Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles – Screens, Trailer

I have been accused in the past of having a sycophantic devotion to the Resident Evil series, and while I can admit to being smitten with certain installments, I cannot readily say that I am a RE fanatic per say. Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, RE: Zero, RE: Code Veronica, and RE4 are phenomenal games. RE: Outbreak, RE: Nemesis, and RE: Dead Aim (blech!), were utterly forgettable in my book. So, don’t ever assume by my previous posts, that I am a fangirl – well, with Re:4 I am borderline. The fact that I am looking forward to the new title Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, means nothing. I am looking forward to many new titles (Overlord, Bioshock, Fallout 3, GTA IV), and I usually approach a RE title with caution as it has been hit or miss with the franchise in the past. Never the less, I am still pretty psyched that this new title from Capcom is on the horizon. No formal release date has been announced, but I am sure we will hear of something soon.

Exclusively for the Wii, The Umbrella Chronicles will feature familiar locales from the entire series. This new chapter reveals the back story behind the fall of the Umbrella Corporation by exploring locations from Resident Evil 0, 1, 2 and 3 as well as new never-before-seen locations, such as Umbrella’s stronghold. Combining FPS style combat with interactive pathways, multiple weapons and new enemies, the game should give fans of the series much needed information on these mysterious evil doers.

It is told from the view point of this evil conglomerate, all explained through documents the player can find scattered about in the game. If you purchase the Wii version of RE:4, it contains a 2 minute trailer devoted to the new game, and although information given to the press by Capcom at E3 and the Nintendo World Event last year was vague at best, I am sure that next month at E3 they will be more forthcoming. The teaser trailer does not give you much to go on, and from what I have seen of certain gameplay videos on YouTube, I don’t know if I am going to like the FPS shooter aspect or the Wii controls when aiming. All I do know, is that the mansion looks the same (creepy) and those blasted Dobermans are back.

Here are some features that we do know about:

• Using the Wii Remote as a gun, players can experience breathtaking combat against a horde of zombies and various creatures in dynamic first-person perspective.
• 480p and 16:9 Widescreen support
• Certain weapons can destroy environments and items. Shoot objects and watch them splinter, explode and disintegrate.
• Interactive paths – choose various routes and pathways through the game, allowing for multiple levels of replayability
• Multiple weapons, including pistols, submachine guns, rocket launchers, the trusty knife, grenades and many more.
• Classic locations from previous Resident Evil games in full 3D, including the mansion from the original and RE Zero, and elements of Raccoon City from RE2 and 3.
• Umbrella’s stronghold, a new location, holds many secrets to events throughout the RE series
• Returning characters from many RE games, including Billy Coen, Rebecca Chambers, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira.

Hopefully when some of descend upon E3 next month we will have more to tell you. Meanwhile, enjoy the screens and the trailer.