Wii Review
By
Iun Hockley - 30th November 2007 01:50
Out today in Europe, we review the Wii`s latest entry in the Resi series. Calamity or classic? Find out inside...
Brains… brains…
In terms of testosterone, adrenaline and simplicity, things really don’t get much better than a good old-fashioned, arcade-style-on-rails-light-gun-game. Father, help! My hyphen key is broken!
There really is nothing quite like standing in a noisy arcade with a large crowd gathered round, as you and a friend give seven kinds of hell to a group of international terrorists. Sadly, games of this sort really don’t translate well to the home console scene as they are too short, too expensive with their light gun peripheral and have stories that a child could write.
Thankfully, this has all just changed.
It seems crazy that it has taken this long for development studios to realise this, but the Wii is the perfect home for the classic shooter. The Wiimote itself is a ready-made light gun that everyone has if they own a Wii console, so no-one has to buy anything new. Furthermore, the Wii is the best console to own for multiplayer madness – another tick in the light gun box. All we need now is a developer with a good storyline to step forward and make our dreams come true.
Transporting the Resident Evil universe into a light gun game really is obvious when you think about it: the tension of enclosed spaces and hordes of unrelenting zombies are just about perfect for the genre. It has been tried before with a middling level of success on other consoles but on the Wii it is an instant classic.
Bringing together for the first time the disparate strands of the Resident Evil story, Umbrella Chronicles tells the story partly from the point of view of Umbrella as the T-Virus spreads from the Spencer Mansion to the nearby Raccoon city and the exploits of its survivors.
Each chapter of the story is broken into three different levels, with an often screen-filling end of level guardian at the close. Starting with Resident Evil 0 these levels tell some of the most interesting parts of the games, with a little retconning on the way. Every level features a check point halfway through to allow you breathing time and a restart point should you die. Unlike most light gun games, these levels can take up to an hour to complete, even on the easiest difficulty setting – most games of this type last no more than an hour in their entirety.
Levels are large and expansive, with interactive environments and breakable objects to help you. Sometimes these take the form of crates that can be broken for extra ammo, some are more subtle in their execution, such as a large pile of inconspicuous pipes that can be blasted to squish the never-ending hordes. The fan service in these levels is immense, with more than a few sections eliciting a loud “I remember that!” from my cracked lips.
Overall the look of the game is superb, though there are some not so brilliant moments, it is certainly not on a par with Resident Evil 4 which is several years old now. The game has more in common with Remake and 0 in that providing you do not get too close to the textures and enemies, it all looks fabulous.
At your disposal are a number of different weapons to help you despatch the zombies, dogs and ugly monsters that block your way to victory. The standard weapon as always is the Samurai Edge pistol from the first game, it has unlimited ammo but needs to be reloaded after about 12 shots. Though it is useful in the early levels of the game, you might as well throw the pistol at the enemies for all the use it is in the latter stages. Fortunately there are shotguns, machine guns and explosives at your disposal, though these all have limited ammo. These are frequently found in the level, or hidden behind crates and at the beginning of every level you can choose which one you want to equip as your secondary weapon. All weapons bar the pistol can be upgraded with stars.
Every enemy in the game has a unique “sweet spot” which when hit just right kills them instantly. For most enemies it is the head, though it is often nearly impossible to hit these in the first shot, dogs are the only exception to this, as they are fairly easy to down. Some might complain about this part of the game, but it makes it more realistic – heads snap back as they are struck, arms are clutched and kneecappings bring the enemy to a near dead-stop. However, during the course of the game, these one-hit kills become harder and harder to achieve. The only explanation for this is that the spot becomes smaller and the zombies themselves get tougher the further you progress.
Also hidden in the levels are Umbrella logos which turn into documents at the end of every level. Documents contain all sorts of information on the outbreak and the research being carried out in the Mansion as well as diaries and little character titbits. For fan service, the only game that trumps this is Super Smash Bros. Melee. But that does not mean that Resi virgins will be unable to have as much fun with the games s people who have been born and bred with them, there is still much to enjoy for the newcomer and casual gamer.
The voice acting is still incredibly bad in places, and your partner will frequently talk to you throughout firefights, sometimes offering advice, and sometimes just being a nuisance. The incidental music is just perfect for the light gun genre, but really does not fit here at all. Digital effects combined with synthesized guitars and pianos detract from the feeling of menace and fear, but not enough to cause any major problems.
In terms of lifespan, you can expect the first run through of the game to keep you busy for about 6 hours – though that’s on the easy setting. There are multiple paths, lots of hidden extras and so many different fun aspects of the game that make it warrant several playthroughs on your own. Of course, getting a friend to wield a second Wiimote makes the game pure bliss. Turn the lights off, ramp up the FX volume and prepare for an evening of frights and fun.
© Copyright by N-Europe
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