I am going to start this review by referencing back to the original Resident Evil. I believe that the first title, although not the first true survival horror game, was one of the first good survival horror games. At the time it had great graphics, sound, and a wonderful overall story and presentation. The series, which has been one of my favorites, has had many sequels and was starting to get a little stale. I like many waited with much anticipation for the fourth installment of the series. The game, delayed numerous times, and completely re-written midway through development, finally released this last January to the delight of many, including myself. I went out on a limb and purchased the game on the day it came out, I had not read a review for it, I had not played a demo, I just decided that although I had been disappointed by the most recent entries in the series I would give this one a shot and risk fifty bucks. Well I have must say, it is the best fifty bucks I have spent so far this year.
Resident Evil 4 is a return to greatness. To begin with, the graphics are amazing - the best I've seen on the GameCube to date. Gone are the days of pre-rendered backgrounds. All the scenery and backgrounds are produced in game. I found the graphics impressive more in the way the artists at Capcom presented them, than in their technical output. The levels, whether they be in a forest or in a castle, just feel right. When you start the game you are in a small village in a European forest, everything from the trees to the buildings give you a sense of immersion. The game has a gritty look; you feel more like you're playing a movie than a game. In addition, Capcom didn't skimp on the sound. You can set the game in stereo or Dolby Pro Logic 2. Definitely designed for surround, everything from the blowing of wind to the rain sounds crisp and authentic. The score is great, also. It never seems to overshadow the game but it is there, and they did a great job of knowing when to have music and when to just let you sit in eerie silence.
Although great graphics and sound don't make a great game, gameplay does, and RE4 has this in spades. Gone are the days when you have to fight with the camera as RE4 uses an over the shoulder view. This iteration has also introduced a new targeting system where all the characters weapons have a laser sight and can be adjusted to aim at any part of the enemy's body. This works great as it give you strategic options to juggle when caught in a mob, you always have the option to shoot the knees of the enemy to bring them down. This is now very necessary as you are no longer fighting slow moving zombies; instead the enemies move fast and will dodge your shots and attack from multiple angles. What I really liked was the addition of weapon upgrades; this addition is not new to video games but breathes some diversity into the weapons choices in RE4.
Ultimately I can say this, this is a fun game, and there's nothing more I can add that can completely describe the experience. It is reason enough to own a GameCube, or wait until it comes out on PS2 later this year. It has been long times since I played a game were I just couldn't put it down. This is one of those games; it is one of those games were I told myself just 30 more minutes…5 hours later I was still playing. If you've missed playing a Resident Evil game you should still try this game. Although in the long run the story is more cohesive for those familiar with the series, it is still fun for those who are not.
I have been playing games since I can remember, it is my favorite pastime, right up there with my love of music, and just like music my tastes in gaming are diverse, there are no genres I don't play although I tend to favor RPG's and adventure/platformers. I love to read and love a great story which is why I believe I like games so much, they are truly interactive stories.
