Customer Reviews

Resident Evil 4

5 star:		(178)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Wow was I amazed! Try it, even if you do have the gamecube version. To me, this is worth the money and time.

Leon S. Kennedy is back and it's been six years later. The president ordered him to rescue the president's daughter from a religious group. This is most likely a survival horror game mixed with action and stategy.

The graphics on the PS2 is a little different. The texture isn't as good and it looks more darker. Still it's pretty good compared to the gamecube version.

The controls is excellent. It may be a little hard to get use to especially if you played the gamecube version. It gives you behind the shoulder look of Leon so you know where to shoot better than the other RE games. The laser device is nice as well because you can shoot at different parts of the body. You can also use knife attacks and kick your enemies as well. Make sure you find the weak spot!

You can't even relax during the cutscenes! You might have to either dodge, sprint, or somehow get out of trouble. Besides killing all of these ganados (Spanish villagers), you have to protect Ashley from getting killed or captured. If so, game over. You can also buy weapons and other items from a mysterious merchant and can upgrade as well. Too bad there is no weapon swap. The ganados have different ways to attack either with a scythe, dynamite, axe, or choke you to death! There is even chainsaw ganados! Many more enemies are introduced later on in the game. The bosses also are challenging and better than ever! There are some puzzles introduced to advance the plot. There are no typewriter ribbons. There is probably more things to point out but we need to talk about the extras!

Extras in the game such as Separate Ways. Which you play as Ada Wong and you play the same time and same place as Leon. There is no switching to characters but that's ok. There are more cutscenes and few more hours for you to enjoy. The new grapple gun is introduced which is a nice feature. It helps you get around to out of reach places as well. New weapons are here such as a laser gun which can kill enemies pretty easily and can stun them. The costumes are useful and pretty cool to say so myself. Leon looks like a detective and looks mysterious like. Ashley has a suit of armor which is a good thing. It can protect herself from gunshots or get killed in any other way. These extras can be obtained if you beat the game once. Extras from the gamecube version are also on here. The Mercenaries where you have to kill enemies to score points and unlock characters. You can even get an unlockable weapon. The Handcannon in the main game! There is also Assignment Ada where you play as Ada Wong collecting five plaga samples and mostly avoid enemies instead of shooting them. Heavy item managment is a must. There is no knife attacks so use guns! More costumes, unlockable weapons, professional mode where enemies are challenging than normal mode. Another round where you have all of your possesions from the previous file. Last but not least, a movie browser where you can view cutscenes from the game and Seperate Ways.

Overall, it's a great game. Especially for the PS2. Play it, even if you have the gamecube version. Since there is more features into this. Great job to Masachika Kawata and the others. If you don't have the gamecube version, here is your chance! I played the game through about 20-25 hours including the extras.

Elizabeth

Resident Evil 4 is a sequel to the infamous Resident Evil series. This game completely changes the way that so many Resident Evil fans were used to. This is a good thing, however. This is the Playstation 2 version. While the graphics aren't as good as they were on the Gamecube, it more than makes up for it in the extras. That being said, let's proceed to the actual review.

Warning: The following contain spoilers for the game

Graphics 10/10

The graphics in Resident Evil 4 are absolutely phenomenal. This game has some of the best graphics the PS2 can offer. Some of these examples are that the there are many forms of trees in the game, and they are so different that you'll think that you're seeing a new tree each time. Each and every enemy has a detailed body. The blood splatters from the enemies, and Leon has at least fifteen or more ways to die. Leon is very detailed and almost any scene or cut-scene is photo realistic. They have an extreme amount of detail in each cut-scene. The environments are also awesome. Some very memorable environments are the lava room, the castle, the military base, and more. With a wide-screen HDTV and some component cables with progressive scan, These are some of the best graphics in video game history.

