Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles Impressions

Filed in archive Wii on March 14, 2008

Image from Gamebump.com

In the early days of the Wii, gamers were dissapointed to hear that while they were getting an exclusive Resident Evil game, it was going to be a light gun shooter. However, as Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles nears the one million shipped mark, it was clearly the right move for Capcom. However, is it any fun?

I purchased this game primarily as a title to pull out when Dad comes for visits. He likes gun games, and this is in fact the only modern game genre that he finds playable.

In this regard it succeeds. I like how both players share the same life bar, so that I can keep Dad alive in the game via picking up herb health Pickups. Still, the tutorial level is overloaded with text boxes- one wonders if Capcom couldn't have come up with a better way to teach the player.

The graphics look wonderful, as all Resident Evil games tend to look. I'm not sure why people complain about the game's looks. Methinks it is the platform the game is on, and not the graphics itself, that causes such ludicrous commentary.

It is fun as a single player game, but it does suffer from the usual light gun game drawback of repetitive gameplay. I do like, however, the ability to attack enemies close at hand via the Wii Remote acting as a knife. The game even recognizes what direction you swing the Wii Remote. Enemies react in realistic ways to shots, and the targeting reticle glows on weak points, making targeting fair even on complicated boss characters.

Overall, Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles is a must buy for Resident Evil fans, a probable must buy for light gun shooting fans, and a "rental/discount purchase" candidate for all others.

Check out how the game is doing over at VGChartz.