The Bramalea Insurgent

Just doing some experimenting here.

Strategy Informer has unleashed 14 new screenshots for Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles.

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I’ve was never much of a Resident Evil fan.  I never gave consideration to the earlier releases of the game.  Apparently Resident Evil 4 was an exclusive title for the Game Cube for much of 2005.  A version was released for the PS2 with additional content a little while later.  Then Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition was released. 

It takes a lot for a video game to impress me.  Destroy all Humans 2 I thought was good.  Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory had me up till 4 in the morn.  I would have finished Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic if my game disk wasn’t scratched.  But now that I’ve played Resident Evil 4, the proverbial bar has been raised.

Quite simply, Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition, is the best game for the Wii.  If you want a game that will immerse you in the survival horror experience, this is it.  If you want to see why the Wiimote is not a gimmick, this is it.  If you want to see blood and guts in way never before seen on the Wii, this is it. 

Details

You start off as Leon S Kennedy, a secret service agent assigned to rescue Ashley Graham.  Shortly after Leon’s arrival he finds him self neck deep in zombies (Well not really zombies but just as menacing).  While there is no shortage of enemies to kill, there seems to be a shortage of ammunition.  That is to say that there is no armoury for you to raid, but enough unused ordinance such as grenades and 9 mm bullets stashed in cupboards, vases, night stands, and other  places that are child accessible.  

As the game progresses, enemies become increasingly more difficult.  The good news is that most are susceptible to special techniques.  For example combatants behind shields tend to go through your ammo reserves faster then a Marine in a firefight in Iraq.  What’s a secret service agent to do?  Well those shields don’t protect his feet, so you shoot out the toes.  He’ll stumble over and will not have the protection of his shield.  Put the poor chap out of his misery. 

Aim for the toes?  Yup.  Here is where the game really excels.  The wiimote brings with it an analog quality of aiming a gun.  It’s second nature to use the wiimote in this way.  At first the simplicity of drawing your weapon and aiming will confound you.  You’ll draw you weapon and your cross hairs will fly up to the sky or dart left and right.  It’s because you’re not used to this set of controls.  After liberating the guts of a few a zombies thought, you’ll get the hang of it and wonder why game controls can’t be this fluid for any game.

I’ve played through this game once already and I’m going through a second round.  Why?  Because there are some parts I want to play again for the gore.  Ever want to see Leon get crushed by a bolder?  How bout decapitated by a chain saw?  Scalped by a bug?  Dragged into some lava?  There is some sweet eye candy to being killed and I found my self playing over and over again just to see all the different gore included in this game.  One of the most satisfying moments in the game is to be able to take a zombies head clean off with a well aimed shot from your trusty sniper rifle.  One of the most terrifying moments is when they sprout some sort a second head with razor sharp tentacles and keep advancing to kill you. 

If killing zombies is your thing, one of the unlockables in the game includes a mini game of sorts called mercenaries.  This is an action pack frenzied survival against the clock and zombies.  Zombies to the left of you.  Zombies to the right of you.  You can hear a chainsaw buzzing somewhere and it’s getting louder.  Ahhh, good times.

Verdict

I don’t believe in the 5 star rating for video games.  There are only really 3 choices for me that I can do for a video game.  You can buy it, rent it, or leave it on the shelf.  This game is a no brainer.  Buy it!  For 29.99 this game is a steal.  It’s by far the best game I’ve played for the Wii.  It took me 20 hours to run through the game the first time and I’m running through it a 2nd time so don’t worry.  It won’t sit and collect dust.  Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition FTW!

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