Gameplay 10/10

The gameplay is extremely different than the previous resident evils in a very good way. Some of the differences are: there is no longer a camera that is switching views, the new camera is positioned over your shoulder and you can control it with the right analog stick. You can save at the many stationed typewriters in the game and you can have up to 20 saves for the game. You can use the knife at will, and the camera, instead of taking you into a first-person perspective, lets you control it from a third-person perspective. You also have an attach? case that you put your guns in. You flip and flop things so that everything fits. You can also purchase extensions to you attach? case from the merchant. You find pesetas and those are your form of currency and money that you can use to purchase things from the merchants. Merchants are found throughout the game and let you sell your items, buy items, and you can even custom tune-up your guns. There are some types of guns. Some of these types are handgun, shotgun, rifle, magnum, grenade, machine gun, and special. Tuning them up ranges from increasing their capacity, upgrading their firepower, reducing their reloading speed, and increasing their fire rates. Once you upgrade a gun fully it has an exclusive. All but one gun, the killer7, has an excusive. You can't purchase ammo from the merchant, so use your ammo wisely. Most guns have a laser targeting system, and rifles and rocket-launchers take you into the firs-person perspective. There are 3 types of grenades, flash grenades which allow you to temporarily blind your foe, Incendiary grenades which set your opponent(s) on fire, and regular grenades that blow stuff up. Some of the cut-scenes are now interactive, and you use the [ ] and X buttons/ the L1 and R1 buttons to dodge certain things, hang on to or climb ledges, cut/stab things, etc. Thanks to the new aiming system, if you shoot enemies in the kneecap, they crouch so that you can suplex them, and if you shoot the in the head they also crouch so you can kick them. These features are only useable by the protagonist of this game, Leon. You can also do different things with different people. Another great feature that this game introduces is combining health and treasure items. Also, this game has the puzzles that made the previous Resident Evil games so respected. There are also a huge variety of things you do in this game. You ride a jet ski, a mine cart, a boat, and you fight as sea monster, battle with gigantic monsters, fight with a 10 foot Ganado, fight blind prisoners with claws, fight regenerating monsters that have specific parasites that you need to destroy to kill that enemy, gigantic mosquitoes, protect Ashley while she does things, and more.


Story 9/10

The story isn't as deep if it were compared to a game with a story that was a masterpieces such as Metal Gear Solid, but it is still very enjoyable. Basically, you play as Leon Scott Kennedy, often referred as Leon, is the main character and was also in Resident Evil 2. The story of Resident Evil 2 was that 6 years ago, a virus broke out and happened by a company called Umbrella. The U.S. Government decided that it didn't want this information to go public, so they fired off nuclear missiles and Raccoon city and its epidemic were finished. However there were some survivors. And Leon Scott Kennedy just happened to have survived the incident. Now, he's a government agent and his mission is to rescue the president's daughter, Ashley Graham. Will he succeed? You decide.

Sound 9/10

The sound in this game is also excellent. The sound is also very realistic. The crows crow, the wind makes the leaves blow, the ganados shout out Spanish cries, you can hear the chainsaw reving up, etc. etc. You also tend to depend on the sound to see where and when the enemies will attack you.The voice acting is also very professional. They have the voice talents of Paul Mercier as Leon Scott Kennedy, Carolyn Lawrence as Ashley Graham, Sally Cahill as Ada Wong, Jim Wardlngrid as Jack Krauser, Salli Saffioti as Ingrid Hunnigan, Rene Mujica as Ramon Salazar, Jesse CortiJack as Bitores Mendez, Michael GoughAlbert as Osmund Saddler, Richard Waugh as Albert Wesker, and Carlos Carrasco as the Villagers/Zealots. This game also supports dolby digital 5.1 surround sound.

Replay Value 10/10

This game has a huge amount of replay value. You can unlock an R.P.D. Police Uniform by beating the game. Ashley also has a pop-star outfit that you unlock after beating the game. The infinite rocket launcher also becomes available when you beat the game and it costs 1,000,000 pesetas. There is also a handgun that you can purchase called the matilda and it costs 70,000 pesetas. You also unlock Assignment Ada, a mode that is non-canon and covers the later part of the game and lets you play as Ada, and Separate Ways, a mode that is canon and lets you play from the beginning to the end of Ada's mission. Beating Separate ways lets you buy the Chicago Typewriter, a SMG mostly used in WWII, for 1,000,000 pesetas. You can only buy the Chicago Typewriter on a second playthrough. It has infinite ammo. Also, if you beat Separate Ways you get the Mafia gangster oufit for Leon and the indestructible knight outfit for Ashley. Ashley can't get carried away in this outfit and Leon can do a special hat trick if he has the Chicago Typewriter equipped. To do this trick, reload 4 times consecutively and he will do the hat trick. If you beat Assignment Ada you can buy the Chicago Typewriter in Separate Ways for 300,000 pesetas and it is only available on a second playthrough. There is also a mode called Mercenaries, and that lets you kill enemies and try to get a high score of 60,000 or above points to get five stars. This game is so fun, it could be a game in itself! There are five characters, and they are Leon, Ada, Wesker, Krauser, and Hunk. They all have unique abilities. There are also four maps and they are the village, the castle, the military base, and waterworld. Getting five stars with all of the characters on all maps allows you to purchase the handcannon for zero pesetas. You can upgrade it and its exclusive is that it can have infinite ammo. There is also a pro mode that is unlocked after beating the main game. After beating pro mode, you can buy for zero pesetas, the P.R.L. 412. The P.R.L. stands for Parasite Removal Laser.

Conclusion

Buy or rent, that is the question. I say buy because it has amazing graphics, gameplay, story, sound, and replay value. It will probably last you forty to fifty hours.

