I went into my PAX South appointment for Resident Evil Umbrella Corps with a little apprehension. Having been disappointed by 2012’s Operation Raccoon City, a new RE shooter made me more than a teeny bit trepidatious. The surprise was more than welcome.
Resident Evil Umbrella Corps is a third-person shooter set in the time after Resident Evil 6. The Umbrella Corporation is gone, but the zombies the organization has left behind are not. You are a member of a mercenary team, armed with weapons and a zombie jammer, looking to eliminate the other team. The zombie jammer serves two purposes: to keep the zombies off of you while you hunt, and a strategic target to destroy on your enemies in order to have the zombie horde finish them off for you.
Umbrella Corps is an arcade shooter. There is realism in that it is in the present time and you have military-grade weapons, but besides that, it’s about quick actions, decisions and working with your teammates in small, enclosed environments while you are alive and long after you are dead. It is a one death and you’re out scenario, but you aren’t just waiting until the next round. Once you are dead, you can see the entire map, including where your teammates and opponents are. Communication is vital in this team matchup. The mode we played at PAX was team deathmatch with a best 3 out of 5. It was fast-paced without it being frantic. I was still able to check corners, use cover and work with my teammates even though each round was very short, and I never felt like I was out of the conversation as I was able to assist, even in death.
With it being multiplayer only, and a recent outbreak of full-price games without single player components, I expressed my concerns and found out that Capcom is shooting for a less than full price point (approximately $30). I think if they can hit that mark, this turns Umbrella Corps into a much better value proposition. The core concept is solid and the game is looking polished, so a multiplayer only, Resident Evil shooter at that price is more than reasonable.
Resident Evil Umbrella Corps has temporarily allayed my fears. The game appears to be coming along nicely and it’s now on my list of games I’m anticipating in May of this year.