Game REVIEWS
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Review
System: Ninitendo Wii
Publisher: Capcom
Category: Shooter
Available Nowl
“Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles” features 3 scenarios with your favorite characters such as: Leon S. Kennedy (voiced by Paul Mericer), Claire Redfield (voiced by Allison Court), Chris Redfield (voiced by Roger Craig Smith), Jack Krauser, Steve Burnside, and a small appearance by Wesker (voiced by D.C. Douglas).
The story of this game takes the player through familiar events from the previous resident evil games. The player controls Leon S. Kennedy, a government agent, who is trying to stop a drug dealer in South America with the help of his colleague Jack Krauser. Javier, the drug dealer, had contacted the Umbrella Corporation and not much else is known other than B.O.W.’s (bio organic weapon) are involved. Leon and Krauser search the village and learn that many people have been missing and the village is in worse shape than they could ever imagine. As they roam through the village they are attacked by the villagers affected with a virus. Unknown to Krauser, he asks Leon to explain what he knows of this. Leon tells Krauser about the event in Raccoon City that eventually led to the town’s destruction in “Resident Evil 2”, dubbed “Memories of a Lost City”, which details all the important events in RE2; from Leon’s first day on the job and meeting Claire Redfield to the day he had to survive a biohazard outbreak turning everyone in the city into zombies and the horror of the T and G viruses. Along the way, they find a young girl, the only one unaffected by the virus in the village. Leon and Krauser ask the young girl to take them to Javier’s estate. Upon entering the estate, more hordes of zombified humanoid started to attack Leon and Krauser. Soon after wards, Leon realizes the similarities between the humanoid that is attacking them and the creatures described in a report with the code name “Veronica Virus”
In a portion dubbed “Game of Oblivion”, Leon retells the story of Resident Evil code Veronica. In code Veronica, main character Clair Redfield is captured and sent to Rockfort Island. Clair eventually hatched an escape plan with the help of a fellow prisoner Steve Brunside. When the escape plan failed, Clair’s brother, Chris Redfield, upon receiving a tip from Leon, shows up and helps Clair and Steve to stop the Veronica virus, and the Ashford children.
For those of you who played Umbrella Chronicles, Darkside Chronicles stays very faithful when it comes to game-play. On the plus side, the graphics has been improved as game’s images have all been redone being more eye pleasing. Similar to most arcade action shooters, the ammo count isn’t represented by a number in this game. Instead, the ammo display is shown by either solid, meaning available, or transparent, meaning already used up. The color used for the aiming has been redone due to fan request. The cut-scenes, both storyline scene and in-game cut-scene, are brilliantly done. Considering the quality of the cinematic, it really was beyond expectation, considering it was on a WII system.
“Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles” is a real-time first person shooter game for up to two players and can play as one of the two selectable characters for scenarios. Game-play is very simplistic and basic; you can use the wii-mote and nunchuk, or just the wii-mote, to point and shoot. The control pad allows you to choose which weapon is equipped. You can also enter the customization screen anytime during game-play and use what weapons are best for the fight you are in; both partners share the same weapons as well as ammo. The characters is always 1st person as the eyes of both characters, but focusing mostly on the first player, until certain events happen in the game. The games camera is shaky, but it is actually really well done. The real time movement capturing the characters movement from running to surprise, so taking down your opponents can be difficult, not to mention your own aiming makes a big difference; so a friend helping you can make all the difference, especially in boss fights.
The game features extra content that keeps you playing. Extra costumes are available by meeting certain requirements. Extra chapters and scenarios are unlocked as well such as a Krauser scenario mode and a Tofu killing mode. As in many of the Resident Evil titles weapons are customizable using money you collect through the game; money can increase power, range, and speed. Archive mode keeps track of items found as you progress by defeating enemies or collection; symbols or files found gives you insight or unlocking videos.
Darkside Chronicles takes Hardcore RE fans back to older titles, as in Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Code Veronica 2, big games back in the early 90’s. They remade them in a whole new way, adding more to the story and giving more of Leon’s story that happened between Resident Evil Code Veronica and 4. For new Resident Evil fans this as will give you more information without having to go back and get the ps1 and Dreamcast/PS2 title; filling you in on the most important aspects of the game. “Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles” is a must play for RE fans.
**Written by Christopher Del Castillo
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