Overall 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/13/2006

I have always been facinated by the Resident Evil genre. However, I've always been a big chicken when it comes to playing their games. While I'm not a diehard fan like some, I have played the original for the PSone as well as a demo of RE3: Nemesis which came with Dino Crisis, another Capcom game, for the PSone.

I put a lot of thought into whether or not I should purchase this game or pass it up. Considering that I like the franchise in general, part of me wanted it, but I didn't want the same thing to happen to me that happened the first time I rented the original: Play it five minutes, get freaked out and shut it off for the remaining five days I had it.

However, the numerous good reviews I'd heard about this game were making it too hard to ignore. I picked up a copy for $20 and started playing. The truth is that it did take me a little while to actually like this game. I was about ready to go onto a RE discussion forum and ask when I should be getting into it.

Well, I didn't have to do that as eventually the heart-pounding, adrenaline-rush of action overpowered my initial fear and boredom to the point that I just wanted to kick the living crap outta every enemy I encountered. This game does stray from its survival-horror roots and becomes more of an action-horror game.

The game is incredibly long - a lot longer then I thought it would be. It took me nearly 30 hours my first time to complete the game. The replay value is extremely high, too. Capcom is known for having good replay value for their games and RE4 is no exception.

Upon completion of the game, you unlock another difficulty level, new weapons (some with unlimited ammo), two mini games and a third longer mini game where you play as another character that gets played out simultaneously to the main game.

Surprisingly, it has become one of the best games I have ever played and it is no wonder why it achieved all its high ratings and awards. Players should be warned that the game is extremely violent, rightly deserving its M rating.

Interactive cut-scenes add to the unpredictability as you can no longer simply put down your controller and watch. You may be required to do a series of button presses to prolong your life. Enemy AI is great, too. Enemies dodge your attacks, wield weapons, throw projectiles, carry shields and coordinate attacks.

Here's the lowdown on the basics:

Graphics - One word: Stunning, especially near the start of the game in the village. You'll truly be glad you aren't in such a desolate, wooded location. The loneliness and isolation of the first few areas makes you truly appreciate what you do have. But as the game progresses, you'll be wishing for the villagers rather then facing some of the more powerful enemies later on, some of which can scare ya just by looking at them.

Sound - Not as good as the graphics but still eerily satisfying. The howling wind in the village will give you chills and the heavy breathing of enemies lets you know their presence but being unable to locate them will cause you to turn in circles until you think the coast is clear. The music, especially in Ada's "Separate Ways" mini-game is powerful and gives you a little adrenaline boost. It's not "scary" powerful, but more like "emotional" powerful.

Replay value - High. Very, very high. With an added difficulty setting, many mini games and new weapons to test out, Capcom truly wants you to be playing this game nonstop until you have it implanted in your memory.

I was slightly nervous upon playing it for the first time and while there are those moments of fright within the game, the action and pulse-pounding adrenaline keep you going until you wear out your controller.

Before I get to my review, I'm going to start with a flashback to the year 2000. I was at a friend's house. He had recently picked up the N64 version of Resident Evil 2. Right after he started the game, I was sucked into a world of bloodsucking zombies and hideous monstrosities I had only seen in nightmares. I was terrified, particularly by a nasty creature called the 'Licker.' The environs and music were equally creepy. It was then that I finally had my first real taste of this mysterious genre known as 'survival horror.' Back then I was such an easy scare that I vowed to never pick up one of these frightening things. But let's just fast-forward 5 1/2 years into the future, shall we...

In early 2005, I recalled hearing about this game virtually everywhere. Being a frequent G4 viewer, it was impossible not to know about the impact this game had upon its GameCube release. Still being an easy scare, and still avoiding the survival horror genre like the plague, I decided to ignore the frequent coverage RE4 received. But that didn't last long. After seeing the commercial about a good 50 times, I became more curious as time went on, to the point where I even pondered about buying a GameCube. However, when I learned of a port scheduled to be released in October on the PS2, I decided to wait and see.

Obviously, I ended up getting the PS2 port. And I couldn't be happier with this decision. Why? Because RE4 is simply one of the greatest games I've ever been fortunate enough to play!

As I said, I'm an easy scare, and yes - I found a bit of the game's subject material to be rather disturbing, but I still managed to keep playing non-stop. I beat the game a month later, along with Assignment Ada and the Separate Ways bonus missions.

