Video Game Review: ‘Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles’ Delivers Action You Need

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CHICAGO – Fans of the “Resident Evil” franchise and rail shooters in general (two parties of which I would definitely claim membership) should not let the excellent “The Darkside Chronicles” pass them by and I believe even newcomers to either zombie games or Wii shooting titles will find something to like in this expertly conceived title with only one significant flaw.

Like last year’s “The Umbrella Chronicles,” “Darkside” is a rail shooter, a title where your movement is out of your control but shooting definitely is not. The player uses the Wiimote or Wii Zapper in the same way that you would use a gun at your local arcade playing one of the several “House of the Dead” titles. It makes for a breakneck pace that some would argue doesn’t exactly fit the moody, atmospheric survival horror aspect of the “RE” games but it does make for an action-filled title that will have your heart racing.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
Photo credit: Capcom

And your stomach churning. The lack of controlled movement in a title like “Darkside Chronicles” puts a lot of weight on camera movement. When you can’t control your character’s head bobbing or spastic running, it can get more than a little frustrating, and there are moments in “Darkside” where the nauseating camera design is simply ridiculous. Why is Claire acting like she’s just been turned into a bobblehead? As any good shooter fan will know, sometimes half the battle is just steadying yourself before you unload on a bad guy. Taking that element out of “Darkside” and making the camera movement as much of a rollercoaster as it is makes for a title that falls just of what it could be.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Photo credit: Capcom

What it IS however is a damn fun time, especially for fans of the franchise, zombie games, or rail shooters in general. Once you get as used to the camera design as you can, the player is in for a three-chapter ride - “Operation Javier,” “Memory of a Lost City,” and “Game of Oblivion” - that details the action of “Resident Evil 2” and “Resident Evil: Code Veronica” in a whole new way. Classic characters like Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Jack Krause, Steve Burnside, and more return to fill in the gaps and replay some timeless bits from those games with a new gaming style.

“The Darkside Chronicles” features roughly 20 chapters with the entirety of the prologue of the game (“Operation Javier”) detailing a new storyline in which Krauser and Kennedy team up in South America. Playable as a single or two-player game (although players must select pre-stage as the title doesn’t allow for second players to jump in when combat gets tough), “The Darkside Chronicles” is playable with the Zapper, just the Wiimote or the Wiimote and Nunchuk. The right weapon for the right enemy is key to success in the game and using the Nunchuk allows the player to map a different weapon to the four directions on the control stick (otherwise, they’re mapped to the directional pad on the Wiimote). Personally, I found weapon changing with my left and shooting with my right the most efficient way to kick zombie ass.

The player may not dictate movement, but choice hasn’t been entirely removed from the game. There are a few “Path A or Path B” moments in the game and the title is filled with hidden objects, most of which are uncovered by unloading on everything in your path with your unlimited-ammo handgun. Other weapons include the shotgun, magnum, grenade launcher, submachine gun, bowgun, rocket launcher, and grenade. The reload time on the shotgun is painful and most of the other weapons are situation-specific. You’ll get to love your handgun, using most of the limited-ammo weaponry sporadically. Hidden items, healing items, and gold can be found throughout the game. The gold can be used for weapon upgrades in between chapters.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Photo credit: Capcom

Visually, “Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles” is a step-up from every Wii “RE” title and every Wii rail shooter to date. It is a very visually satisfying game with smooth character models and some very well-designed environments. Sure, it doesn’t look like “Resident Evil 5,” but it does prove that enormous frogs and giant moths can be pretty detailed on the Nintendo Wii. And, unlike a lot of games this action-packed, the graphics stay consistent with a smooth framerate. Headshots never fail to entertain.

Ultimately, “Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles” delivers on exactly what it promises. It takes what worked about its predecessors - both the old “RE” games and “The Umbrella Chronicles” - and improves on them. Even with its imperfect camera, the frenetic, enjoyable experience delivered by this title may not get families together around the Wii this holiday season but it will almost certainly be one of the most popular titles of the year for the right, zombie-loving member.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com