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It Should've Been So Much More

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 52 / 59
Date: November 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

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

Fun re-invention of the RE/light gun formula

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 23 / 25
Date: November 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

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.

behind the times

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 27 / 41
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I love first person shooters (particularly on the Wii) and am a fan of the RE series so I figured this game would be amazing. Unfortunatley I feel that the rail sytem ruins the game. It reminds me of House of the Dead where little creatures jump at you and you have to shoot them out of the air. It is moderatley fun, but strikes me as a game that was made 10 years ago. If you are at all interested in the game, rent it or wait a month or two when the price drops....it definitely is not fun enough to justify spending $50

The reason I purchased a Wii

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: November 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

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.

Great Shooting Game Almost Like The Shooting Arcades

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game from EBgames a few days ago and have not been disappointed with it.The game starts off with RE0 through RE2 with some extras added in the first player though is the only one who can control to some extent the camera angles the 2player just points and shoots.The video and audio quality are also great as well as the lighting effects when inside buildings.The game greatly reminds me of the shooting arcades like house of the dead 4 so that being said if you don't like first-person shooters or not being able to really control the direction you want to really go this game will not be for you.The wii zapper is also coming out soon and if you have a few more first-person shooters I say try it out also Amazon is selling it for $20 that's not a bad price.That all said if you're a resident evil fan I definitely say get the game

Nostalgic fun!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: November 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Having loved the RE games of the past, this was like a speedy violent trip down memory lane. As a first person shooter, it's extrememly fun and unexpected. All types of monsters, locations from RE 0, 1, 3 (and a brand new level), this game is a must have!

A Must Buy for some reasons

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I am glad that I bought this game from familyvideo.com. Totally worthy!

As a huge fan of RE series, I previewed plenty of trailers prior to the release date. Judging from these trailers, definitely, UC appears to be a recycled product which contain a number of RE series such as zero, RE1, and RE3. If you are a RE fan, I am sure you will be touched by some classical scenarios, figures, monsters, and X files about Umbrella.

This game doesn't fit the needs of those people who gave negative reviews because they shouldn't compare UC to any RE series which players can control the movement nearly every moment. However, if you like first person shooting or shooting games directed by the trail system, this game would be a wonderful alternative.

I give two thumbs up as my highest recommendation.

Like shooters, like RE, this is the game you gotta have!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is much more than your normal shooting gallery game. It adds elements from the RE series and it uses the Wii very efficiently. Let me give you an example: Instead of just shooting bosses, your reflexes are tested when the boss attacks you have to respond in different ways. You can shake the nunchuk, press the B button, press Z (if you have it on zapper mode), or press both; you have a split second to make the right choice and to tell you the truth I already died many times due to the fact I could not make the right choice in time. The only reason I ever stoped to play the game was because my hand was killing me from doing all that shooting motion.
If you like RE and the lightgun type games you are gonna love this one.

Fans of Rail shooters, rejoice!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you like lightgun games or the Resident Evil series, this game is for you. Although a bit rough around the edges at times, this game is tremendous fun either by yourself or with a friend (just make sure your partner can aim...)

The game would be a great introduction to the RE world, recapping the stories of RE0, RE, RE2, and I assume RE3 although I am not yet there.

All in all, a fun game; it is probably going to be a 'game to own' for fans of the Wii Zapper.

A Good Quick Story

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: March 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

When I was reading these reviews I thought 'wow do people understand the words rail shooter?' The answer to this is NO. Most of the reviews that have been written that are one stars are by people that didn't understand this concept.
For those of you that don't understand what a rail shooter is: this is a game that is like time crisis or house of the dead. You don't move your character you are on a "rail". With this in mind a person can't expect any new breakthroughs in game play. Even on the Wii this game doesn't bring anything breakthrough.
I also found people that said you can't go anywhere and it's the same every time...WRONG. In every level you get to choose one of 2 or 3 ways or paths at some point. So you do get some choice, but this is minimal. I want you to understand that there are some options.
So what does this game have to offer? First RE4 was amazing and on the Wii it was better. Most people were introduced to Resident Evil through RE4. So think of it this way, Capcom wanted to introduce the story for those that haven't play through RE0, 1, and 3, the major story lines. Lets face is RE2 and 3 is really expensive on the GameCube, and not everyone wants to fork over 60 dollars to play those games.
I would suggest Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles to someone that hasn't played any of the RE games before, if you really want to know and don't mind a watered down story. If you don't know what the words "rail shooter" mean, don't.

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