To factor in on what makes RE4 so fantastic, I'll break the next portion of my review into individual segments:

+ Storyline:
Following the demise of the sinister Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City survivor Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil 2) is assigned to rescue the President's daughter, Ashley Graham, believed to be held in a religious community in Spain. When Leon arrives, he begins to learn of a sinister plot involving a virus known as the 'Los Plagas,' created by the evil Lord Saddler to dominate the minds of human beings, and thus take over the world. What Leon does not know is that a third party has also taken matters of extracting the virus into their hands, and that an all-too-familiar woman in a red dress may be of help to him in his excursion. A

+ Graphics:
Regardless of whether the PS2's technology can live up to that of the GameCube, these are probably the best graphics I've ever seen on a Sony console. For a port, this is just incredible. A+

+ Sound/Music:
The voiceovers for the most part are all well done. When a character is meant to be serious, he will sound serious. When a character is meant to be annoying, he will sound annoying (Salazar, anyone?). I think the woman who does Ada's voice (and who also played her on RE2) outshines all the others, but they're all great. The music is very enhancing to the amount of tension and panic you'll experience. When you're ambushed in a house by a group of villagers, you'll hear some rather eerie music for instance. I think I'll give the sound an A overall.

+ Replay Value:
In addition to Assignment Ada, there are 5 missions collectively known as Separate Ways that co-exist with the story told in Leon's game. In these missions, we get to see the story from Ada's point of view. This will answer numerous questions about some of the storyline's more enigmatic details, as well as offer hints as what to expect in the next RE game. There's also a minigame entitled The Mercenaries, which pits you up against a ticking clock to test your shooting skills. When you beat the game for the first time, you are also able to keep your weapons inventory, as well as receive new (and rather unconventional) costumes, particularly the gangster outfit. Overall score: A.

+ Enemies/Level Design:
Where chimeras and Lickers are a thing of the past, so are zombies. Instead, their role is taken over by mindless slaves known as Los Ganados. Multiple forms of these include villagers, monks and soldiers. Some, like the chainsaw wielders, are pretty tough to beat, and others will leave behind parasites that must also be taken out. My advice: don't shoot at the heads once you reach Ch. 1-2. Other enemies include mutated wolves, acid-spraying insects and some rather intriguing experiments called 'Regenerators/Iron Maidens.' As far as bosses go, I didn't find many of them to be as hard as they first appeared (in retrospect, I actually think the last boss seemed rather lame). The only ones I found myself having trouble with were Salazar and Krauser, and a simple upgrade of weaponry was an easy solution in both cases. In terms of levels, there are 3 main stages to the game - a village, a castle and an island. Each area consists of its own sub-levels - mines, sewers, and laboratories included. Each stage is essential in furthering the story, and there is also a little bit of backtracking involved (especially if you want to see some extra cutscenes) but, again, only a little bit. A

Difficulty:
The two settings of difficulty include Normal and Professional. The latter of which is unlocked once you beat the game on Normal. In all honesty I didn't think the game was too tough. The hardest part was probably overcoming any apprehension to turn a corner or climb a ladder, and as I said before, the game isn't that scary. There are a few puzzles that may seem mindboggling (particularly one in the castle basement that almost made me rip my hair out) but nothing you can't handle. A-

I think that sums everything up. Buy the game! You won't regret it!

i stopped playing the franchise since RE3 which was repitetive to the previous 2. so i wasnt excited to play the 4th installment. until my friend convinced me to give it a try. actualy, i couldnt stop thinking of it once i played it. then i got it from amazon to run it on my PS3. i wont say much about it, but only god of war 2 and subsistence can compete with RE4 for the crown of best PS2 title.

My name is Adam and am 16 and now live in Dubuque Iowa. I think this one of the top 10 best video games of all time, well at least since july of 2006, LOL. As i said in one of my other reviews Resident evil is almost a second religion. I have played every resident game ever. and love 'em all. the ones i don't like as much are Gaiden, survivor, outbreak and dead aim but i still like 'em. It's just that why don't they have one where everyone gets together and destroys umbrealla and everyone lives happily ever after. in regards to carlos in the third one it nevers says what happens to him. but anyway i have all resident evils and all the books. all the cheatbooks and some of the toys. i also have the movies on dvd. in regards to this game I love it. it's sooo fun. even the merchant is cool but it never says what happens to him. Ada is beautiful and so is ashley. I love the new monsters and the fact that you can jump and kick. Sadler and salazar the midget is funny. I love it when leon says 2 salazar " If you don't need me then get off my back old man. LOL. then leon throws a knife in his hand. it must have something to do with the fact that salazar is one of them. Leon sure is tough. Thank you amazon.

