compelling experience however you play it. With scenario’s based on Resi’s of old, you’ll explore Resi Zero’s train wreck, the Spencer Mansion of Resi 1, followed by the hellish undead-packed streets of Resi 3: Nemesis, and then finally play through Umbrella’s snow-covered last stand.

Chapters are broken down into three sections, with a boss at the end of each, and completing a chapter unlocks bonus missions that fill in the story gaps for Resi faves Albert Wesker and Rebecca Chambers. There’s also a weapon upgrade system, and shooting items in the impressively destructible environments unlocks files that will delight hardcore Resi fans.

Those wondering where the Resi 4 levels are should take another look at the game's subtitle; Umbrella Chronicles. This is the story of Umbrella’s downfall, and Resi 4 takes place after that’s already happened. With that in mind, the omission makes sense.

Sadly, the same justification can’t be made for Resident Evils 2 or Code: Veronica. The former is shunted into the bonus missions of Umbrella Chronicles’ Resi 3 levels, while the latter is left out altogether. By overlooking these, Capcom has shied away from delivering the complete Survival Horror experience – though this is still a lengthy package by lightgun game standards, and the room for a sequel is not necessarily a bad thing.

Indeed, we'd welcome one, because Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is an entertaining, unique take on the genre, and a fascinating fan service for long time Resi lovers. Sometimes tricky and occasionally frustrating, but gruesomely addicting and great with a mate, it’s the sort of social, pick-up-and-play arcade fun that sold Nintendo’s Wii ideal in the first place.

GAME's Verdict

• A wonderful authentic-feeling fan service for old-skool Resi lovers
• Reasonably slow-paced, but surprisingly tactical with ammo-conservation, enjoyable QTE's and health/ammo items to look out for
• Unlockables, three difficulty modes and co-op play will keep you coming back for more

• Aiming isn't as precise as it could be and the critical hit mechanic is literally hit-and-miss
• Not the spectacular visual feast we'd hoped for
• A missed opportunity to be the complete Survival Horror lightgun game with the omissions of Resi 2 and Resi C:V chapters

Review by: Mark 'Shotgun' Scott
Version Tested: Wii
Review Published: 06.12.07