Resident Evil 4 (GameCube)

Resident Evil has been the most famous and most popular horror/adventure game for some time now. Hollywood realised the cult status and so far two Resident Evil films have been made.

Capcom signed as exclusive deal with Nintendo a few years back and as a result released Resident Evil 1, 2 and 3 for the Game Cube. It also released Resident Evil Zero (a prequel to the 1st game) and Code Veronica X (taking place after Nemesis). This deal ...
...So the full range of Resident Evil games on the Game Cube is:

Resident Evil Zero
Resident Evil
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil: Code Veronica X

However, on the 18th March 2005 Capcom launched the eagerly anticipated Resident Evil 4, the one that every Resident Evil fan had been waiting for (it has been about 5 years since the last Resident Evil title). I keep reading ... more

Resident Evil has been the most famous and most popular horror/adventure game for some time now. Hollywood realised the cult status and so far two Resident Evil films have been made.

Capcom signed as exclusive deal with Nintendo a few years back and as a result released Resident Evil 1, 2 and 3 for the Game Cube. It also released Resident Evil Zero (a prequel to the 1st game) and Code Veronica X (taking place after Nemesis). This deal meant that Capcom would only release Resident evil games on Game Cube, bad news for Playstation 2 owners, great news for Game Cube owners. So the full range of Resident Evil games on the Game Cube is:

Resident Evil Zero
Resident Evil
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil: Code Veronica X

However, on the 18th March 2005 Capcom launched the eagerly anticipated Resident Evil 4, the one that every Resident Evil fan had been waiting for (it has been about 5 years since the last Resident Evil title). I keep reading that Nintendo only makes childish games, well there is nothing childish about the Resident evil series, each carrying at least a 15 certificate.

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil – Quick recap

Surely everyone has heard of the Resident Evil series either through the games or the movies, but for those of you who have no idea what Resident Evil is all about, I’ll attempt to sum it up very quickly. Most of the fun of these games is the story that you get immersed in so I’m hardly going to cover any detail of the events of the series so not to spoil it for anyone.

The Resident Evil series is based on the actions of the world’s most powerful corporation, the Umbrella Corporation. Umbrella were working on bioengineering experiments, it all goes wrong and the deadly T-Virus is unleashed on Racoon city. The T-Virus basically kills everyone infected and brings them back to life as zombies, oh and mutates some in hideous monsters.

The style of game play is a cross between first person shooting and puzzle solving all mixed up with a great story and plot that keep you gripped. Resident Evil games aren’t short either, each on has a very complex plot and you can expect some twist and turns along the way, each game can last any where over 15 hours play, usually much over!

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – The Story

The game begins by setting out the history from the other games (which seemed to conflict with the movie titles, but I’m sure they will work around that if they want to make another!). The main character of the game Leon explains the whole story and sets up the start of Resident Evil 4. After the incident at Racoon City the Umbrella Corporation has pretty much been destroyed as a result of the events. Leon a survivor of Resident Evil 2 joined a secret organisation working under the direct control of the President of the US. Six years have elapsed since the Racoon City accident and Leon has been assigned to protect the president’s family. Just before Leon could take on his new responsibility the Presidents daughter, Ashley Graham, was kidnapped. Leon has tracking down the kidnapers to a Spanish village, but it’s not just a simple case of kidnapping! I’m not going to say anymore because you really need to play the game not knowing what is happening to really enjoy it.

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – A new game

It sounds pretty obvious to say that Resident Evil 4 is a new game, as it is obviously a new game! What I mean is that unlike all other previous Resident Evil games, this one does not revolve around the Umbrella Corporation, there is no T-virus and there are no Zombies. Don’t think for one second think that this makes the game any less compelling or scary than any of the other games, if anything it makes it scarier!

Another big change in the game is that it uses a fixed camera angle, in previous games the camera was ceiling level, now there is a fixed camera angle behind your character’s shoulder. This adds to the atmosphere and really gives you the impression that you are in the game and not watching from on high, when some throws an axe at Leon its coming straight at you!

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – Not for kids

There are plenty of hideous things waiting for you, but to start with you have to take on crazed villagers armed with pitchforks, knives and chain saws! Unlike the zombies of the previous games, the villagers aren’t restricted to mindless ambling along or with trying to bite or scratch you, no they will run at you full pelt and remove your head with a chain saw! The villagers don’t seem to be too bothered about being shot either and it takes a good few rounds to finish them off. There are parts of this game that will make you feel uncomfortable. Make no mistakes this game carries an 15+ certificate and with good reason. The level of gore is really high and there are some gruesome sights and deaths waiting. Unlike some other games if your energy runs out you don’t just collapse on the floor and pass away. Depending on who or what kills Leon he will face a very gruesome and detailed death, I can’t describe any here as I can’t apply an 18 certificate to this review. What I will say though is do not allow children to play this game; it is very gruesome and very detailed.

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – Visuals

The first thing that anyone will notice about Resident Evil 4 is the graphics. I have never seen better graphics on any game or any other console, ever! If that sounds a little over the top, its not! This game is a real example of how games can look and what the current consoles can still produce. Not only do the characters look realistic, everything looks great. You can see Leon’s hair moving in the wind, grass swaying and fires blazing. Screen shots of the game look amazing, but they don’t give you a true feeling for just how good this game is graphically. There are 2 disc’s to this game and there are plenty of fantastic cut-scenes to keep you going, but not too many that you think your watching a movie instead of playing a game.
>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – Controls

The controls are easy to pick up and get started with. The right shoulder button lets you aim whatever weapon you have equipped and the A button fires. The B button allows Leon to run (you will be using this button a lot!). Pressing A and B together reload your weapon. That’s basically it, you move around with the analogue or D-pad and enter the inventory screen (weapons and items) using the Y button. The controls are easy but I did find that when surrounded by 6 villagers all taking swipes at my head I did occasionally get a little flustered and press the wrong button. This isn’t a major problem and may be just me rather than a fault of the control system. Like all previous Resident Evil games the controls are lacking one thing that would really help. In all his special training Leon has not picked up the ability to run and shoot at the same time! I’ve never fired a gun myself, but I’ve seen plenty of films and running and shooting at the same time seems to be quite an easy thing to do! That said the game manages well without it and you will get used to running, turning and shooting. The controls are very responsive and it is very easy to get Leon to do what you want him to do.

