I know I'm not the only Resident Evil fan who found Resident Evil: Dead Aim's gameplay scarier than anything the game was ever able to produce. These memories alone were enough to make me more than a little apprehensive about Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.

Besides getting the chance to play as familiar characters, The Umbrella Chronicles gives long time fans something new to look at. Several of the series' familiar locations, like the Mansion, Train and zombie-filled streets of Raccoon City have been completely redone and given a Resident Evil 4-style makeover. I wouldn't be surprised to see fans clamoring for a remakes of the original games using the new visuals.

While the nostalgia is great, I was a little disappointed with a few of the areas. Several areas are a little too bright, which takes away from the game's spook-factor. While the series has never really made me jump (at least, not like Condemned or Fatal Frame 2), I was hoping that the game would get some kind of reaction out of me. While the panic of shooting waves of zombies was a thrill, it would have been better if things were a little darker.

However, The Umbrella Chronicles deserves points for presentation. Menus are presented like you're going through files while a creepy voice tells you about the game's backstory as well as the impact the incidents had on the Umbrella Corporation. This is complimented by great music that, unlike the visuals, can get creepy.

Rather than tell a new story, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles takes players through every Resident Evil game up until 3 as well as a brand-new section that goes into more detail about how the corporation finally crumbled. Though the re-treading of familiar ground means few surprises for fans of the series, it also allows for more focus on the action. Begining with Resident Evil 0, the game takes you through what amounts to a highlight reel of the each game's plotline where you reprise the roles of key players. Each game is broken into several chapters, each capped off with a boss battle.

Fans of Code Veronica or Resident Evil 4 will be disappointed to learn that neither of the two games is included. The lack of attention given to Resident Evil 2 is a major letdown - especially since it is one of my personal favorites. Rather than getting its own section like the other three games, RE2 is folded into the events of RE3. While I can understand RE4 not being included, the absence of Code Veronica and lack of significant face time for RE2 are both puzzling, especially considering how short the game is. However, some of the levels do offer a little more insight that fills in some holes in the story, which is nice for fans who want to know everything.

Both the flow and gameplay are great, which should dispel notions of The Umbrella Chronicles being another Dead Aim. However, the game is best played in short bursts rather than in long runs. The experience is incredibly repetitive and can wear on you after a while. Still, the game is fun while you're playing and manages to keep up a decent amount of intensity - especially once you come across bosses. Being able to play through the entire game with a buddy makes things even better and is the way to go.

Difficulty is the only thing holding Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles back. Though anyone should be able to get through the earlier levels playing on Normal difficulty, it isn't a bad idea to run through the game first on Easy just to get familiar with enemy patterns. If you decide to tackle the game on harder difficulty, expect several restarts. Each level is about 10 - 15 minutes in length, though with a nice checkpoint inserted in the middle, which helps cut back on having to replay large parts of the game. You can also find first-aid spray in each level which equates to an extra life.

Ammo conservation and a steady aim, two survival horror staples, also affect difficulty. Though you are given a handgun with unlimited ammo, it isn't enough to get you through the entire game. Since more powerful guns have limited ammo, gameplay becomes more about trying to get as many headshots as possible while saving the bigger guns for tougher enemies, namely the tough bosses at the end of each battle.

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is one of the first games to support Nintendo's new Wii Zapper, begging the question, "Do I really need it to enjoy this game?" The good news is that you don't, so unless you're really hyped up about Link's Crossbow Training, you can avoid the purchase.

The overall control scheme works really well, especially since everything is literally at your fingertips. All interaction is handled through the reticule; press (B) to shoot and (A) to interact with an object. Alternate attacks, like knife swipes and grenade tosses, are handled by holding (A) while pressing another button. You can also use the D-pad to cycle through weapons. The only awkward aspect is the analog stick on the Nunchuk. Since you're on-rails the entire game, the analog stick is only useful for turning your head. It's a cool concept, but only useful when trying to snag that hard-to-reach power up.

The Umbrella Chronicles also uses quick-motion segments. At various times in the game, you'll have to shake the Wii-mote or press a certain button to perform some action, usually dodging. I typically like these segments, though they seemed to come up a little too quickly, especially during boss fights. I can't tell you the number of times I had to repeat some bosses simply because they got in one cheap hit.

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles is a solid and entertaining game. Although it is best played in short bursts, there is a lot here for fans of the series which at the very least should warrant a rental.