Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

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Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
North American box art
Developer(s)	cavia, Capcom[1]
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Designer(s)	Masachika Kawata (Producer)
Engine	Graphics: Id Tech 4 Physics: Open Dynamics Engine[2]
Platform(s)	Wii
Release date	NA November 13, 2007 JP November 15, 2007 EU November 30, 2007 AUS December 13, 2007
Genre(s)	Rail shooter, survival horror, Science Fiction
Mode(s)	Single player, two player co-op
Rating(s)	ESRB: M (Mature) CERO: C (15+) OFLC: MA15+[3] PEGI: 18+ BBFC: 15 USK: Index [4]
Media	1 Wii Optical Disc
Input methods	Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Wii Zapper

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, known in Japan as Biohazard: Umbrella Chronicles (バイオハザード アンブレラ・クロニクルズ, Baiohazādo Anburera Kuronikuruzu^?), is an on-rails shooting game and the seventh main installment in Capcom's Resident Evil series.^[5] The game was released on November 13, 2007 in North America, November 15 in Japan, and on November 30 in Europe, except for Germany, where the game is not available due to the lack of a USK rating.^[4]

The game's plot attempts to expose the Umbrella Corporation's meddling throughout the Resident Evil series through narrations from Albert Wesker, a former Umbrella Corporation scientist, and hidden documents pertaining to the organization's secret motives and actions. The game's main plot is composed of five main scenarios that recapitulate the events of Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, as well as new material pertaining to the Umbrella Corporation's downfall. The game features many characters from previous Resident Evil games, who reprise their role in their respective scenarios.

Contents 1 Development 2 Synopsis 2.1 Setting 2.2 Characters 2.3 Plot 3 Gameplay 4 Reception 5 Tie-ins 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Development

The game was co-developed by cavia and Capcom^[1] and produced by Masachika Kawata who was behind the PS2 port of Resident Evil 4.^[6] At E3 2006, Capcom officially announced that development was already underway for an exclusive Resident Evil game for the Wii and mentioned that it would take advantage of the console's unique Wii Remote controller, giving players a new experience. Members of Capcom's Clover Studios, who created such games as Viewtiful Joe and Ōkami, have been called upon to help develop the game.^[7]

A short clip of the game was shown on the Nintendo World event on November 3, 2006, where 2007 was revealed as the release date. On April 6, 2007, the official Japanese website went live containing an official teaser video.^[8] On April 13, 2007, the official Japanese website updated with a second trailer, character profiles and screenshots.^[8] A Japan-only release of the game came with a limited edition collector's Biohazard box featuring several items.^[9] Christian Svensson, Capcom's senior director of strategic planning and research, stated the game would support 480-progressive scan and 16:9 widescreen resolution.^[10] A trailer was included in the Resident Evil 4 Wii edition, which shows the mansion from the original game and areas of Raccoon City.^[11] At its pre-E3 press conference on July 11th, 2007, Nintendo announced that the Wii Zapper peripheral will be compatible with the game.^[12]

The game was initially going to play similarly to Resident Evil 4. However, in an interview with Famitsu, the game's producer Masachika Kawata revealed the reason for the drastic change in gameplay. According to him, "Wii users like easiness" and that a RE4-style game is "too complicated" for Wii users to enjoy. Masachika Kawata then elaborated that "complex operability can be an obstacle for Wii users", and that he purposefully had to "compromise to a lower difficulty level" and "reduce enthusiast-only elements".^[13]

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Setting

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles encompasses several scenarios, which are based on various plot elements from the Resident Evil series. The game's first three scenarios, "Train Derailment", "The Mansion Incident", and "Raccoon's Destruction", are set within Raccoon City, or its surrounding area in 1998. The Umbrella Chronicles' final scenarios, which is based on new material, is set in Russia, taking place in 2003.

[edit] Characters

Main article: Characters in Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

The Umbrella Chronicles features eight playable characters from previous Resident Evil games, including Rebecca Chambers, Billy Coen, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Carlos Oliveira, Albert Wesker, Ada Wong and HUNK.

[edit] Plot

The Umbrella Chronicles' first scenario, based on the events of Resident Evil Zero, follows S.T.A.R.S operative Rebecca Chambers, and former-marine Billy Coen as they venture through a train that eventually takes them to a derelict training facility.^[14] Once within the facility, they discover they are being stalked by James Marcus, one of the Umbrella Corporation's co-founders and former scientists, who has managed to resurrect himself with the aid of leech test-subjects.^[15] After a confrontation, Marcus mutates into a monstrosity, but is subdued by the duo. Chambers and Coen escape as the facility self-destructs.^[15] Another sub-chapter within the scenario traces Albert Wesker's actions, now posing as the leader of S.T.A.R.S' Alpha team, as he attempts to escape the training facility.^[16][17]

