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Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles

EMAIL PRINT wii

7.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 47 critic reviews
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Based on 69 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Capcom Entertainment

Developer: Capcom Entertainment

Genre(s): Action, First-Person Shooter, Light Gun

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: November 13, 2007

Summary

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is a brand new game in the Resident Evil franchise, with familiar locales from the entire series, created specifically for the unique characteristics of the Wii hardware. This action/shooter hybrid 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. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles combines first-person, light-gun style combat with interactive pathways, multiple weapons and new enemies to create an entirely new Resident Evil experience that could only be delivered on the Wii. [Capcom]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website Predict this Metascore

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

NintendoWorldReport

A real treat, and I can’t recommend it more. Unless you have an aversion to rail shooters, you’d be silly not to at least give this game a rental. It also makes for a wonderful summary of the major points in the complex RE storyline, so players new to the franchise can warm up to the current situation.

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NTSC-uk

Umbrella Chronicles achieves greatness by being more than the sum of its parts. It takes the established Resident Evil genre, throws a dormant light-gun element into the mix, stirs it all together and still comes up with something that will amaze and thrill fans of both. This is an essential purchase for anyone who is a fan of Resident Evil, light-gun games or just action games in general. For devotees of all three, this is nothing short of gaming nirvana.

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GotNext

Skipping through years of Resident Evil mythos never feels rushed, for the game mostly progresses at just the right pace and makes it entirely worth experiencing.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

As a true Resident Evil game it'll disappoint but as a lightgun game with depth and atmosphere, it's a great package. [Jan 2008, p.66]

Cheat Code Central

Everything we love about this game only gets better when you factor in its cooperative play mode; playing alone is creepier, but having a bloodthirsty buddy by your side really ratchets up the fun factor.

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GameZone

Exciting and unrelenting, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is a grand reworking of the series’ most prominent worlds.

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GamePro

The Umbrella Chronicles does a lot of things right. It combines the atmospheric charm of the ResEvil series with awesome light-gun gameplay, then throws in a wealth of bonus material to unlock and discover. It's the perfect way to prepare yourself for the upcoming "Resident Evil 5."

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GameTrailers

A superb entry in the genre with a ton of great missions and reasons to play again and again. Anyone that enjoys the macabre, or going nose-to-nose with zombies should check it out. Fans will absolutely love it as it's basically a love letter from Capcom to them.

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Game Informer

This is a surprisingly big and challenging release, and not one to be overlooked as just another simplistic rail shooter. It may not be the next big release in the franchise, but Umbrella Chronicles deserves its place right beside the other games in this venerable series.

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n-Revolution Magazine UK

Far from perfect, but get past the niggles and you'll find much to enjoy. And for Resi fanboys, it's an absolute must. [Issue#17, p.72]

NZGamer

I daresay that this is the perfect girlfriend game; in fact, most situations have you paired as a girl/guy duo which really sets the mood. Shooting zombies is great, but shooting them with friends is even better.

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PTGamers

The talented directing utterly crushes other Wii games of its kind, and its lifespan is more than adequate.

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The New York Times

The game is tremendous fun as you blast zombies with a shotgun and a rocket launcher. The game’s atmospheric creepiness keeps you on the edge of your seat and each mission ends with a difficult but incredibly entertaining battle against some particularly monstrous creature.

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Thunderbolt

Umbrella Chronicles is a must-purchase for Wii owners. While it isn't a killer app on the level of Mario Galaxy, it's probably the best multiplayer game on the system.

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Nintendo Power

With all of its fan service, The Umbrella Chronicles will definitely have the biggest impact on Resident Evil devotees, but the quality gunplay should satisfy just about anyone with an itchy trigger finger. [Holiday 2007, p.80]

NGamer UK

Resi fanboys should feel free to add ten to the score; straight-up shooter fans with no love for zombies should deduct ten. Chronicles is set to become the most divisive game on the Wii.

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IGN

It’s far from perfect, but it’s an entertaining addition to the RE “gun survivor” genre, and it simply boils over with fan service.

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AtomicGamer

This game could have been much better with a more rounded out story and a little polish, but what we get here is a good amount of raw fun and plenty of survival-horror nostalgia.

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Console Gameworld

A fun title that gets old just a bit too quick in single player, but is a strong addition to the series.

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Kombo

It would be pretty hard to call yourself an avid Resident Evil fan and not be able to enjoy Umbrella Chronicles on some level. Sure, the shooting action is a little bit flawed, but it's still fun and works well for the most part.

