• Posted July 3rd, 2012 at 09:54 EDT by Mike Harradence
• 3 Comments

(continued from previous page) ...to blast just about anything you want to uncover hidden items. These range from new weapons to various archive files, which offer detailed descriptions on various events from the Resident Evil timeline, such as profiles on key items, characters, enemies and more. Darkside even offers a chance to view full 3D models of characters and foes in addition to giving you the lowdown on them. You’re also graded on your performance, so the more critical hits or objects destroyed for example, the better your grade. Weapons meanwhile are also plentiful, with a variety of Shotguns, Magnums, Machine Guns and more up for grabs, which can be upgraded via upgrade star points or cash.

Sure, your handgun has unlimited ammo, but it will become abundantly clear to you that this pea shooter isn’t going to do your health any favours when you are facing down some of the tougher enemies. As such, you’ll have to make use of your bigger guns if you want to survive, but nonchalantly unloading your Shotgun or Magnum into every big problem you come across won’t do you any favours either. With limited ammo on offer, you’ll have to watch what you use and how much you use it, or you may end up in a ruck against a boss with only a handgun and knife for company. Indeed, while most rail shooters rarely make ammo a concern, Chronicles’ weapons line-up feels more rewarding, and the constant worry of conserving bullets injects more of a strategic edge to an aging template.

Both games look prettier in HD, though Umbrella Chronicles is showing its age a little, with some bland-looking textures marring some of the game’s more elaborate environments. Still, it does the job well enough, and it’s great to see some of the old foes remastered. Darkside on the other hand is a far lusher affair, boasting some impressive character models and suitably moody environments, accentuated by some neat lighting and shadows. It’s worth pointing out that RE3’s scenario in Umbrella Chronicles features some notable visual disparities. Whereas Zero and 1’s locations are based on a game with pre-rendered backdrops, and as such have been completely redone in 3D for UC. RE3’s scenario was plucked straight from the PS2 title RE: Outbreak, and looks all the uglier for it. Voice acting is your typical RE affair, with performances ranging from pretty good (Leon, Claire), decent (Chris, Jill) to downright irritating (Rebecca, Carlos). The score is brilliant mind, featuring a mix of bombastic anthems and subtle spin-chilling tunes depending on the situation.

Overall, Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection is a solid investment for Resi junkies and shooter fans alike. Sure, they don’t break the mould at all, but they’re mechanically sound and stand out as solid shooters thanks to the rich Resi lore and cinematic approach to gameplay. Playing with a mate in tow is definitely the best way to experience these games, though solo they’re no slouch either and are sure to give you a few jumps along the way. Throw in an ample amount of unlockable content, and you’ve got two of the most enjoyable rail shooters in quite some time.