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – Thoughts

I could go on and on explaining every aspect of this game but not only would this become the longest review every to appear on Ciao, but it would take away the fun of playing the game. Instead I will try to cover a few aspects of the game and give an over all opinion of what it is like to play.

Puzzles – Like all previous Resident Evil games this one has puzzles and problem solving galore! I would say that I found this instalment to be more action than puzzle than other Resident Evil titles, but I still found it entertaining and challenging.

Guns – You start off with a basic handgun and a knife, but on your way through the game you will be able to build a massive arsenal! Anything from Magnums to Rocket Launchers, Hand Grenades to Machine Guns and Shotguns to Sniper Rifles and a lot of others in-between. Throughout the game are merchants who have no interest in what is going on around them, they just want to make money by selling you weapons and increasing the specifications of the ones you already have. This is a really nice touch and you can tune your weapons how you want them, It is also so relieving to see the blue torches and know that for the next minute no one is going to try to kill you!

Button combinations – Another great feature of this game is the introduction of button combinations. These are used sparingly through the game so that you don’t get sick of them. Basically a prompt will appear on screen and you have to push the correct button combination or something bad will happen to Leon. There are some really imaginative uses of this through the game and don’t think that just because you are watching a cut-scene that Leon is safe, you may need to press a button combination quickly or Leon is for it!

Enemies – Pretty much all previous Resident Evil games relied on Zombies to scare you and no matter how scared you are at first after 6 hours of the same zombies you start to be less scared until you don’t care if one comes crawling towards you, you just blow it away. Resident Evil 4 is different, obviously there are no zombies, but it’s more than that. As you get further into the game the enemies get more fearsome and dangerous. Not only that but there are plenty of surprises including boulders, trucks and fireballs that will be heading your way.

Bosses – There are some really big and bad enemies in this game and they are no pushover! The game varies the battles with the main enemies really well. In one fight you are in an old boat trying to stay afloat whilst kill your enemy. Then in another one you’ll be trapped in a pit or an old barn. Not only do the locations and surroundings of the battles change but so do the enemies and the way that you need to fight to beat them.

Typewriters – To save your progress in previous Resident Evil titles you needed to find an ink ribbon and then use it on a typewriter. Thankfully all you need to do is find a typewriter, so you can save your progress when you like. Resident Evil 4 also introduces continue points so when you get killed (not if!), you will continue for the nearest continue point and not from where you last saved. This is a great feature as when you get done over by one of the bosses you can get straight back to trying to figure out his weaknesses instead of having to fight your way back for the pleasure!

Music – The game uses music really well to add to the depth of the game play. When the music starts to quicken and starts to sound more and more moody you know that something is going to happen and it isn’t going to be nice.

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – Conclusions

I’d never been a huge fan of the Resident Evil series, as it’s not my usual type of game. However, I was looking forward to playing Resident Evil 4 and I’m glad to say that I wasn’t disappointed. The game is really well though out and the presentation and graphics are second to none. When I put the game in to my Game Cube I must have played for 8 hours non stop, at least. The game really creates some chilling atmospheres and game play with its use of sound and graphics and the plot is really entertaining. I found that I was getting caught up in the story of the game and that is surely a sign of a good game. There are times when you will feel your heart racing and you will be feeling uncomfortable and it is great! Turn the lights out and the sound up if you dare.

Some of you out there may be reading this and thinking, “What is Resident Evil without Zombies?” The answer is, better. There is no doubt that the Resident Evil series has been a massive success throughout the years, but it was beginning to get repetitive. Resident Evil 4 gives the whole series a good shake and I think is a good indication of what horror/action games will be like in the next few years. Unlike some developers who are happy to keep pumping out sequel after sequel of the same thing, Capcom have taken the right decision and have taken a step back and thought about what it could do to improve the series.

The game has the an improved control system to previous Game Cube Resident Evil titles but still lacks the ability to run and shoot, which would be really useful in this game. As far as I can see from putting in some solid gaming on Resident Evil 4 the only major drawback is whether you can get your hands on one as many stores are selling out, demand is far outstripping supply, which is a shame because a lot of people will really enjoy playing this game.

Even if you have never played a Resident Evil game before I think you could pick this up and really enjoy playing it. Almost all previous Resident Evil games can now be picked up on Game Cube for £9.99, so if you waned to you could put aside a few months and play the whole series from start to finish.

Playstation 2 owners out there will be able to play Resident Evil 4 towards the end of the year and if Capcom put as much though into the PS2 version as they did the Game Cube, you should be very excited!

>>>>>>>>>Resident Evil 4 – Extras

Players 1
Memory blocks required 9
RRP £39.99, but if you look hard enough you can get it for around £29.99 when stock arrives!

I must also quickly mention a special edition Game Cube controller for Resident Evil 4, a yellow blood splattered chainsaw that can be picked up for about £35, I’ve not used it but it looks cool and you can bet your friends won’t have a chainsaw joy pad!
 

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