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Gaming Age

The latest Resident Evil is exactly what one would expect: great zombie killing and great atmosphere. It's just a different type of game. It's a light gun game instead of an action adventure. Umbrella Chronicles remains true to the identity of the series while offering a new Resident Evil experience – something we've come to expect and enjoy.

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1UP

While Umbrella Chronicles doesn't accomplish much of note besides solidifying the Resident Evil story thus far, it provides plenty of point-and-pull-the-trigger satisfaction for your buck (especially with a friend in tow).

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Game Revolution

I almost hate to say it but it's the perfect girlfriend game. You can worry about cross training later but she's got to learn how to shoot at some point. And you're going to need buttons sewn on stuff. You'll want her by your side when the end comes.

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Gamers' Temple

Like this review, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles is very short. Like VERY short. I finished the whole thing, beginning to end, in an afternoon and there is little replay value, aside from just playing the levels you enjoy over and over.

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Pelit (Finland)

A light gun shooter that is more fan service than catering to a wider audience. The game is decent but it’s also hard - sometimes very hard - and manages to frustrate at times. It’s also bland looking and ugly. For Resident Evil fans only. [Jan 2008]

VideoGamer

A thoroughly decent blast.

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Digital Entertainment News

The lack of co-op through the Wesker storyline is a huge disappointment.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

It manages to escape the curse that haunted previous similar efforts from Capcom. It’s not highly recommendable, but offers some interesting moments for eager fans of the series. Good effort Capcom, but can we have Resi 5 now, please? [Jan 2008]

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Series fans will devour it as an excuse to flesh out the Resident Evil cannon, but it features enough casual slaughter of the undead for anyone to enjoy. [Jan 2008, p.82]

PALGN

The Umbrella Chronicles should satisfy anyone looking for a solid light gun game, though some fans might be a little disappointed with its brevity.

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Edge Magazine

The Umbrella Chronicles will inevitably attract attention for its roots above all other considerations, but it's a good game on its own terms, bringing together distinct genres and making it all work. [Jan 2008, p.86]

games(TM)

One of the most complete lightgun experiences you’ll see on a home console, with a wealth of extras and a lot of replay value. Slightly better controls would have made this a near classic. [Jan 2008, p.126]

Gamestyle

Ultimately, Umbrella Chronicles proves to be great fan-service, and will no doubt keep fans of the Resident Evil series very happy until Resident Evil 5 arrives. On its own, while there are niggles, it still proves to be a solid, entertaining gun game that's worthy of carrying the 'Resident Evil' title.

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GameSpy

Fast-paced action and a great presentation are hampered only by the steep learning curve for what should be a simple point-and-shoot experience.

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GameSpot

Good atmosphere and some unique mechanics make this a solid on-rails shooter.

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GameDaily

So while this latest Resident Evil offers up some mindless fun (especially with co-op play), don't expect a full-fledged adventure, especially with the absence of the second and fourth installment, as well as Code Veronica.

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Worth Playing

Umbrella Chronicles delivers, but it doesn't go beyond simple competence.

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Eurogamer

Needless to say, Umbrella Chronicles isn't the most long-lasting affair, and in absolute gameplay terms it's probably one of the most wafer thin offerings you'll have experienced for years. But in a landscape dominated by epic, sprawling complexity, it's refreshing now and then to kick back and blast away in a game that's as knowingly brain-dead as this.

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GameTap

The sequence where you play as Albert Wesker right after he gets infected and takes on Lisa Trevor will undoubtedly be part of any RE fan's highlight reel.

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Zentendo

A tough light gun shooter that offers a good length. Weird glitches and detection problems, as well as heavily recycled assets hold this game back from becoming a triple A title in the Resident Evil caliber.

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AceGamez

Its biggest flaw, no doubt, is its unoriginal gameplay; the few twists on the light-gun formula are minor and largely inconsequential, giving the impression of original gameplay rather than actual original gameplay.

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Gamervision

If you’re a fan of rail shooters or of the Resident Evil franchise, Umbrella Chronicles is a solid, if not deep title that offers about 4-5 hours of mindless fun.

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Games Master UK

It's a big game, but will you come back to it? Are you a crazed fan of Resi? There's the answer. [Jan 2007, p.62]

The Wiire

The Umbrella Chronicles is mainly fanservice and doesn't do anything particularly innovative. There's no online integration and the Wii Zapper doesn't add anything significant to the experience. The shooting controls are tight and responsive, and the game makes better on the console's power than many third-party titles, but that's the extent of it.

