Editorials
‘Umbrella Chronicles’ is the Most Underrated ‘Resident Evil’ Game
After the incredible success of Resident Evil 4 on the GameCube in 2005, Capcom took their sweet time coming out with a fifth entry in their survival horror franchise (Resident Evil 5 had one year of concept and planning and then three years of actual development before being released in 2009). Since that game would be released on the Playstation 3 and XBox 360, Capcom still needed to develop a game for the Wii. That game would be the on-rails shooter Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, which they co-developed with Cavia.
Interestingly enough, The Umbrella Chronicles was meant to be more like Resident Evil 4, but when the Wii was revealed to have a different control system, Capcom adapted the game to suit that platform’s controls.
From IGN’s 2007 interview with the game’s producer Masachika Kawata:
“At the initial stage of development, Umbrella Chronicles’ play system was similar to Resident Evil 4’s,” producer Masachika Kawata told Famitsu in a video interview. “But, it’s extremely difficult on Wii. Too complicated to enjoy. Wii users like easiness. Umbrella Chronicles is not only for game enthusiasts. Complex operability can be an obstacle for Wii users. We want players to enjoy the game’s horrifying and creepy world and its thrilling shooting action. By reducing enthusiast-only elements, players can purely enjoy the world.”
That statement is a little insulting to Wii users as it generalizes us as being particularly lazy, but it is what it is. Wii users were given The Umbrella Chronicles and PS3/XBox 360 users were gifted with Resident Evil 5 two years later (Resident Evil 5 is actually the reason I bought a Playstation 3 after years of being a Nintendo kid).
When discussions of the Resident Evil franchise are taking place, The Umbrella Chronicles and its sequel The Darkside Chronicles are rarely mentioned (including on this site). This is a travesty, as it’s actually the best installment outside of the main series of games (and it’s certainly better than Resident Evil 6). Why isn’t the game mentioned more or celebrated as a successful alteration on the tried-and-true Resident Evil formula? I am sure I don’t know, but I’m going to change that with this article. #JusticeForTheUmbrellaChronicles
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles essentially serves as a Sparknotes version of Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Each of the various episodes in The Umbrella Chronicles (each main game received about 3-4 episodes), you were caught up on the storyline of the main Resident Evil games. It was a puzzling decision to exclude Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil CODE: Veronica and Resident Evil 4 from the game, but they would get their attention in the sequel Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (a fun but lesser sequel that made head shots easier but increased the amount of dizzying shaky cam mechanics).
In addition to abbreviated versions of those games, The Umbrella Chronicles also put you in control of series villain Albert Wesker in an original storyline that shows how he survived the events at the mansion in Resident Evil and what he was up to before Resident Evil 5. The game also featured a sequel episode that featured Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine as they and other armed anti-bioweapon activists investigate the Umbrella Corporation’s final stronghold in Russia. There are plenty of rewards for longtime Resident Evil fans hidden in The Umbrella Chronicles.
The Umbrella Chronicles puts you in control of the main two characters of those main games (Billy and Rebecca, Chris and Jill, Jill and Carlos) in an on-the-rails shooter where all you have to do is use the Wii-motes to shoot the monsters that attack the screen. To make the game even more fun, Capcom and Cavia added co-op gameplay, giving the game a House of the Dead feel. To prevent the game from getting boring, the players’ tasks weren’t limited to just killing zombies. You were graded during each episode based on the number of critical hits (aka head shots) you dealt, the number of files you uncovered, objects you destroyed, and how long it took you to beat the episode (this would be determined by how long boss fights took you). For being a rail shooter, it’s a really immersive experience that sucks you in. the unlockable files make the game more addicting than most games of its kind.
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles was criticized for the difficulty of the head shots, but once you practiced a bit it actually became very easy (head shots only counted if you hit the zombies at the very tip of their forehead). Also, once you find all of the secrets there isn’t much replay value other than having a fun game night with a friend. That being said, it was still a fairly long game. While one playthrough takes about 7 hours, it could take you over 20 hours to find all of the collectibles and unlock all of The Umbrella Chronicles’ secrets.
Is The Umbrella Chronicles the best Resident Evil game out there? Hardly, but it is certainly the best game that is not in the main series and it deserves to be discussed more often. Did you play The Umbrella Chronicles when it was released nine years ago? If so, what were your thoughts? Share your memories of this underrated game in the comments below!
New month, new horror recommendations from Deep Cuts Rising. This installment features one random pick as well as four selections reflecting the month of May 2024.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a self-loathing serial killer, a violinist’s murderous ghost, and a postmodern vamp flick.
Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973)
Pictured: Ted Bessell and Sian Barbara Allen in Scream, Pretty Peggy.
Directed by Gordon Hessler.
