Resident Evil - Darkside Chronicles For Wii

Most of it stemmed from the fact that Chris and Wesker during the CODE: Veronica segment now never meet on screen. Cutting corners? Obviously. Wholly disappointing? Quite. But it’s not just little things missing from both Resident Evil 2 or CODE: Veronica’s adaptations here, nor are some bizarre changes to the storyline which I will elaborate on below, (so spoilers). No, the biggest cause for complaint from me is the entire lack of extra content. See, Umbrella Chronicles featured adaptations of Zero, Remake, and (loosely) 3 but also featured an entirely new scenario and then on top of that several bonus scenarios that further highlight new story details and showing us aspects of the history such as Rebecca and Richard together in the Spencer Mansion. In Darkside, there’s the Resident Evil 2 and CODE: Veronica adaptations, and a new mission where you play as Leon with Krauser two years prior to the events of Resident Evil 4, titled Operation Javier.

See, UC’s adaptations of Zero, Remake and 3 all had problems with the storytelling, missing characters, changed events, but most people simply saw them as abridged story, leading onto the real meat of the game which was the new and hidden scenarios.
Here, Darkside is solely built on the fact that we are playing through Resident Evil 2 and CODE: Veronica, even Operation Javier is shorter than either of the two. The bonus scenarios are now sadly restricted to just playing the last two levels of Javier again, only this time we get to hear what Krauser is thinking, but the game play and the bosses, are all the same. Hugely and damningly disappointing.

I can’t help but think had Resident Evil 2 and CODE: Veronica featured within Umbrella Chronicles, we’d of probably got more Ada missions, both Chris’ and Wesker’s journey through CODE: Veronica and probably more besides. The lack of extra playable missions really hurts the longevity of the title, as I’m reminded that what I’m playing, is just poorer told stories of better games. Even Chris’ role for example, is reduced to around 15 or so minutes of game time within CODE: Veronica segment, despite being playable for half of CODE: Veronica originally, his much remembered reunion with Wesker totally brushed over. And as for Wesker, don’t expect him to appear much either.

Some of the decisions made here as well are just, odd. Changing events and situations so they actually hurt the game as oppose to enhance the original storyline. For everything Umbrella Chronicles messed up, we did occasionally have a clever moment worked into the game adaptation scenarios, seeing Wesker inject himself with his virus during the Remake chapter of UC was something never seen before for example. Darkside just damages the themes and events of the original games, but being as these adaptations are, previously mentioned, the main bulk of this game it’s hard to pass them off as entertaining asides like we could with the adaptations within Umbrella Chronicles.

During Resident Evil 2, there was a moment during the game where we get to see an attack on the main villain William Birkin by Umbrella Special Forces agent Hunk and his team. The sequence, is still very special now, being exceptionally directed with amazing music and very high quality FMV. The same event plays through during Darkside, and it’s just hilarious how bad it is. Why not utilise the same sequence I’ve no idea, but rest assured they dropped the ball there.

In this game Annette, in a strange newly added plot point now actually tries to kill Birkin herself, thus changing the fiercely defensive character she was during the original version of Resident Evil 2.

CODE: Veronica, however, is where the biggest insult to injury lies. I’ve already discussed the lack of Chris and Wesker, and the missing sequences they have together. But the biggest mistake is to do with theme. CODE: Veronica is built upon family and siblings and the relationship they have together, and the great lengths a brother will go to for her sister. Chris obviously goes to rescue Claire, and Alfred goes to great lengths to protect Alexia. The whole game emphasis this, and is a very memorable game for that, trust Darkside then to get it completely wrong.

In the original there is an epic moment where Alfred finally gets to see Alexia again as she awakens, at that moment he dies from a previously inflicted wound as a result of a battle between Claire and Steve. This causes Alexia to go completely berserk, nearly kill both Claire and Steve and subsequently capture them in the process.

In Darkside however, Alfred awakens Alexia herself, who then for some reason is disgusted with her brother so she then chokes and kills him. Don’t get me wrong, Alexia always looked upon Albert as a useless brother, but she always kept him around for her own benefit, and still maintained a kind of care for him (shown in her awakening sequence in the original CODE: Veronica). What they do in Darkside just destroys everything the original established.

Even Javier is brief and far too short, with no decent resolution with Krauser. We get to see him pondering about meeting Wesker, but we never see it. The scenario itself is okay, it’s nice to see a precursor to Resident Evil 4, but again they don’t seem to want to do enough with it, hence its length.

In a final point I’ll make about the story/characters and such I will say it’s wonderful to see Capcom finally get it all right regarding voice talent! All the main characters in the game bar Steve all reprise their roles and it’s all the better for it. Leon is Paul Mercier from Resident Evil 4, and Degeneration. Krauser is again played deliciously by Jim Ward from Resident Evil 4. Alyson Court returns again for Claire making her officially the most consistent character voice wise (indeed no-one else has ever played Claire in any of the games or Degeneration), and from Resident Evil 5 Roger Craig Smith and DC Douglass briefly reprise their roles as Chris and Wesker respectively. What we have here then, is finally a ‘core’ cast, there’s no reason to change any of these actors now Capcom, secure this talent and bring it back each time you need to, because there’s now continuity between the games, and it’s about the first real time this has happened.

Onto the game then and I’m pleased to say, it’s just as good as Umbrella Chronicles. It certainly looks better with a lot more on show and clever effects, but where the game shines is in its camera. Capcom have opted for a more intense shaky cam, which works really well and goes a long way to putting you into the action magnificently. It certainly makes aiming a bit more difficult but you will get used to it, the only way it falls is on boss battles, it’s just so hard to hit the often tiny weak spots because the camera is constantly on the move. It’s a great idea but not quite 100% with its implementation, but that said I wouldn’t have the game without it, because it certainly makes the game feel very fresh.

The two player mode is present as ever, and the archives and galleries all present and correct. The presentation is more certainly more appealing to the eye but harder to navigate than the broad simplicity of the Umbrella Chronicles…

Source:http://www.gameshard.net