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Nintendojo

It may be a strange thing to concede, but the Gamecube port of RE4, with tacked on Wii remote functionality, trumps this Wii-developed title in almost every department.

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GameShark

The Resident Evil essence is intact and will spark some nostalgia for fans of the series, but take that name away and the game is essentially an incredibly average shooter that really does little to shake up the genre norm.

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netjak

Honestly, there are good ways to do a rail shooter on the Wii; this is a poor start, but at least it, like Umbrella itself, will serve as a shining example of what not to do.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 69 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Josh P gave it a10:
First of all I have to say that I am biased as I am a very big RE fan. I knew it was a rail-shooter so I wasn't expecting a lot of depth. But in all fairness for a rail shooter it does a good job at adding plenty of unlockables and upgradable weapons and very addicting co-op. This is not a major title. To me this is like the equivalent to mario kart or mario party. Its not really a game in the main series. It is however something that is entertaining alone and very enjoyable with another person. If you like on-rail shooters I am sure you will enjoy this. If you hate on-rail shooters..... obviously this is going to be a game where you wished you were one of the zombies with a bullet in its head.

Volkan M gave it a5:
My first resident evil game with friends that played it before in PS. Although it was OK I also must say that it is the first time I felt sorry for not buying a PS instead of a Nintendo Wii.. With wii remote capabilities I would expect it to be much better. It is 18+ just because of the content not because of the difficulty of it. With puppies instead of zombies it would be 3+.

Todd S gave it an8:
If you never liked arcade on-rail shooters, this won't change your mind, but if you are a Resident Evil fan, this is certainly worth every penny. The audiovisuals are comparatively better than those of other Wii games. There are many levels on different difficulty settings, and it's over 20 hours long. Though the best thing about this game is the multiplayer, which warrants a purchase alone.

Albert W. gave it a9:
As a huge RE fan, despite not a traditional RE game, RE:UC still delivers a lot of fun and also background into Wesker and Umbrella. I finished the game after 13 hours of playing. For an onrail shooter it's actually quite a long game with over 20 levels. As an RE fan though, what I liked was the fact that this game basically fills in all the gaps found inbetween all the other games and provides you with more background info on Wesker and Umbrella. I won't spoil it but there were some unexpected characters that you played as which was pretty cool. The one thing I didn't like was the voice acting. This is because nearly all the voice actors were different to previous games and because of this, some of the new voice actors sound like completely different characters...e.g. Chris sounds like Leon, Billy doesn't sound like Billy AT ALL, Rebecca sounds like a 10yr old girl and less confident and Wesker while a pretty good imitation of of Richard Waugh, at the end of the day isn't Richard Waugh which is a shame. Overall though it's great fun while it lasts. If you've never played an RE game before though, I think this game is actually not doing you any good because it essentially covers the main events in each game of the series.....which can kind of spoil it if you decide to pick up the other games later on.

david g. gave it a10:
Resident for wii it is the best rail game to play with the wii zapper.It includes areas from resident 1 , 2 , 3 and it is fantastic game.The best thing of this game is the sounds effects it all amazing so resident evil it is an excellent game.

Zem Z. gave it an8:
Loads of fun. best when played co-op, however still fun alone. it dose a fairly good job of summerizing the plot of Re:0, Re:1, & Re:3. (where's 2?) but it get some things really wrong. Nemisis has been made into a huge loser (he has become just a huge brainless mass & not the Monolith that owned anyone who tried to play Re:3) & the lickers don't act like lickers (they sit there & flick the toungs around for a while then the tongs wip out & they lost their awsome claws). however this is definetaly worth playing. the classic bosses are amazin (except for Nemises), almost all the classic enimes show up (everything from leaches to chimieras to hunters to crows). but the new bosses are hardly inspired (a giant bat? a giant worm? Mr. X in white?) it's a lot of fun to play classic missions from new points of view (wesker or Rebecca any one?) & the wepon upgrade system works very well. highly distuctive enviorments (if it's not a wall it will probubly break) & multipul pathes make this a game woth playing.

Kevin G. gave it a7:
I am a resident evil newbie, so this game was a great refresher on how the whole series started out. I never did play the single play mode of this game, I only rented it to shoot zombies with a friend. I believe the game served its purpose, I did find it a bit short though. My friend and I played through the co-op part in 2 hours. I thought the graphics could have been better. I give it a 7 because I think it serves it purpose as a quality rail gun shooter.

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Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles

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