umbrellachronicles
Latest
More thoughts on the Wii zapper
After our initial trial with the Wii zapper, we decided to take a second look at it. Is the newly-revealed attachment a gimmick or an integral part of gameplay? Capcom has the attachment on display at their mini-booth in the Barker Hanger at E3 and we were able to run through a demo of Resident Evil: Umbrealla Chronicles with the peripheral. The control scheme is altered for using the zapper. Shooting is done with the trigger, while you look around with the control stick. The buttons on the nunchuk are surprisingly still accessible and needed for swapping weapons. Holding the gun and aiming proved to be awkward at first, and only slightly awkward as we kept playing. Reloading was accomplished by shaking the zapper. Though the top buttons of the remote were accessible, we found it uncomfortable to do so when we had to hold the A button, the C button on the nunchuk, and then the trigger to lob a grenade (replace trigger for a gun shake to slash with your knife). It works fine, but the feeling of intuitive controls was at that moment lost for us. For those wondering, the Capcom representative we spoke said the gun was not going to be compatible with Resident Evil 4. The Wii zapper is indeed interesting, but our initial impression using it with Umbrella Chronicles is that it doesn't add that much to what we'd enjoy with simply the remote-nunchuk combination.
Joystiq plays Umbrella Chronicles, doesn't like it (again)
Remember their first hands-on with the game? They weren't too excited for the game after playing it and, with the new Nintendo Zapper, it turns out the experience hasn't gotten much better, in their eyes. Of course, we here question their sanity sometimes, only to receive the whipping of our lifetime in response, but we have to voice our protest on this one. Whips be damned! Sure, some of us think the new Wii Zapper is pretty dumb, but Joystiq is of the mind that it makes the experience worse than their first time around with the game. Can it truly bring the experience down that much?
Today's most deja vu video: Umbrella Chronicles co-op
This trailer for Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles seems eerily familiar for a number of reasons. Beyond the could've-sworn-we-knew co-op feature, the footage also shows environments and bosses from Resident Evil Zero, One and Two, all the way through RE3, covering the initial train ride, the Mansion, and the Raccoon City outbreak. Also, we could've sworn we saw Zombie #17 outside the Winchester in Shaun of the Dead. Guess they gotta make a living somehow, right? Video embedded after the break.
New Umbrella Chronicles deets revealed
Sure, such a game demands co-op gameplay, but until now, it's just been a rumor. Famitsu comes to the rescue, confirming that two-players will be able to team up against the zombie hordes in Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. Sounds good to us!The game also looks to add some variety by allowing players to select from a roster of characters. Selecting a character isn't just a cosmetic choice, though, as it will dictate your starting point in the level. For example, players that choose Rebecca will start in the train cars, just like in Resident Evil 0.
Resident Evil: Impressions Chronicles
GayGamer recently got a chance to play Capcom's Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, which pulls old RE stories from their graves and reanimates them as segments of a rail shooter. Unlike previous Resident Evil spinoff games, this one seems like it's going to be okay. They were especially pleased with the treatment of the story-- since the Resident Evil series has traditionally had a good story element, this game has a leg up over other zombie-filled shooting games. Nobody will have to suffer like G did.The Nunchuk use also received praise-- being able to look around freely with the joystick just lets you do more in each area, allowing the players to search for hidden items, aim shots more accurately, and choose paths.%Gallery-3286%
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles gets limited ed. in Japan
We know some of you out there are excited about Capcom's on-rails Resident Evil, Umbrella Chronicles, so we ask you: How excited are you? Are you excited enough about the Wii as light-gun functionality that you'd be willing to dish out ¥3675 (about $30)? Are you excited enough about returning to the original Raccoon City mansion that you'd want to decorate your mom's basement with a game case disguised as a medical waste containment carrier?We'll admit, we're not quite as excited as you lot, but we would like to decorate our mom's basement with more video game-themed tchotchkes.
Capcom wins at packaging
This is simply the coolest limited-edition box in recent memory. Forget the European Resident Evil 4 box. This Japanese Biohazard box is the business. For 3,675 yen, which is a suspiciously low $30, you get an awesome 20-DVD-capacity Umbrella Corporation biohazard storage box (itself inside an Umbrella Corporation shipping box), two keys, warning tags, and caution tape to seal it up. With a case this cool, who even needs a game? You could always buy this and RE4 Wii Edition and build your own limited edition set.[Via The Tanooki]
Night of the Living Wii Remote
Were it our decision, the streets would be choked with the undead, suffocated by their sloth and numbers. What little remained of the human race would have to go into hiding, their once-magnificent kingdoms now ruled by zombie majesty. It's a terrible vision that we hold onto in our heads every night before drifting off to sleep, hoping to carry it along with us in our dreams. Given our affection for the undead here at the Fanboy offices, we couldn't pass up mentioning this month's cover of Official Nintendo Magazine. The issue advertises May's Resident Evil features with a corpse hand breaking through its earthen grave. Gripped by cold, gray fingers, a Wii remote kicks back into life, properly strapped to the undeceased's wrist. Head past the post break for a better look, but take care not to attract the attention of brain-eating revenants on your way inside.
