Review: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Wii)

Still, if every sequel was of the same standard as this one, then we would more than happy to let developers continue to con us in this way.

Like the last game, this is a light-gun shooter with heavily cut-down versions of the older RE games as the backdrop. This time the plot centres around two particularly strong entries in the series, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica, as well as an all-new storyline with Leon Kennedy and Jack Krauser, which attempts to fill the biggest plot-hole in Resident Evil 4. Again, material has been excised or altered from the storylines of the two classic games, but generally the treatment of both games is more faithful than last time (which unfortunately means Steve Burnside is still a petulant little dork).

There isn’t much that can be said about the gameplay; it’s basically just point-and-shoot once again. However, definite attempts to improve the formula have been made which have made for a tighter, more enjoyable experience. The shooting and reload mechanics feel more responsive, and the difficulty is more balanced than the last game (which often felt like an old arcade game that tried to milk us for coins).

Ammo for your secondary weapons is now scarcer than before, but to compensate your puny infinite-ammo handgun can be upgraded to a more lethal killing tool this time. You can also assign weapons to specific directions on the D-Pad ala Gears of War, and can even change which weapons you have equipped mid-game. You can also stockpile the medical herbs you find and can use them as and when needed. This may seem like it makes the game too easy, but more than anything it takes away unnecessary aggro, as some parts (such as the boss battles in-particular) can still be brutally tough.

The camera also helps to make a more immersive experience, as it now gives a greater impression of looking through the character’s eyes throughout. There are effective moments of “shaky-cam” in the style of films such as The Blair Witch Project, which gives a better impression of the panic felt in these situations. Of course, these moments can also sabotage your aim on occasion, but the adjustment period is not too long and doesn’t hurt the game that much. If anything, it just reminded us that combat in the older games was always panicky and not really worth it, as survival horror combat is supposed to be. Still, we don’t recommend this game is played by anyone who gets motion-sickness easily!

As always, playing with a second player is the best way to play this game, and as both players now have separate health meters a lot of irritation is taken away. There are even some moments reminiscent of arcade titles like House of the Dead, where you must save an NPC (or your computer-controlled partner if you’re playing solo) from the zombie hordes. The Code: Veronica section even has a couple of odd little puzzle moments, with some sly digs at the original games inserted (while we still hate Steve, his comment about the overly-complicated locks on doors brought a smile to our faces).

Much more effort has gone into the presentation as well. The graphics now have a greater level of detail, certainly looking as good as Resident Evil 4 and making the old environments a joy to see again. The music is a huge improvement from last time, with terrific use of the soundtrack (including some tunes from the classic games) making for a much more atmospheric experience. The script and voice-acting are as cheesy as ever, but with this series we wouldn’t want it any other way. Like before, there are also a lot of unlockable files and pieces of RE trivia, but there are almost no bonus missions this time around (perhaps because the main game is pretty long for a gun game as it is).

After the disappointment of Resident Evil 5, our faith in the series has been given a much-needed shot in the arm. This is a definite improvement over the first game, and even manages to give the excellent House of the Dead: Overkill and Dead Space: Extraction a run for their money. It has a great level of fan-service for RE fans, and on its own is a solid, thoroughly entertaining game that deserves to be played.

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Drew Middlemas