Blowing zombies heads off has never been so much fun
What is Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles?The Wii-zapper compatible Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles is the Wii-exclusive sequel to the Umbrella chroncilces, the on-rail shooting survival horror game from Capcom. Once again it pits you against dozens of flesh-eating zombies and a host of genetically-modified creatures, or B.O.W.S (Bio-Organic Weapons) as they're known, as you step into the roles of Leon Kennedy, Jack Krauser and Claire Redfield and embark on Operation Javier (spoiler-free review!)
In this iteration, the storyline focuses on events from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica and though you can play through the single-player campaign alone, with an A.I partner by your side, The Darkside Chronicles features two-player local co-op that allows you and a friend to tackle the zombie threat as a team.
From the first-person perspective, the shaky cam places you behind the eyes of the game’s main protanagnists and gameplay largely consists of pointing the Wii-mote or Zapper at the screen and using the target reticule to blast limbs and heads of zombies and other horrific creatures. There are a few context-sensitive actions to mix the action up, requiring a swift response to on-screen commands to evade an enemy and jump out the way, or to wiggle the Wii-mote to shake off a zombie.
Aside from shooting zombies, gameplay also involves choosing branching pathways and fighting in big boss battles, but you also need to keep an eye out for pick-ups such as ammunition, health herbs, first-aid spray, or gold, which can be used to purchase weapon upgrades. There’s also the usual array of weapons to test out, from the handgun to the sub-machine gun.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is all about retaining your composure, shooting accurately and swiftly and executing crucial headshots that ensure that the zombie won't be able to get back up and attack you. As you do so, you gain bonuses and rack up points, which go toward your score on the online ranking system.
Gameplay Impressions overleaf...