Two player possibilities in Umbrella Chronicles?
One of the benefits of deciding not to take the game the route of Resident Evil 4 is the possibility of two-player co-operative gameplay. Of course, given the trailers we've seen from the game that have Chris and Jill running together through the mansion, plus the nature of on-rails shooters themselves, the likelihood of being able to play with a friend is very high. The latest news also confirms a list of playable characters, including Chris, Jill, Carlos Oliveira, Rebecca Chambers, Billy Coen, Albert Wesker, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, with each character having their own signature maneuver (such as a roundhouse kick or knife slash).See also: Umbrella Chronicles won't be another Gun Survivor
Umbrella Chronicles was almost like RE4
And what exactly do we mean by this? Well, Capcom almost decided to make Umbrella Chronicles the spitting image of Resident Evil 4, which you can bet we would've been totally on board with, but after seeing Nintendo's Wii console in action, the company decided to make it an on-rail shooter. While we could sit here with a frown on our face and pout about the possibilities that could've been, we'll just think about unicorns. And big, fluffy clouds.The game's producer, Masachika Kawata, argued that the new direction is more fir for Wii owners, claiming the game would've been "too complicated to enjoy. Wii users like easiness. Umbrella Chronicles is not only for game enthusiasts. Complex operability can be an obstacle for Wii users. We want players to enjoy the game's horrifying and creepy world and its thrilling shooting action. By reducing enthusiast-only elements, players can purely enjoy the world." Personally, we like our games to have some depth and find ourselves disagreeing with his stance on the issue.Just because the Wii has these amazing innovative controls and product that appeals to just about every person on this planet, doesn't mean you should totally do away with an already established hot product (Resident Evil 4 is set to grace three different systems and has sold how many copies?). Or, are we crazy and Capcom's decision is the more sound one from a business point of view?[Thanks, Josh!]
Umbrella Chronicles producer fires off the facts [update 1]
Masachika Kawata, Capcom producer, recently sat down with GameSpot to talk about the upcoming Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. During the interview, he confirms the game will feature scenarios from Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 1 and, our personal favorite, Resident Evil 2. While we're bummed that Resident Evil 3 is left out of the party, we can understand why Capcom chose to do so (we're sure that Nemesis would really mess the game formula up). Sadly, we don't get a sneak peek at any of the segments taken from Resident Evil 0 and Resident Evil 2 in this video.[Note: Clicking the "Read" link, or on the graphic above, will open the video in a separate window.]Update: Small typo has been corrected. Good eye, Adam!
Umbrella Chronicles won't be another Gun Survivor
If you've played Dead Aim or any of Resident Evil's other Gun Survivor spinoffs, it's understandable why you might be hesitant to give Capcom's newest rail-shooter a chance. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles shares the same first-person perspective and light gun mechanics as the GunCon games, so it's easy to associate the title with the mediocre Gun Survivor series. NeoGAF forumer cvxfreak posted a well-supported list of reasons for why you shouldn't confuse the new Wii game with its PS2 cousins, claiming their similarities as superficial. Unlike with most of the Gun Survivor titles, Umbrella Chronicles' development hasn't been handed down to a lesser studio. Capcom's own Kawada Masachika is heading production, working to extend the game's length -- approximately 15 hours -- beyond the short playtimes that plagued Gun Survivor releases. Umbrella Chronicles also promises a lot more gameplay depth with destructible environments, improved weapon selection, and quick time events. Previews for Umbrella Chronicles haven't been favorable, but it's still too early in development for us to judge. Knowing that Capcom won't be following the same formula as the Gun Survivor series, however, gives us hope for the final product.
Wii Warm Up: So, about the Umbrella Chronicles ....
So we're all excited about Resident Evil 4 redux, because it's such an awesome game, but what about Umbrella Chronicles? Some people don't seem to be too thrilled about the fact that it's an on-rails shooter. We're all about shooting zombies around here, so we're okay with the idea, though we'd like to get our hands on it before we deliver a final verdict. At this juncture, it's best to say we're tentatively excited, pending more details, video, and images. How about you?
