"Pilot, Part 1"

Resident Evil 4 has gone above and beyond the peaks of Survival/Horror. Not only has it perfected the genre that the Resident Evil series established but it also raises the bar for all games in the rest of the field. Every aspect about the game is flawless and this is a true example of gaming nirvana. There is something in Resident Evil 4 for everyone; be it your die hard fan or casual newcomer. Many fans of the series will find salvation and comfort while others will condemn it for straying from the classic formula it once utilized. In this case, change is very good and those who shun the game will have missed an outstanding showcase of what video games can be. On the other end of the spectrum, those who take the time to experience the game can join those who said they witnessed a piece of gaming masterpiece.


Easily the best feature of Resident Evil 4. While all games have a certain "fun factor" that make them enjoyable, Resident Evil 4 takes this to the next level with its easy-to-learn control scheme and non-stop. fast paced action. You'll find yourself pressing forward to the next area full of new enemies to clear and paths to traverse leading to the next challenge that is waiting to halt your progress to a frightening extent. Similar to past Resident Evil games you will be expected to solve puzzles in order to move onward but none are really too difficult to the point of throwing your controller down in frustration and walking away, nor are they numerous in quantity. Another trademark feature of the famed Resident Evil series is its infamous camera perspective. This newest installation features an over-the-shoulder camera that can be controlled using the Right Analog stick. This new camera is easy to use and it is very effective, as you now have the ability to see your surroundings better and are aware of what exactly is coming towards you.

The saving format has also been altered. If you are familiar with past Resident Evil games then you know all about Typewriters and Ink Ribbons. You could not save your hard work without combining those two and Ink Ribbons were limited. In Resident Evil 4 the Ink Ribbons have been done away with and now you can save at a Typewriter as much as you desire, a nifty but often less-mentioned highlight. As mentioned earlier, the controls are perfectly mapped for the Playstation 2 and can easily be mastered after taking the time to hone the skill. Resident Evil has always been known for disturbing boss fights with bizarre and spectacular creatures that you must defeat in order to get anywhere. This game delivers strongly in this area like no other. Boss fights bring in a whole new element with regards to strategy and ammo conservation, as more often than not you will need to target a certain portion of a foe without wasting too much ammunition. This isn't as hard as it might seem, since in some encounters the environment will prove more useful than it may seem. Difficulty is variable. The overall challenge is enough to satisfy most who play the game but some might finish it and not feel a sense of completion. The games longevity compensates this and still presents obstacles even when the player least expects them, so there shouldn't be any feeling of emptiness when the last shot is fired and the credits are rolling. If you take the time to play through Resident Evil 4 you will experience one of the great gaming exhibitions of our time. This game is easily the greatest Survival/Horror game of this generation and it will hard to topple from the top.


The story of Resident Evil 4 revolves around Leon Kennedy of Resident Evil 2 fame. He is on assignment in a rural part of Europe to find and retrieve Ashley Graham, the President of the United States' daughter. He still recalls the events that happened six years ago in Raccoon City, with the evil doings of the Umbrella Corporation and his one day on the force. Leon has tried to move on but he will soon learn that there is a deeper plot than what meets the eye. The story behind Resident Evil 4 begins as a seemingly simple "save the damsel in distress" scenario. However, as you will find it quickly escalates into a tale unlike any other told. The characters you encounter are all unique and add numerous layers of depth to the ever-expanding plot. You will meet strange allies that will only contribute to the air of mystery while your foes will be in persistent pursuit trying to end your campaign at all costs. Answers will only be revealed by finding various notes and defeating opponents but even after that the entire plot is not revealed until the very end, a true sign of brilliance. When everything is said and done the player will have witnessed a deep, and at times, scary chain of events that only help propel this game to legendary status. Capcom has crafted a solid story in Resident Evil 4, and there is no telling what will be told in future installments; but they will have an uphill battle to dethrone this king. Survival/Horror has found its chariot, and it will only charge further on.


Resident Evil 4 sports some of the best visuals around. Cut scenes are done with style and flair, giving striking detail to character models as well as environmental surroundings. When your not viewing a cinematic your still treated to gorgeous graphics. Hordes of enemies are done impressively, along with foreground and background placements. Crisp facial expressions are another interesting feature in the game, giving the characters more personality in their movements and actions. Sound quality is also held in high regards. The soundtrack to Resident Evil 4 fits in perfectly with everything else, its frightening when it needs to be and really sets the mood for a frantic, enduring boss fight, and even a suspenseful turn around the next corner. The Spanish voices of the villagers are done perfectly and authentically. When the action gets hot the music will only increase the pace of your already fast-beating heart and instill a sense of fear for every shadow you spot lurking. The voices of the main and supporting cast are woven intricately without any sort of fault and are welcome additions to an already phenomenal package. From the classic roar of the chainsaw to the commanding boom of the shotgun, the audio never lets up in any predicament. Even Leon's brash tone and Ashley's yelps are executed seemingly without effort. Great games need great sound, and Resident Evil 4 wouldn't be what it is without the stellar audio it boasts.


One of the highlights of Resident Evil is its length and replay value. It will take the average player around thirteen hours to complete the main game mode itself on they're first run through. The main story mode is broken up into chapters and each with a sub-chapter, prompting a save option at the end and beginning of each. The chapters themselves don't take a strenuous amount of time to complete. After the game is completed an option to play through the story mode again, this time with previous weapons and items picked up in the first exhibition. If you choose to play through again the difficulty is amped since enemies become more resistant to damage. Along with completing the game comes with a new difficulty setting and exclusively for this version many unique game modes such as the popular Mercenaries, Assignment Ada, Separate Ways (PS2 Exclusive) and even a movie browser to view past cinematics. New weapons are also unlockable, as are costumes (very entertaining I might add) after completion. At the end of every play through it gives a rundown of your final statistics (The same that are displayed at the end of each chapter/sub-chapter) which tell you how well you performed overall. There are so many accomplishments worth earning that you can expect to be interested in this game for a very long time, and the minigames are always fun to conquer again and again. Resident Evil 4 will be played long after the lifetime of the Playstation 2 has expired, and even after its a distant chapter in the Resident Evil legacy.


Without a shadow of a doubt Resident Evil 4 is a must-buy. It is a fantastic addition to any Playstation 2 game library. In the future when this current generation is of consoles and games are looked at you can place a solid bet that Resident Evil 4 will be one of the games that are mentioned as one which give this generation a definition. Purchase this game anyway you can, be it your local video game store outlet or neighborhood pawnshop. Whichever means you take, enjoy this game and take comfort with the knowledge that you have played one of the best.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/13/06, Updated 05/15/08

Game Release: Resident Evil 4 (US, 10/25/05)