Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles with Wii Zapper

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 11th 2007 at 8:00PM }

The Wii Zapper went from announcement to practice with the quickness. We got some time to spend with the contraption while testing out Capcom's Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. Sadly, they're still only showing off the single player version. The level they showed off was in a dilapidated downtown filled with zombies. We can't say our impressions have changed very much since our last hands-on.

The game is fun, but the targeting doesn't seem very responsive and shaking the whole Zapper to reload takes some serious getting used to. Flicking the Wiimote to reload outside the Zapper is far less annoying than shaking the whole thing in your hands. Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles really feels like a game to play with a friend on a lazy afternoon -- but the Zapper plastic shell definitely doesn't add $20 worth to the experience

Tags: e3, e307, resident evil umbrella chronicles

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SoulBlade @ Jul 11th 2007 8:08PM

one can only hope they change the control scheme or make it configurable to be zapper friendly.

...Jan... @ Jul 11th 2007 8:09PM

- Yeah, I never had too much hopes for the Zapper. Unless it uses the Wiimote's and Nunchuk's accelorometers in a way that's only possible in that configuration, it's not worth it. Like, if it somehow calibrates the aiming some more.
- I think it'd only be worth $20 if the Nunchuk parts were built in, like in the previous version.

Ian Von Porter @ Jul 11th 2007 8:10PM

What about fps/point and click games where you move the nunchuck and wiimote independently .. wtf are you suppose to do?

JodyAnthony @ Jul 11th 2007 8:12PM

@Ian

uh, not use the zapper attachment?

SoulBlade @ Jul 11th 2007 8:17PM

I actually think the two handed approach is a good way of doing certain shooters - the thing could suck given the way the Wii actually points though - you'll never see a shooter w/o a cursor because of it.

Matt B @ Jul 11th 2007 8:31PM

I bet that game is hard standing that close to the screen with giant f'n crosshairs. Plus, why would you need 2 hands? Isn't it on rails?

Mr Khan @ Jul 11th 2007 10:50PM

Its on rails only in that you have to stay on that one path, but you can move around that path at will, to get power ups n' such

zwarrior @ Jul 11th 2007 8:39PM

Couldn't you just put the gun down and back up, is this a sufficient shake enough to reload? I always wanted to do that

zwarrior @ Jul 11th 2007 8:41PM

I would rather use Brando's zapper, looks a lot nicer:

http://www.wiiwii.tv/2007/05/23/brando-unveils-wii-lightgun-peripheral/

accidental @ Jul 11th 2007 9:06PM

Does the trigger on that Brando zapper have a mechanism that presses the B-trigger on the remote? If not it is completely void.

Naota @ Jul 11th 2007 8:42PM

i don't like the arangement of the zapper, if the nunchuck was in the front it would probably have a better feel to it.

Exo @ Jul 11th 2007 8:43PM

Its 20 dollars because Nintendo said it comes with a game. man, you guys were at the freaking confrence, pay attention.

zwarrior @ Jul 11th 2007 8:49PM

Half of us felll asleep

Thatoneguy64 @ Jul 11th 2007 10:22PM

Actually, no. You're wrong. It's $20 standalone, and Nintendo said it would be packaged in with some games that are designed to use it.

Get your facts straight before telling us to get ours.

Exo @ Jul 11th 2007 9:03PM

go back to your bridge troll.

Thatoneguy64 @ Jul 11th 2007 10:34PM

I'd like to know how I'm a troll....

Almack64 @ Jul 12th 2007 2:35PM

@Thatoneguy64

Actually I THINK you are wrong. To me it sounded like the price of the Zapper and Software togther would be $20. But I think we all watched the same presentation so its probably a difference in interpretation rather than facts.

You may be right with yours but I personally disagree.

Jake @ Jul 11th 2007 9:08PM

But Nintendo said the Zapper would revolutionize the shooter genre...

Seriously, all flamebait aside, I don't see the point in this zapper. It doesn't add anything that you couldn't do just holding the Wiimote, does it? I guess it is a bit easier to aim. The trigger needs to be on the back hand, though.

hydralisk456 @ Jul 11th 2007 9:16PM

Anyone else notice that the sensor bar is waaaaaaay off to the right on the TV? Maybe that could account for how it played?

That and I don't see myself using the zapper, it negates what I see as the Wii controller's largest strength, the fact that your hands can be as close or as far apart as you want them while you play. That's the reason I picked up RE4 for the Wii, nothing beats kickin' back on the couch with my arms on the actual armrests killing Ganados!

Chris @ Jul 11th 2007 9:46PM

The sensor bar is the thing on the bottom of the TV, right in the middle, that appears to be emitting pink lights because digital cameras pick up infrared. I'm not sure what that black thing on top of the TV way off to the right is, but it's not the sensor bar.