THE GOOD: Fantastic presentation; revolutionary action gameplay; unforgettable enemies; top notch audio and visual; lengthy adventure and unlockables make for high replay value

THE BAD: Not as scary this time around; some questionable and scripted hit detection

DIFFICULTY: Medium-to-Hard

Well, it's obvious the folks at Capcom were just about as tired as the rest of us when it was clear where the RE frachise was going with mediocre spin-offs that basically offered the same clunky gameplay over and over. They heard your complaints and suggestions, and basically outdid themselves this time.
Resident Evil 4 was origionally released for the Gamecube a year before the PS2 version, and its absolutely revolutionary gameplay, incredible graphics, memorable enemies, and constant on-your-toes challenge made this in most publications the 2005 game of the year.
The PS2 is a very near identical port of the GC version, and with the new extras thrown in, may make this the better of the two games... in some aspects.
The storyline is pretty straightforward, you are Leon Kennedy of RE2 and on a government mission to save the president's daughter in the outskirts of Europe (most likely Spain, since everyone speaks spanish). It stands on its own for the most part, so newcomers who've been living under a rock and never played any of the first 3 RE games will be pretty safe here.
Now, the first thing people will love about this one is the new over-the-shoulder camera perspective which gets rid of that annoying static camera and clunky "tank" player control of the original titles. You always have a fresh look on everything and with the new laser sight enemy hit detection system, it makes pulverizing your grunting, dirty, virus-infected human monstrosities all the more fun... so fun in fact that the unlockable "Mercanaries" mode which offers ONLY the pure, balls-out head exploding action that will have you replaying this time and time again (this isn't even mentioning the other 2 Ada missions, one of which is a PS2 exclusive and offers a new 6-7 hour adventure). Besides the action, the puzzle aspect of the game still lies within, though not anywhere near as thorough as the original RE games had it. This is a good thing, no more collection annoying crests to open doors and whatnot. The game controls very much realistic as well, Leon isn't able to strafe or do all out Devil May Cry style death-defying jumps to avoid enemy hits, it's all very accessible and though isn't as tank-like as the early games, it still feels a bit limited which better balances the horror on-your-toes action. The game will also keep you on your toes mainly through the cut-scenes, which don't offer a break like other games, no. In most instances you'll have to quickly hit a series of 2 different button combinations to avoid attack in split-second timing, if you don't, you either get hurt pretty bad, or die. Some are so intense you'll find yourself staring at the tv eyes wide, sweat beading down your forehead, holding your breath, fingers tense and ready - it's VERY exciting.
Now, though most aspect of the Gamecube version are great, the aiming system feels a bit touchy mainly because the PS2 controller isn't very good for first-person shooters which require fairly precise aiming. Also, the hit detection, though a great addition - which makes enemies react appropriately to which area of the body they are hit - can sometimes be off and feel scripted rather than real. About a quarter length into the game, you'll find that blasting an enemy's head off will result in his inner "monster" to start waving a very dangerous whip blade at you, which makes the combat even tougher. So generally you'll try and start shooting them elsewhere. Still, the game sometimes forces you to fight these annoying monsters, so even though you'll hit an enemy square in the stomach, his head will magically blow off. This becomes annoying especially when trying to control a huge crowd of foes. One final minor complaint is with the atmosphere in the game. Though the battles and fear of getting killed are scary, the atmosphere that made the first RE games so scary just aren't here anymore. This is partially because the game is very action-oriented, and though the environments look beautiful, they aren't very scary.
That's about enough with the negatives.
One great positive is how the game forces you to fight. In older games, if you didn't have enough ammo you could simply run past enemies. In this game, the vast majority of enemies will leave behind money, weapons, and health power ups which are necessary for later in the game. The money aspect is a very welcome addition. Generally, in many parts of the game you'll come across a mysterious guy who you can buy and sell from. New and upgradeable weapons, along with the more realistic and strategic inventory system, bring a great RPG element to this game which can also greatly enhance the replay value (should I trade in this shotgun for this other one? Are buying these treasure maps really worth it?) It's enough to warrent another playthrough just to see what other weapons and power-ups you can upgrade and how it'll alter the challenge.
Graphics and sound are a grand showcase of their own. Every shot, every kill, every explosion, every scream and moan just oozes inspiration and hard development work. And the graphics, oh man the graphics, are SO gorgeous at times that I found myself simply stopping just to LOOK at it. It's amazing the PS2 was even able to pull this off.
There are simply too many positives which make the PS2 version of RE4 worth an instant purchase - fast enemies (no more zombies in this one), split second reactions, incredibly fun hit detection, lengthy adventure, strategic inventory, gorgous graphics, GOOD voice acting, and involved story make this easily the BEST Resident Evil and easily the greatest game of 2005.

BOTTOM LINE: If you own a PS2, and don't own this game, you don't deserve your PS2. Stop reading and click that "add to cart" button NOW.

To put it simply, this game is amazing.
It offers great gameplay and areas not seen in any game ever made.

From the ultra cool list of characters, to the numerous fun guns, and to the difficult and awesome boss battles, this game has it all.

The cut scenes are done wonderfully and the story slowly unfolds its plot as you wind through it. The voice acting is also well done though some of the games lines are super cheesy.

Buying new guns, upgrading them, and unlocking secret weapons is so simple yet highly effective. Each weapon has its own personality and strengths and make them all unique and fun to play around with.