The game then proceeds to retell the events of the first Resident Evil. The scenario follows both Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, as opposed to the actual Resident Evil game, which feature the two splitting up. Redfield and Valentine are forced to battle their way through a mansion full of un-dead residents, before stumbling upon a secret Umbrella Corporation research facility in the mansion's basement.^[18] The two then discover the facility's most powerful creation, a Tyrant, and destroy it.^[19] The scenario features two different sub-chapters, which reveal Chambers' action between Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil,^[20] as well as a Wesker's reanimation and escape after his apparent death.^[21]

The Umbrella Chronicles next scenario visits Raccoon City during the events of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Valentine returns to the game, and is paired with mercenary Carlos Oliveira, as they attempt to survive an outbreak of the T-Virus.^[22] After defeating several un-dead citizens, Valentine and Oliveira encounter Nemesis, an upgraded Tyrant, sent to kill Valentine.^[22] They defeat Nemesis and escape Raccoon city before it is destroyed by the United States government in desperate contingency effort.^[23][24] The scenario also features two sub-chapters, detailing Ada Wong and HUNK's background roles during the main scenario's events.^[25][26]

The game's final scenario is entirely composed of new material, which trails Redfield and Valentine as they attempt to infiltrate the Umbrella Corporation's final stronghold in Russia.^[27] Now leading a group of armed activist, the duo storms the stronghold by force, encountering waves of un-dead soldiers and mutations.^[27] Despite sustaining heavy causalities, the Redfield and Valentine enter the facility's inner-sanctum, only to encounter and destroy the Umbrella Corporation's latest creation, the T-A.L.O.S. Project.^[28] The game's final sub-chapter features Wesker infiltrating the facility by himself in an attempt to recover the Umbrella Corporation's most important files.^[29][30] He is confronted by his long-time nemesis, Sergei Vladimir, whom he defeats.^[31] The game's credits reveal that the Umbrella Corporation's secrets have finally been exposed. As a result, the government dissolves the company and begins to take legal actions against its top officials.^[32]

[edit] Gameplay

The Umbrella Chronicles is an on-rails shooter. Players follow a pre-set path, shooting enemies and picking up optional weapons and health items, occasionally choosing between multiple paths. Using the analog stick on the Nunchuk, players can look around in a limited manner. In some cases, the Wii Remote can be used to activate melee weapons against enemies where the camera shifts to a third-person view, or use timed button presses in certain cutscenes to evade traps and enemy attacks. Each stage is split into individual chapters and contains save checkpoints at the end of each chapter. Stars are obtained at the end of each stage, based on the player's performance, which can be used to upgrade weapons. To unlock some levels and sublevels, the player needs a certain ranking, "S" being the best. The amount of destroyed items, obtained objects, files, critical hits and clear time affects this.

Upon beating HUNK's fourth survivor mission, co-operative mode will be unlocked for the single-player missions. When selecting characters, an option will appear on the screen to select co-op mode. Both players will play as the same character, but each player will have their own aiming reticule.

[edit] Reception

The Umbrella Chronicles has received above-average scores from critics and reviewers. GamePro praised its unlockable secrets and satisfying gameplay. They added that "The only downside to The Umbrella Chronicles is that longevity will be an issue."^[33] GameTrailers called it "fantastic overall" and a "superb entry in the genre". They praised the game for its surprising length and unlockable content, but stated that while the graphics "look good", they were sometimes "a step behind" Resident Evil 4. They added that having the game on rails actually makes it scarier, and that it's "basically a love letter" to fans of the series.^[35] IGN praised the game as having "amazingly cool" design but complained about the lack of representation from Resident Evil 2 and 4 as well as the gameplay, which they felt was too slow. On the other hand, they called the presentation "pretty impressive" and stated that "there’s no denying the fun" they had with it.^[36] The Escapist's "Ben Croshaw" reviewed the game in his weekly Zero Punctuation videos. He felt that the game was a step back in time with it being on-rails. Gamespot praised the easy controls and the look and feel of the game, but criticized the music, stating that "it undermines the atmosphere," and that the "on-rails shooter gameplay can still feel restrictive.^[37] 1up.com dubbed The Umbrella Chronicles "an accessible, mostly satisfying shooter". They praised the depth and strategy offered by the gameplay, but complained about difficult headshots and stated that "it never really amounts to more than its concept". They went on to call it "a surprisingly meaty experience" and praised its "welcome accessibility".

The game has sold 1.1 million copies around the world since its debut on November 2007.^[39]

[edit] Tie-ins

Main article: Tie-ins based on Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

An extensive line of tie-ins was created to promote the release of Capcom's on-rails shooter and to expand its storyline. These products include two comics, two novelizations and a soundtrack CD.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official North American site
• Official Japanese site
• Resident Evil at Wikia

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