The ultimate trip down memory lane for die-hard Resident Evil fans
User Rating: 7.5 | Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles WII
It took me so long to actually get this game that my own created hype kinda killed my very first time playing the game. I played it, at first, all on my own because I only had one Wiimote and I just kept dying. I ended up throwing it aside for awhile, but upon playing it again, I fell in love with it. Eventually I got a second Wiimote and played Co-op, which heightened my experience even more. I got absolutely ecstatic every time I unlocked a new scenario that detailed the events of another RE game. I love stepping into familiar locales every time I play, like the Spencer Mansion, The Ecliptic Express and all of the locations around Raccoon City, that seem to be more closely modeled after the maps in Resident Evil: Outbreak, then the games they are actually adapting. I seem to recognize the locations from Outbreak much more than from the other games. I particularly don't like the "rail" approach to it, as it gives you little control on where you go or what you do. But I'm glad they decided to go with this approach then the one they were originally going to. Believe it or not, Capcom was originally going to adapt the games in RE4 and 5's fashion instead of a rail-shooter. That would have been a very bad move, and the game would not have as high as a score it does from me. Playing as classic RE character including Chris, Jill, Wesker, Rebecca, Carlos, Ada and Billy are really fun, because for some of them (Rebecca, Billy and Carlos), it's the first time we've seen them since the games being adapted in these game. It's nice to see them again, but I would have liked to see some new chapters detailing their current exploits, instead of a new trip for Chris and Jill (what the game gave us). I would have really enjoyed having a new chapter that detailed Rebecca's search for Billy after the Raccoon City Incident. Now that would be cool. Also seeing other classic RE bosses like Nemesis, the handful of Tyrants and the scorpions from Zero. New and returning villains are also a welcome exchange. The game's difficulty can be a bit of a struggle, but you will eventually get your way through the game. For some odd reason, though, RE2 is left out and not even referenced for some reason. My guess is that the game details the exploits of S.T.A.R.S. VS Umbrella for the most part, so RE2 wouldn't exactly fit. Although we don't get to play as Leon and Claire, we do get to step in Ada Wong's shoes briefly and experience her escape from Raccoon City before it's detonation after she is saved from death by Wesker off screen in RE2. But, the newly released Darkside Chronicles gives us RE2 as a playable chapter, as well as Code: Veronica, so I guess I'll have to pick that up now. The Umbrella Chronicles is a slightly frustrating rail-shooter, but this trip down memory will please any die-hard RE fan.
