If you don’t know much about the Resident Evil series, and you haven’t played one in the past, then you should find this new release as a pleasant surprise.

It really isn’t a "normal" Resident Evil game. It is just a new spin-off of the popular series that sets you up at the very beginning. The game play has drastically changed though, as it now relies on a shoot’em up style. There are zombies, point at them, squeeze the trigger.

The game lets you play as either Billy Coen, an escaped convict, or Rebecca Chambers, a member of the special Bravo team. It places you smack dab in the middle of the train from Resident Evil Zero.

It is then pretty simple. You shoot your way through the levels of the past games and of course a few new settings. Noticeably missing are the puzzle scenes from the old games, but these had to be left out for obvious reasons.

The game does play in the same story order as the old ones, so an old fan will pretty much know just about everything that they’re going to face. This doesn’t spoil much though, since you shouldn’t really be playing this for the riveting story.

Each level follows a basic setup. You will automatically move through each scene with all of your focus being put onto aiming and shooting. This gets more difficult than it sounds though, since in this game the monsters are literally coming from the woodwork.

You will always have the standard handgun, but you have the option to change to a bunch of different guns. You can choose a shotgun, a sub-machine gun, go dirty harry with a magnum, take them out with a machine pistol, or blow them away with the glorious grenade launcher.

You aren’t always limited to just aiming. You can use the thumbstick to move your head and get some upgrades and pickups that are scattered throughout the levels.

These range from a special first-aid spray for those nasty bite wounds and some special herbs to improve your overall health. Many pick-ups are hidden inside breakable things, which is basically just a cheap excuse for you to destroy everything in sight. 

The Wii Remote really shines in this game. Even a new gamer shouldn’t have much trouble aiming and getting quick headshots. If you really want to have an arcade experience, then you are in luck. The new Wii Zapper is compatible, but it is usually a bit uncomfortable for a longer arcade session.

The overall story is there in the form of bonus side-quests throughout the levels, but anyone who wanted the excitement of Resident Evil 2 will be a bit saddened by its noticeable absence. Its entire story was simply pushed into Resident Evil 3’s chapter. Resident Evil 4 doesn’t even seem to exist in this universe either.

Just like any arcade shooter, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is going to get a bit repetitive for any player. It is also a pretty short rush for the player, but during this rush, you will certainly have a great time. Add a great two player mode and you’ll find something that any fans of the serious should really love, and it should fill your temporary need for zombie carnage.