And the extras included with this version can easily give you 10-20 more hours of gameplay after you unlock them. There are two seperate scenarios that include Ada and one mode thats like a huge deathmatch. And you cant forget the awesome new costumes and unlockable Tommy Gun...

This is one of those games that only comes around rarely. The style, gameplay, weapons, and levels, are all top notch and must be seen to appreciated. If you own a PS2 you must own this game. Its that simple.

A few years ago, while I was reading my favourite Playstation magazine, I came across an article on Resident Evil 4. Yes!! I am a massive fan ever since I played the original. There were a few pictures and brief insight as it was very early news. I was all worked up and excited! You play as Leon Kennedy! He was great, almost an equal to Chris Redfield! The next month I was devastated. My trusty magazine had just informed me that it was to be Nintendo Game Cube exclusive! Nooooooooooooo....!!!!

But then, on the 4th day in November, I collected my copy for the PS2 from the Royal Mail Office (It should have been posted through my letter box but I won't go into that now, read my "10 things that annoy me" review to find out). It seems Capcom didn't forget about its fans after all....



Resident Evil 4 gives a very warm return to Leon S Kennedy, the rookie cop from Resident Evil 2. It is six years since the Raccoon city incident and the notorious Umbrella Corporation has been destroyed. Now he is a government agent assigned to rescue the President's daughter, Ashley Graham. Information leads him to a small village somewhere in Europe. Leon arrives escorted by three local policemen.
Walking down a narrow path through the trees, Leon advances towards a small cottage. Inside there is a man with his back turned poking at a fire. Upon approaching him, the man picks up an axe and starts walking towards Leon. The latter has no choice but to open fire on the assailant. Leaping out of the window Leon finds that there are more armed attackers waiting.
Welcome to Resident Evil....


Changes
------------------------------------
There have been a lot of changes to the latest instalment of the Resident Evil series. All of them are a massive improvement!
How annoying was it in the previous games when you knew there was a zombie around the corner, but you didn't know if you were shooting it due to the fixed camera? Admittedly, the fixed camera did help to make the scary atmosphere as you couldn't see what was around the next corner, and it did mean that hi-resolution backdrops could be used. Well, forget pre-rendered backgrounds, this beauty is in Full 3D! That's right; the camera is now close-up behind Leon, so you see what he sees. There is still the tense feel of the old camera as it is easy for enemies to sneak up from behind or the side as the camera is so close.
It now means that aiming can be used fully. With each weapon (except the rifles) a red tracer laser shines out of the gun, a tiny circle at the end indicating when a target is locked on. It also makes it possible to have sniper rifles (Yes!).

Who can forget those infamous door clips from the resident Evil series? (Every door you went through or most steps had a short intro, in the 1st person, of the character going through) Thought not... Well those of you who thought they were tediously annoying will be pleased to know that it has been scrapped completely! Most doors are opened by Leon in real time, while some have a short loading screen.
Leon opens the doors slowly when you click on them, but double click and he will burst through with a good kick! Nice little touch!

Another big change is the Inventory. The previous games allowed you to hold between 8 and 10 items (6 for Chris in Resi 1). It was always quite annoying because a key took up the same space as a shotgun!? Boxes were located around the game so that excess items could be stored until needed. Now you get a case with lots of little slots. Each weapon or item requires a different amount of space depending on the size. This means you can carry multiple weapons and herbs etc. Larger cases can be bought later on in the game.

It is now essential to find money (ptas), either hidden in crates or from killing enemies. The amount you find varies and will not necessarily be in the same place each time you play. For example you might find 900 ptas in a vase, then die and load back up, and the same vase might hold 800 ptas or ammo. The money is used to purchase weapons or upgrades, which brings me on to the next big change...

The item boxes have been scrapped as Leon can now hold much more. In its place is "The Merchant". This guy pops up all over Resident Evil 4, noticeable by the blue torches. There are three options to choose from, Sell, Buy or Tune Up.
Sell gives you the opportunity to make money from any treasure you have found. Also if you want another weapon and have no space left, you can sell any item including weapons. The latter can be bought back at a higher price if needed.
Buy lets you purchase weapons or rare items, such as treasure maps or larger cases. There is also the option to buy a First-Aid spray; there is only limited amounts so don't go thinking you can replenish whenever he's around.
Tune Up allows you to improve almost all your weapons, at a high price of course! There are four parts to improve, Shot Power, Firing Speed, Reload Speed and Capacity. These can be upgraded to a maximum of level 6, although some weapons cannot. There is also the possibility for an "Exclusive" upgrade to some weapons. This comes about much later on and costs heavily. The Exclusive upgrade has a special enhancement on the selected weapon; for example, the Handgun has a x5 chance increase of Critical Headshots, and the Shotgun has the same Shot Power from all distances!