Joystiq gets their hands on two upcoming Capcom titles
Joystiq got their hands on two of Capcom's biggest upcoming titles at the Capcom Gamer's Day and their impressions are generally a mixed bag. They find faults in both titles, but really only praise Treasure Island Z. Personally, we're probably more invested in the upcoming Umbrella Chronicles, what with us being Resident Evil nuts and all, but after reading more about Project Island Z, we're finding the game's incredible amount of gesture-based controls to be intriguing. Head past the post break below for the two trailers from Gamer's Day, then hit the Joystiq links for each of the hands-on pieces.Read - Joystiq hands-on: Project Treasure Island ZRead - Joystiq hands-on: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
Hands-on with Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles for Wii
When we originally saw Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, it wasn't hard to figure out that it was an on-rails shooter, even without having to touch it. Now that we've finally gotten the Wii remote and the nunchuk in our hands, we can confirm, once again, that it is an on-rails shooter. A particularly boring one at that.Umbrella Chronicles earned it's new moniker, House of the Resident Evil, by feeling like just that. Our demo of the title had us going through the mansion from the original Resident Evil, only at turbo speed. The Wii remote was used to aim a cursor on the screen, while the nunchuk was largely useless, used only to look around. Inexplicably, reloading is done by waggling the remote, thus becoming a nuisance during hectic scenes. You know, because it's not like the nunchuk doesn't have motion sensors or anything.%Gallery-2570%
New Umbrella Chronicles trailer shows off more of the mansion
The official Japanese site for Umbrella Chronicles has a new trailer up (click on the middle button, then the "PV Vol 2" button) that shows off some more gameplay of the on-rails shooter, however gameplay segments shown are only limited to the mansion from the first game. Personally, we'd like to see how our favorite Resident Evil game, Resident Evil 2, is going to be represented. Still, we'll take what we can get and will try to sit as quietly and patiently as possible.See also: Resident Evil sites lunge right for our jugular[Via Exophase; Thanks, zshadow!]
Resident Evil sites lunge right for our jugular
Capcom has saw fit to launch a pair of websites today, representing their latest port of Resident Evil 4 and their compilation title Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. While the validity of each title being made for the system could be argued from here until the cows come home, you still have to admit they each have a certain drool factor about them. For those of you with an addiction to all things Resident Evil, check out the links below.[Via GWN]Read - Resident Evil 4 Wii version Japanese websiteRead - Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles Japanese website (now with video!)
Resident Evil 4 on Wii official, Umbrella Chronicles an on-rails shooter
Pity the Resident Evil fanatic. Not only has the poor guy had to buy two chainsaw controllers and brave two Resident Evil movies (and now suffers cold sweats anticipating the third), but according to Famitsu, he'll now have to buy a third version of Resident Evil 4, this time for Wii.An intrepid NeoGAF member translated the info from the most recent issue of the Japanese magazine. The new version (presumably the unannounced game that Capcom hinted at last month) uses the Wiimote for aiming, naturally, but also uses it for stabbing zombies, as God intended. There's no word yet on whether or not it will reach North America, but a listing for the game briefly appeared on Gamestop's site, and the thing's already been localized once, so it would seem like a lock.The scans say that the game will also include a trailer for Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles which we know is due out before the end of 2007. Also, the Gamestop listing had the game set for June 25, so maybe you'll be whiling the summer days away holed up, slashing zombies -- suntan be damned!
Umbrella Chronicles to support 480p, 16:9
According to reports on the Capcom forums, by way of Capcom employee Christian Svensson (he's the Senior Director of Strategy), we receive confirmation that Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles will indeed support progressive scan and 16:9, something a lot of Wii owners want from their games. Personally, we're glad ourselves, because when we totally geek out with this game, we want it to look as good as possible. Svensson couldn't confirm if the game would feature Dolby Pro Logic II or not at this time, but history has taught us that Capcom usually employs DLPII in their games (at least during the GameCube era they did).[Via Go Nintendo]
Capcom has more planned for the Wii
Capcom has laid it out on the line and one thing has made us especially happy (well, just me really): Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles is still on-track for a 2007 release. Yes, we know what the game is, but we just don't care. If it has the name Resident Evil on it, we're buying it.In the interest of everyone else out there besides this lone blogger, the rest of the tidbits are especially delicious. Capcom has announced Devil Kings 2 for the Wii (in Japan only as of right now), which if you're one of the folks who didn't play the first game, you can read about it here. Capcom also notes that they have several unannounced titles in the works for Wii, one of which will be revealed in the next few weeks.Oh, thanks Capcom, don't you know that information such as that hurts us more than it helps us?