The TV-movie Scream, Pretty Peggy first aired as part of ABC Movie of the Week. Bette Davis plays the mother of a reclusive sculptor (Ted Bessell), and after the previous housekeeper goes missing, a local college student (Sian Barbara Allen) fills the position. Little does she know, though, the young employee’s predecessor was murdered — and the killer is still on the loose.
Admittedly, Scream, Pretty Peggy isn’t difficult to figure out; its inspiration is obvious. However, Bette Davis’ overstated performance and the son character’s macabre artwork are enough to stay tuned and learn who’s behind the killings.
Scream, Pretty Peggy is now available on physical media from Kino Lorber. Perhaps watch the movie with your own mother this Mother’s Day (May 12).
Paganini Horror (1989)
Pictured: The ghostly killer in Paganini Horror.
Directed by Luigi Cozzi.
For National Buy a Musical Instrument Day (May 22), check out this absurd Italian entry in the subgenre of cursed music horror. A rock band unleashes hell when they unknowingly use a satanic piece of music composed by Niccolò Paganini, the violinist who was rumored to have made a Faustian deal.
Even though Paganini Horror is hardly deemed a standout of Italian Horror, and the movie indeed drags itself toward the finish line, there are some bright spots worth focusing on. For instance: Donald Pleasence. If that’s not enough, the very ’80s aesthetic helps gloss over the flaws in Daria Nicolodi‘s uneven script.
Paganini Horror is now on physical media from Severin Films and is also streaming on SCREAMBOX.
Nadja (1994)
Pictured: Suzy Amis Cameron and Karl Geary in Nadja.
Directed by Michael Almereyda.
These vampires may or may not cast a reflection, but they sure do love to reflect. David Lynch executive-produced as well as briefly appeared in the film, which Roger Ebert succinctly described as “Deadpan Noir” in his review. This tale of revenge and philosophical pondering begins with the vampiric namesake (Suzy Amis Cameron) seducing the daughter (Galaxy Craze) of Van Helsing after he killed Nadja’s father, Dracula. From there a war erupts between the two sides, all while taking place in modern NYC.
Nadja is quite slow but also just strange, stylish and creative enough to keep your attention. In addition, the trip hop soundtrack is easy on the ears, and Peter Fonda plays a memorable Van Helsing. Overall, this is a unique and artsy approach to vampire horror.
Nadja is now streaming on Freevee.
The Bone Snatcher (2003)
Pictured: Scott Bairstow, Warrick Grier and Rachel Shelley in ‘The Bone Snatcher’.
Directed by Jason Wulfsohn.
For National Sunscreen Day (May 27), dig up the monster movie The Bone Snatcher. It will take more than a high SPF to protect the sunburned characters here; they are stuck in a South African desert with a bizarre monster called the Esikhulu.
The best things about The Bone Snatcher are its setting and the creature. This beast, which is brought to life on screen using a combination of practical and digital effects, sports a ghastly design to go with its unnerving ability to animate skeletons. Something else this movie has going for it is a refusal to show the monster too often; that way there is less chance of becoming desensitized to the Esikhulu. Ultimately, this has nothing on John Carpenter’s The Thing, however, those more forgiving fans of Syfy-ish creature-features should be satisfied.
The Bone Snatcher is currently streaming on Tubi.
#1 Serial Killer (2013)
Pictured: Jason Tobin in #1 Serial Killer.
Directed by Stanley Yung.
May is AAPIM, and the subversive #1 Serial Killer (originally titled Chink) is relevant when discussing the “Invisible Asian” notion. Acknowledging the irony, Stanley Yung’s movie has gone widely unnoticed despite its potent take on race and identity.
Jason Tobin (Warrior) delivers a compelling performance as the vile protagonist here. The self-hating, Ted Bundy-admiring character discriminates against other Asians after years of mistreatment and disregard, and that growing rage finally manifests as cathartic violence.
#1 Serial Killer is currently available at digital retailers like Apple.
No genre is as prolific as horror, so it’s understandable that movies fall through the cracks all the time. That is where this recurring column, Deep Cuts Rising, comes in. Each installment of this series will spotlight several unsung or obscure movies from the past — some from way back when, and others from not so long ago — that could use more attention.
‘Infested’ Review – One of the Best Spiders Attack Horror Movies in Years
‘The King Tide’: An Island Town Rots with Moral Decay in Canadian Folk Horror Fable [Review]
Limited Edition Morticia & Wednesday Addams ‘Monster High’ Dolls Releasing Next Week!
TWO New ‘Evil Dead’ Movies Now in the Works; Sébastien Vaniček & Francis Galluppi Directing
“AHS: Delicate” Review – ‘The Auteur’ Gives Birth to a Lackluster, Laughable Finale
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