REal Good Time Waster or REal Overrated? Sofa Surfer Reviews Resident Evil 4

I couldn't help myself! Having recently completed the original (remastered) Resident Evil on Xbox One, I had to replay Resident Evil 4. Thankfully, it happened to be on sale this past week for Xbox 360, an excellent deal that only encouraged me to return to it sooner! It may be blasphemous to say that this entry in the long-running series may be my favorite, though RE5 takes that spot on other days (it was really fun! maybe review soon?! Remastered is coming right up). However, playing through the 360's HD version, not quite everything was as I remembered...and in the process of guiding Leon S. Kennedy through his macabre travels, I realized I never finished playing through the PS2 version. I seriously have around thirty minutes left to play; apparently I just never returned to it. The superior version is certainly the 360 one, with its HD capabilities. So is this the game that redefined the third-person shooter genre, or just a pale shadow of the survival horror experiences that came before it? Well, it definitely changed the game, and in my opinion (of course!), for the better.

He just wants a hug.

Graphics and Sound

At the time it was released way, way back in 2005, RE4 looked fantastic. I remember seeing gameplay and wishing I had it on the Gamecube for the longest time, along with the original RE (remake). Even now, a decade later, it looks solid, thanks to the extra coat of paint/HD remaster. The character models in particular still look quite good, though the environments, exuding a little more grit than I remember, are a bit rough, with textures ranging from passable to below average at certain points. They are still well-designed, or at least varied to the point that they'll capture your gaze on more than one occasion. Since the game is caked in dirt, the gameplay experience does not suffer much if at all because the graphics aren't what they used to be (especially in memory! oh my youth!). Animations are all solid, and some of the monstrosities Leon faces are gruesomely imagined and a treat to behold. If your definition of treat is a towering tentacle filled with viscous fluid. This IS the best the game has looked, so there's no better version to jump into (unless you're someone who must play the original release on Gamecube...have at you!). The graphics are a testament to the game's strong design and smooth quality of the HD remaster.

Nice character models, right? Minus Leon's hair of course. 

On the sound front, voice acting still lays on the cheese a bit much, with a script that's still classic RE absurd, but that's what you expect when you play one of these games, right? I certainly didn't mind Leon's "smart-assery" when talking on his radio throughout the game. I found it pretty funny that the villains would ring Leon to trash talk him. The humanoid (do they even qualify as humans?) enemies do repeat their chants and lines a bit much, but they're essentially insane, infected cultists so it's totally cool. The more interesting creatures hiss and growl appropriately, with the just the echoing sound of some of these approaching baddies making you reach for your strongest weapon in anticipation. The weapons and their resounding impact on enemies are still top-notch, disgusting yet satisfyingly weighty. Speaking of weapons, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the weapons dealer, with his "stranger" and "what are ya buying" still delivered with Cockney-esque gusto. I was always excited to finally reach him and hear his one-of-a-kind "Welcooomeeeee!" As for the music, it's used sparingly, and when it is utilized, it's often to great effect, accenting jump scares and enemy encounters. Overall, the sound design is most excellent, one of the best parts of the game. But if I hear Ashley yell out "LEON" one more damn time...

I'll probably just shrug. AND LET HER SUFFER AT THE HANDS OF CRUEL FATE!

Gameplay

RE4 is often viewed as the series' most accessible game in many ways. Ammo is more plentiful, and you don't need to find ink ribbons every time you need to save (as in the RE remastered title). The focus is on bigger action and more set pieces, though this doesn't mean the game fails to retain a tense atmosphere. It's not survival horror in the strictest sense, and some purists bear ill-will towards it because it signaled a gradual shift towards full-out action in the series, but tell me your not fighting JUST to survive in the many heated battles! There's ammo, but often not a surplus. Enemies often shamble towards you, but their numbers are many, enough that you almost always have enemies creeping up behind you when you least expect it. I've rarely had more fun working crowd control, with the various weapons offering a number of customizable options for you to unlock. The pace of the game is excellent, shifting from tense encounters against pitchfork-toting villagers to giant one-on-one boss battles, with the stakes ever-elevating. New enemies and threats pop up pretty frequently, keeping you on your toes and forcing you to adjust your strategies. Realizing that a few well-placed rounds from your pistol are still not enough to stop chainsaw-wielding baddies from cutting you down like lumber makes your heart race. Even the sound of a chainsaw in the distance is enough to set you on edge.

