TGS07: Kohler says Umbrella Chronicles just better without the Zapper

by Alisha Karabinus { Sep 21st 2007 at 7:00PM }

Some people are all in favor of the Zapper, as we discussed this morning, but Game|Life's Chris Kohler is not among them ... at least, not when it comes to Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles. After trying the game several times, he has consistently found that the Zapper is less optimal for this game than the simple naked combination of the Wii remote and nunchuk. At TGS, he was playing co-op with a freelancer who was even excited about the Zapper and its potential with the game. He played without, and she played with -- and halfway through, they switched.

Once finished, he asked her which she preferred ... and she agreed with him. The Zapper may end up being great for other games, but in Umbrella Chronicles, it seems to make actions ungainly rather than precise, particularly when one has to reload or pick up objects.

This makes us doubly interested in seeing how the shell affects other games, like the pack-in Link's Crossbow Training, but for now, we think we may just stick to the remote and nunchuk. After all, the remote is a pointing device all on its own, and we've seen just how fantastic it can be for shooting.

Tags: co-op, nunchuk, resident-evil, residentevil, umbrella-chronicles, umbrellachronicles, wii-remote, zapper

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

LAZoftheTamarinds @ Sep 21st 2007 7:40PM

When I get this I still will use the zapper. It just feels more realistic and natural holding the gun like zapper than the wiimote and nunchuck.

Looking forward to this when it's released! :)

sixtyfps @ Sep 21st 2007 7:45PM

Ooh, validation for my New-Zapper-is-crap theory.

ELIJAH @ Sep 21st 2007 7:59PM

"Some say Potato ,some say Potata" as far as the zapper control method goes this all depends on your preference.

Alex @ Sep 21st 2007 8:01PM

If it's a more immersive shooting experience you're going for, I imagine the Zapper or any of the other non-Nintendo alternatives are the way to go, even if they make a game slightly more difficult to play.

After all, a mouse or a touch screen (a la DS) are probably the most precise interfaces you can get when it comes to shooting games, but they don't exactly provide the most satisfying shooting experiences either. And the remote, while better, is still just a remote and feels like a "pointing device" instead of a gun.

Then again, whether or not the sense of aiming and shooting a gun is watered down by the fact that you don't actually aim at the screen with the remote remains to be seen.

Anyone know if any of these shooting games allow you to calibrate the aiming to the corners of your screen?

Matt @ Sep 21st 2007 8:04PM

I feel like the Zapper would be more rewarding on games where you can modify the control scheme. Because I'd prefer to map the shooting controls to the trigger-positioned Z or C buttons. That'd be a realistic scheme for it...

ELIJAH @ Sep 21st 2007 8:17PM

@ALEX, the motive behind nintendo releasing the wii was to create an interface which enables the player to experience the game instead of just playing through a two dimensional viewing portal (TV). Basically you are now a DS, GAME ON.

ELIJAH @ Sep 21st 2007 8:20PM

@ALEX, the motive behind nintendo releasing the wii was to create an interface which enables the player to experience the game In the third dimension instead of just playing through a two dimensional viewing portal (TV). Basically you are now a DS, GAME ON.

ELIJAH @ Sep 21st 2007 8:23PM

ELIJAH @ Sep 21st 2007 8:25PM

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

Alex @ Sep 21st 2007 9:14PM

@ Elija,

Huh? I understand the point of the Wii. I was responding to the poster's comments that "we think we may just stick to the remote and nunchuk. After all, the remote is a pointing device all on its own, and we've seen just how fantastic it can be for shooting."

That is, if you just want to "point," then a DS or the plain ol' remote are fine. But if you want to actually "shoot," the zapper is the way to go.

Jeremy @ Sep 21st 2007 10:43PM

I have checked this out and been trying to find games that will actually have the zapper in the control setup. So far there are only two known games that will allow for the zapper specific controls and they are the Crossbow training that comes with it and Medal of Honor Heroes 2.

I think the problem will be in the motion controls with the zapper. Several games for the Wii look like they would work really well with the zapper but then they have motion controls with the wiimote and the nunchuk and the zapper will throw them off. I want the zapper but only if more games come out with the setup option for the zapper to be used.

Leon @ Sep 21st 2007 11:09PM

Am I the only that thinks it's stupid to have the trigger on the front of the zapper, instead of towards the back like a real gun? I really think this is why it would be awkward to hold it...

Adv2k1 @ Sep 22nd 2007 2:24AM

I'm very conflicted I am tempted to buy RE:UC because I'm a fanboy, and I'm tempted to buy Zapper because I'm a fanboy of Zelda. However I know I shouldn't buy either because it would encourage crap controller shells to be made, and crap light gun games to be made. I wonder how zapper would make Metroid Prime 3 feel????

Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Sep 22nd 2007 4:47AM

Had Nintendo thought about releasing *controller* - not a shell??

Many FPS fans would gladly buy dedicated, designed for shooting controller. Well, I'm one of them.

P.S. Or probably modders would come up with some WiiMote+NunChuck hybrid?

psyborg @ Sep 22nd 2007 2:06PM

An actual full wiimote/nunchuck gun would still essentially just be a peice of plastic with wiimote/nunchuck tech inside, this shell thng seems more practical and looks really cool(like a futuristic tommygun). I hope it feels better than most hands-on previews claim.

Xaijin @ Sep 22nd 2007 5:55PM

@15

The original design of the "zapper" was an actual controller shell that you slide the wiimote into. It also looks much less intuitive attaching the nunchuck on it, rather than having it already integrated into the shell already. Also, I'm not a big fan paying $20 for a piece of cheap plastic (like some company did with their wiisports shell package).

All these shells also add onto the cost of a controller. The Wii controller could be the most costly in the history of gaming.

nimno @ Sep 23rd 2007 7:33AM

better than the dualshock 3?

http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/2428/you-favorite-brand-new-controller

dukethepcdr @ Sep 24th 2007 8:32AM

The Wii Zapper is too late. Dream Gear already released a controller shell almost just like it called the Game Blaster. It makes the B button a little bit touchy so you find yourself firing off more rounds than you meant to in games like Medal of Honor. It does make FPS games cool to play on the Wii though. When I play MOH, Call of Duty or Metroid Prime 3 with it, it feels like I'm playing at a coin-op arcade. This controller adapter is perfect for Metroid. I really completes the immersion into Samus' suit. Even kind of looks like a weapon you'd find in the game. Why Dream Gear got away with making theirs before Wii's ALS came out with the Zapper and it's Zelda Crosbow tutorial pack in is anybody's guess. But then, Psyclone came out with a Sixaxis-like controller for the PS2 too that works really well with flying games. Hasn't got rumble either but it costs half as much as Sony's Sixaxis.