One of the biggest highlights from Capcom Gamer's Day in San Francisco was the upcoming first-person shooter Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles for Nintendo Wii. Some gamers might be disappointed that Umbrella Chronicles won't follow the same free roaming, action-adventure formula found in Resident Evil 4 (also out for Wii this summer). But don't dismiss the game as another shallow first-person shooter on rails, like Dead Aim. Umbrella Chronicles delivers much more than an undead shoot-out.

Chronicles builds on the Resident Evil backstory by detailing the downfall of the Umbrella Corporation and the start of the zombie apocalypse. Capcom reps said little about how the game unfolds, but showed a level that takes place in the mansion from the original Resident Evil. Fans instantly recognized the creepy house and its winding staircases – but developers have obviously updated the graphics, creating one of the best-looking Wii games to date.

Players can't control over where they go in the game, but will have full control over the on-screen reticle, the ability to change weapons with the D-pad and reloading by making a quick zigzag motion across the screen with the Wii-mote. The Nunchuk lets players look around for any dangers that pop out of the floor or ceiling, and pressing the A button when prompted on screen will set off context-sensitive actions like kicking, slicing or shooting a pursuing zombie. Pick up extra weapons, like a shotgun or machine gun, and healing herbs by highlighting them with the Wii remote.

Other classic Resident Evil moments will make a comeback, like the pivotal freaky moment when zombie dogs burst through the windows in a surprise attack. Also expect plenty of things that go bump in the night, like the traditional shuffling zombies and faster versions with glowing eyes and claw-like hands. Fans will also love the game's lost-in-translation dialogue and voice acting -- Capcom should throw in a "master of unlocking" reference* for good measure.

The game doesn't play like Resident Evil 4, but it's more interactive than other House of the Dead-style shooters on rails. Players can shoot and damage anything in the house. Shoot out a light, the surrounding area gets darker. Shoot out all the lights -- don't be surprised to find a pair of glowing eyes staring out of the darkness. Over-the-top violence -- zombie heads explode after a well-placed shotgun blast -- pops up throughout the game, culminating in a huge boss fight involving another creature that will be familiar to anyone who played the original Resident Evil.

That's not to say Umbrella Chronicles will merely rehash content from previous games. While scenes from the original game and from (including Code Veronica) will appear, new levels will highlight the Umbrella Corp's inner workings and Raccoon City's back alleys. If the levels look as good as the mansion level shown at the event, Wii owners should be in for a bloody delight. Look for it to make a killing later this year.

* "Master of Unlocking" refers to the notoriously goofy dialogue from the original Resident Evil, when S.T.A.R.S. agent Barry Burton gives a lockpick to his partner, Jill Valentine and says, "Jill, here's a lockpick. It might be handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you."

Related Links

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles Game Guide

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