You fools! Never bring a torch to a rocket fight! 

This is actually the beginning of a dance sequence...

The over-the-shoulder camera view when aiming was introduced to its greatest effect here, a fantastic innovation that ended up being used in a multitude of third-person action titles. If you think of your favorite action games in the past decade, chances are they have mechanics inspired by RE4. The gunplay is tight and responsive, and the areas that require more problem-solving than a few bullets offer a nice (though not challenging enough to be called puzzling) change of pace. As smooth as the combat is, the controls are lacking. A select few would say it adds to the difficulty, as you attempt to fend off enemies from all sides and struggle to turn and move fast enough. I feel that the controls can be stiff in tight spots, and being unable to move at all while aiming can be frustrating during more intense moments of the game. Honestly, after a half hour or so, the controls become second nature, with turning and attempting (and failing to) to suddenly change directions the only things that hold the game back.

As for other questionable aspects of the experience, I found that the puzzle-lite item management added an additional layer of strategy to the game. Having to make a choice to have the ultra-powerful RPG take up an immense amount of space at the price of having very few recovery times OR have recovery items and smaller firearms that pack less of a punch means that you actually have to give some thought to your load out. If you fail to succeed in one pitched battle, you may go back and decide to sell your larger weapon(s) and hope to find some extra ammo that you now have space to hold. Would it be fun to have all the weapons and not worry about having space for necessities? Possibly, but another level of tension would be lost in translation.

Matching chainsaws? How cute.

All in all, though the story is classic Resident Evil intrigue and bioterrorism, it still manages to make Leon an enjoyable lead fighting against some interesting villains. With a set-up involving saving the US President's daughter from a sinister cult, it works well enough to move you through the varied European environments and action beats, though I certainly won't be thinking about it a few weeks from now. The gunplay makes even defending the President's helpless daughter enjoyable (I'm looking at you, Natalya from Goldeneye!). Also included in this version (and all versions post-Gamecube) are a few additional game modes, two involving the mysterious Ada Wong as she runs through environments out of the main game and the other being Mercenaries mode. One campaign with Ada is a welcome addition, but her other campaign and time-attack survival mode Mercenaries didn't hold my attention for too long.

This is one of the finest third-person action titles ever released, and though the controls and graphics can be a bit rough by modern standards, the varied enemy encounters and white-knuckle last stands are easily enough to recommend this game to all but complete bastards who refuse to play games from an older generation! Tell me its not fun unloading your upgraded shotgun into giant cockroach-like enemies with a resounding crunch. Game, set, and match! If the game is on sale, do not hesitate. If the game is full price (19.99) DO NOT hesitate.

Until next time, keep riding the wave.

9.0 out of 10

Graphics: Remastered in smooth HD, it may not look as good as I remembered particularly on the environmental textures front, but it still holds up surprisingly well today. Solid overall, with some fantastic creatures to behold.

Sound: The sound design is great, with the over-the-top voice acting and vicious, growling creatures making for a memorable thrill ride. Jump scares are perfectly accompanied by the expected and sudden music.

Replay Value: With a campaign that can last up to 15 hours if you take your time, RE4 could be recommended on this element alone. Add in Ada Wong's fun side stories, Mercenaries mode, and a new game+ option, and you have a package with tremendous value. You'll definitely get over 25 hours of fun gameplay out of this package. 

Entertainment Value: Quite possibly my favorite RE title as well as a giant step forward for third-person action games, RE4 is an intense, explosive, and revolutionary title that still holds up today. The graphics and controls aren't fantastic, but these minor quibbles are outweighed by the sheer fun of the game and it's terrific pacing. A sublime action-horror experience, and a fitting entry point for newcomers to the series. In other words, if you haven't played it yet, WHY NOT?! Go! Play it!