The structure of the new Resi Evil is very different from it's predecessors. The old games were one big long level, divided into different places, but with no obvious level start and finish.
Now it has taken on a "Devil May Cry" type structure; although it is still one long level in a sense, it is divided by sub sections that are divided themselves, e.g. you could be on level 4 - 3. At the end of each section you are shown your accuracy, number of enemies defeated and number of continues taken. You are also giving the option to save the game.

Ink Ribbons have been removed totally. The typewriter is still there, but you can now save to your heart's content! This is a welcome loss, as it was so annoying when you wanted to save but didn't have an Ink Ribbon. And to make things even better there are excessive amounts of typewriters everywhere (OK, maybe not excessive, but still loads)

Enemies
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The main enemies of Resident Evil 4 (Surprisingly!!) are humans! Well, I say humans, but they seem half human and half zombie?!?
They talk (In Spanish I believe...) and they are intelligent to the extent that they dodge where your gun is pointing and sneak up on you. They also run! Which is quite terrifying when you need to reload! Also they climb through windows and open doors. But there is something not quite right with them. Remember the groaning zombie noise of the former games? Well it's back, but this time it's got more depth in the sound! (Don't ask me how but it just has!) And with it comes a quiet chant to themselves, so you can hear them before you see them.
If one spots you they will point and shout to their companions of your presence. Keep your senses alert as they can come from anywhere; off roofs, through windows and form the doors behind you.
They come with a range of weapons, from knives and spades to crossbows and even chainsaws! Some are protected by a wooden shield (a quick blast from the Shotgun should sort that out!) and there are others with a bullet proof helmet!
To deal with the monsters most effectively you have to get a Critical head shot to make their head explode. Blood spurts out from the neck which is quite cool close up! But be careful later on as something can sprout from the neck.........
Shooting the men/women in the legs causes them to fall to the floor, very good for when faced with multiple foes.
There are sections with new and different foes, but I won't give too much away...!

Interactive
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The Resi Evil world is now more interactive thanks to it being 3D. Crates and vases can be smashed and hold valuable ptas or ammo. Also there are treasures hidden throughout the game that you shoot to make them drop. Some doors and windows can be shot through, breaking them with each shot.
There are a lot of puzzles or objects that need to be shot in a certain place in order to progress, e.g. a drawbridge stuck half open, shoot the brackets on the wall to make it fall.

Graphics
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The graphics in resident Evil 4 are exceptional! Everything is so smooth and highly detailed with a great use of colour and lighting. The latter seeps through windows and cracks and looks misty from the dust. Even the caves in the game are packed with detail, the walls really look real! The animation and detail on the Bosses is the best I have seen in any game (Watching the endless body parts shoot out of a man's body will leave you in awe!).
The water is again amazing, with great colour and depth to it. The scene on the lake is jaw-dropping; it has fog and bits floating in the water, and it moves with excellent realism! Not to mention the creature that lurks beneath.....!!

Sub Missions
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There are a couple of sub-missions in the main game, most notably the Bottle-Caps. The Merchant runs some shooting ranges in the Castle; select your choice of weapons, either automatic or sniping. The idea is to earn as many points as you can to gain Bottle-Caps. There are 24 to collect and they can be viewed in the treasure menu. Click on them for a close up, and they even have a sound effect! A small, but fun little extra to distract you from the chaos outside...!

Weapons
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There are many new weapons in Resi Evil 4. I won't ruin any surprises by mentioning them all; instead I will give a brief description of a few earlier in the game:

Knife
It wouldn't be Resi Evil without the trusty knife. This time it has a greater use and is easier to use. Hold L1 and the knife is quickly taken out. Use it to smash crates etc to save on ammo.
+Advantages - Doesn't require ammo
-Disadvantages - Hardly any damage, can only be used at close range

Handgun
Small but effective, the 9mm handgun will be the weapon most used as there is a lot of ammo and is fairly easy to get that precious head shot. It only takes up 6 slots too.
+Advantages - Lots of ammo available, accurate
-Disadvantages - Lacks power

Shotgun
A must carry at all times weapon. Ideal for multiple enemies or when confronted by a stronger foe as it will send them flying backwards. Ammo is sparse so keep an eye on your supply.
+Advantages - Very powerful close range, excellent for dealing with multiple enemies
-Disadvantages - Not very good at distances, takes up a lot of space

Rifle
An old bolt-action rifle with a scope fitted allowing Leon to zoom in on far away targets. A more powerful scope is avaliable from the Merchant.
+Advantages - Extremely accurate, Powerful
-Disadvantages - Slow reload

Grenades
There are three types of grenade; Hand Grenade Large explosion), Flash Grenade (Blinds enemy) and Incendiary Grenade (Bursts into flame). Equip like a normal weapon and throw in the same way.
+Advantages - Large damage radius, helpful for blinding Bosses
-Disadvantages - Too many can take up a lot of space, can cause damage to yourself

