Do you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Blake does, as he shoots zombies in the foot, repeatedly.
Yes, that’s right, we’re now publishing reader reviews here on Kotaku. This is your chance to deliver sensible game purchasing advice to the rest of the Kotaku community.
And thanks to the very kind chaps at Madman Entertainment, purveyor of all kinds of cool, indie and esoteric film, the best reader review we publish each month will win a prize pack containing ten of the latest Madman DVD releases.
This review was submitted by Blake Thomas. If you’ve played Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, or just want to ask Blake more about it, leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Wii)
A sequel to Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles that follows its predecessor by retelling the events of previous games in the series, in this case Resident Evil 2 and Code Veronica, with an all new story set in South America. All retold in an on-rails, light-gun format.
Loved
Shooting zombies: This is the core part of the game and it has greatly improved upon Umbrella Chronicles in this aspect. Headshots have never been more satisfying and when you shoot zombies in the foot, they actually stagger and fall. All thanks to the Havok physics engine.
Collectibles: Another aspect of Umbrella Chronicles that returns in spades is the archive collection. A whole assortment of unlockable files will keep avid completists busy for many hours. Weapon upgrades also makes a welcome return and although there are fewer weapons than in Umbrella Chronicles, it is possible to improve them in a myriad of ways.
Hated
Shaky cam: Borrowing the camera style from Cloverfield and the Blair Witch Project, the camera bobs and ducks and just refuses to stay still. More often than not I was fighting against the camera as I tried to line up another headshot.
Difficulty spikes: Throughout the game, the difficulty alternates between exceedingly easy and bone-crushingly brutal. This is also true for the various bosses as some fights feature moments of invincibility and unblockable attacks. Most boss fights also cease being fun as they are dragged out for such a long time in the game’s attempt to create a more cinematic experience.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles has improved upon the core gameplay of its predecessor and added new style and flair that suits the story but does not suit the game.
Reviewed by: Blake Thomas
You can have your Reader Review published on Kotaku. Send your review to us at the usual address. Make sure it’s written in the same format as above and in under 300 words – yes, we’ve upped the word limit. We’ll publish the best ones we get and the best of the month will win a Madman DVD prize pack.
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