User Review : Resident Evil 4

Best Resident Evil ever.

Okay, I just want to say right now that RE4 is on 3 systems, and all three versions are different. Here's what each version has.

Gamecube- 2nd best graphics. 2 side modes after you beat it.

PS2- Worst graphics, 3 side modes after you beat it.

Wii- Best graphics, 3 or 4 side modes after you beat it.

Which one you prefer doesn't really matter, but the Wii version is the one to get. I'm reviewing the Gamecube version. Just remember that.

Storyline
6 years after the events in Raccoon City (Resident Evil 0-3), Leon S. Kennedy is working for a Government Agency when the President's daughter, Ashley Graham goes missing. They've tracked her wherabouts to a village in Spain. Now, Leon must go in and save her from a mysterious cult. Little does he know what's really going on around him...

Reborn Horror
Resident Evil 4 has basically been built from the ground up. And all for the better, too. The first major difference is the type of game. The edge of your seat horror is still present, but while past installments have focused on Puzzle solving and blasting the occasional zombie, RE4 focuses less on Puzzles and more on raw action (with a few puzzles. Not as many, though). Imagine going up against 10+ enemies with nothing but your Handgun and a few grenades (Grenades are also another addition). That's what RE4 is all about instead of hitting switches and fighting whoever comes out of the closet (joke not intended). Which brings me to my next point. This is one hard game. You have to really struggle to survive. It really makes you strategize a lot.

The Camera and the Hit-zone aiming system
Also, the camera has been fixed to a behind the back, almost 1st person camera angle helps to fix that problem. There's also a new Hit-zone aiming system. So if you shoot an enemy in the head, then they'll stagger back, for example. And if you shoot an enemy (they aren't zombies, by the way) in the foot, then they will fall over. But now, there's no Auto-Aim, either, but there's a laser attached to all you're guns, so you can see where you're shooting.

Shades of Zero
One of Resident Evil Zero's most unique additions: controling two people at the same time, has been minorly transitioned over to RE4. And what I mean by that is that when you get Ashley, she can't use a gun and you can't actually control her movement. All you can do is tell Ashley to wait or follow you (and other actions when necessary or available). If nothing else, Ashley only drags you down considering she's defenseless and has way less life than Leon. But there are times when you need both of them to, say, solve a puzzle (trust me, there aren't that many). If you're worried about her being a burden, don't be. Because about 40% of the time you don't have her with you.

Little Things
Other little additions include things like not having to equip your Knife. You just hold L Button (It's different on PS2 and Wii) instead of R button to aim his Knife. Also, with the Hit-Zone system, the Knife is much more useful, as you can slice enemies in the head to knock them back. Also, the addition of money is fantastic. In RE4, you must buy most of your weapons and all of your Attache Cases (which give you larger inventory space) from merchants that you will encounter in many places (don't worry, they're everywhere). You can also upgrade the weapons that you already have at the shop. Even little things like this help the Gameplay tremendously. Making this the best Resident Evil game so far.

Graphics
In 2005, when Resident Evil came out on it's first system, the Gamecube. The graphics were pretty mind-blowing. the details help bring you into the game deeper with the interactive environment. The lighting only adds to the eerie horror-like tone of the game. And the overall production qualities were nothing short of fantastic. Although they don't fare so well by today's standards (with the PS3 and all), it still looks great on the Wii as well.

Sound
The voice-acting in this game is pretty amazing, along with the rest of the game. And if I had one complaint, it would be that the music could've done more to immerse you in the whole Survival Horror experience. Still some solid sound work, though

Overall
No gamer should go without Resident Evil 4. Everything is near-perfect from the superb gameplay to the (still pretty good) graphics. And since it's only $20 on the PS2/Gamecube ($30 on the Wii), you have no excuse not to play this game.