Broken Butterfly
A powerful Magnum that comes at a high price. Get this in for those tougher monsters!
+Advantages - Extremely powerful, Size of a Handgun
-Disadvantages - Limited ammo, Expensive to upgrade, Long reload

Rocket Launcher
The ultimate weapon! Use this against the Bosses or any tough situations!
+Advantages - Kills virtually everything, large damage radius
-Disadvantages - Very expensive, only one rocket a time, Takes up a lot of space

Flaws
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The only real flaw to this superb game is that you cannot side step or move while aiming. It means that in order to shoot round a corner you have to run forward and turn, exposing yourself to the enemy. But then it may have been intended to keep the tension high as it is very difficult to see what is round the next corner, and you have to stay rooted to the spot while enemies lunge at you which is quite terrifying! So maybe it's not a flaw after all......
Another flaw is that at certain points in the game you find yourself running or dodging various attacks. This is fine in itself, but when running you are told to vigorously bash 'X' then have to press either the buttons or 'X' and square when prompted. It doesn't allow you much time to perform this action so your reactions have to be fast! The trouble is that I found myself constantly dying and it became a trial and error process. And sometimes the buttons change! It's not too bad a flaw, just gets a bit tedious after the 3rd attempt...

Summary
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Resident Evil 4 has a more tense atmosphere than it's predecessors. This is mainly down to the music and sound effects. When an enemy is present, the music kicks in and doesn't stop until they have all been eliminated.
The scariest moment for me was the small maze. You can hear the dogs breathing heavily but you have no idea which corner they lurk around! I jumped on more than one occasion when a dog has snuck up on me! Being able to hear the monsters before you can see them gets your heart thumping and every little noise gets your adrenaline going.
The enemy eyes are another big 'chill' factor; they are a dead red and close up their stare can be very intimidating! All the more reason to blow their head's off!
The infamous puzzles of the previous games have been reduced dramatically which thankfully doesn't slow down the games pace. There are some puzzles, but they are so easy you hardly notice them.
Amazingly there is hardly any returning to previous places. Other Resi Evil titles depended on this to extend the playing time, which could result in frustration. RE4 hardly suffers from this problem at all, thanks to the vast size of the levels. The maps are like a narrow tunnel, with barely any branching off, but it goes unnoticed thanks to the superb aiming system that fools you into thinking that you can play it how you like.
Capcom have done an excellent job redesigning the whole structure, and have pushed the PS2 to its highest peak!

Overall: 97%
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This game is a virtually flawless, action-packed, enjoyable masterpiece that is quite possibly the greatest game of 2005!
This will keep you entertained for a good few weeks, and when played alone in the dark will get your heart pounding and your forehead sweating!
The main game takes a good 15-17 hours to complete (Not including dying) and there are also some extras to unlock.
Most notably it has five extra Ada Missions that were not in the Game Cube version (Haha), expanding on her background and why she's there. It coincides with Leon's missions and shows just how she helped him out. And it takes about 5 hours to go through so it is a very welcomed addition!
There is also another Ada mission, and the good old Mercenaries, which has unlockable characters!
And if that wasn't enough, on completion of the game you also get a "Professional mode" for those of you who love a good challenge!
A must buy for all fans of the genre (and everybody else actually...) If you enjoyed any of the previous games, you will love this!

I know this was a long read, but it is such a good game that I had to put it all in! The game is worth it! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it :D

Resident Evil 4 is the only Resident Evil game I actually like. It's easier thanks to the over-the-shoulder aim instead of the stinkin' auto aim, enemies drop ammo/money after their deaths, and no more ink ribbons!

Takes place in Spain(not Raccoon) and Leon Kennedy is investegating the kidnapping of the US President's daughter and the disappearences of others trying to rescue the girl. Leon will soon enter a world of new enemies. No zombies(yeah no zombies)just Ganados,evil villagers infected with a sinister virus, evil dogs, and evil freyers. Ada Wong appears a couple times, the President's daughter is Ashley and the main bad guy is Lord Saddler. Another new character is a merchant that appears throughout the game selling weapons, ammo, and health items. The new virus is more evil than the T or G-virus. It gives Saddler the ability to mindcontrol over who's infected.

I love the graphics, gamecube style graphics. Another new part of the gameplay are tapping buttons quickly. The enemies are slightly harder than the zombies and still require to be shot in the head. The chainsaw Ganados like shown in the screenshots, the cover etc. are deadly, one hit and off with your head. The boss fights are not that hard but some of them can be.

Again this is the only RE game I like. I didn't like the others because I couldn't beat them but I've beatened this one. Replay value is high if you want to use unlocked weapons or unlock more.

I highly recommend this game to all RE fans, survival horror fans, and action fans. Five stars! *****