Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles review

Nov 21, 2007

There’s no doubt in our minds that at some point in the recent past, Umbrella Chronicles was a very different game from the one that has finally emerged. Far from being some elaborate mystery for us to unravel, the evidence has been there from the start - early interviews with Capcom’s team suggested Chronicles would be a game more like Resident Evil 4, while later interviews hinted at a change of tune. RE 4 is a tough act to follow, and it’s a shame we never saw Umbrella Chronicle’s original concept, but it’s hard to fault the game for what it’s not, when it’s ridiculously fully-featured and complete. As a light gun shooter, this isn't any great shakes. But as a treat for Resident Evil fans, it's truly special.

Chronicles is the most blatant example of fan service Capcom could have conjured, filling in every gap in the story with new cutscenes, lengthy dossiers, files and plot points to patch up continuity holes. Umbrella Chronicles is like a 1970’s exploit-o-movie version of Resident Evil’s story - not smart or especially stylish, with everything about it designed to appeal almost exclusively to the most niche of audiences. But what it does offer fans of the series, it offers perfectly.