The Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection is a different look at the original events of the Resident Evil saga, not just a remake of the original Resident Evil series. However, it is a remake of two Wii-only games released in recent years:
- Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (November 13, 2007)
- Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (November 17, 2009)
These two titles have been polished up with HD graphics for the PlayStation (no need for this on the Wii) and are being sold by Sony as a two-game bundle on the PlayStation Network for $26.99. The official PSN blog states that these titles will be available for sale individually at some point in the future, but are currently available only as a bundle.
Nintendo made industry-changing innovations with the Wii's motion-sensing controllers. To catch up and extend the product cycle of their current generation consoles, both Microsoft and Sony followed suit with the Kinect and Move controllers, respectively. Capcom capitalized on the advanced controls for The Umbrella Chronicles and The Darkside Chronicles on the Wii console, and the same gameplay has been ported over to the PS3 renditions.
The Move is not required to play Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection, but it is recommended. The device performs very well in terms of precision, and every miniscule movement is rendered finely through to the screen, especially when used in tandem with the standard controller.
Though the technology may be revolutionary, it's disappointing that its implementation (in these games, at least) is so backward. Pointing a controller at a screen and shooting has been present in arcade machines--and even home video game consoles--for decades. Modern controllers are just a technologically complex method of accomplishing the same type of gameplay.
More than just the controls, the "rail shooter" genre is equally antiquated. In this type of game, the player has no control over the movement of the characters. The game moves the characters through the levels at a predetermined pace. In The Umbrella Chronicles, players can at least look around a little bit as they are being moved along their "rails," but in The Darkside Chronicles even this freedom of movement has been restricted. You can only see what you are allowed to see for the amount of time in which you are allowed to see it.
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