NBrid

"Several years have passed since the destruction of Raccoon City. Leon is now facing his ultimate challenge. A mysterious village. Creatures that defy nature. Are they human... or... ?" Thus begins the greatest Resident Evil yet.

Let's go back to the year 2003. GameCube saw the release of "Resident Evil 0", the first new Resident Evil since "Code Veronica" on Dreamcast. Even a diehard RE fan would tell you that no matter how good it looked, it felt dated. The series just hadn't evolved much since the original in 1996. Heck, it hadn't changed much since "Alone in the Dark" started it all. So how is it that with RE4 Capcom was able to raise the survival-horror bar yet again, and on GameCube of all platforms.

"Resident Evil 4" takes place about six years after the U.S. government called for a tactical nuclear strike on Raccoon City (see: RE3 Nemesis) that effectivly shut-down Umbrella. You play the role of Leon Kennedy, the S.T.A.R.S. police officer you played in RE2. No longer a rookie, you're on a mission to rescue the President's daughter, Ashley Graham, and this sees you to a strange village in Europe known simply as Pueblo... that thankfully you have the map for.

So why is RE4 so good? Take everything you loved about past RE games and improve on it. Then take everything you didn't like and fix it. Add maybe the best graphics you've ever seen on a console, practically CG level (and they're not pre-rendered, 100% real-time baby!), and now you're getting close to how great this game is. Capcom really did reinvent the series.

Fans of old RE games are sure to love it. It still feels very much like a RE game with many of the same elements like the first-aid spray and the supporting character who you keep running into. It still has an amazing sense of atmosphere. Even the basic controls are the same, but with the addition of tight analog control and a camera that's always behind you, they work great for once.

To those who weren't into the series -- for whatever reason -- now's the time to jump onboard. The best way to illustrate all this is to list the key differences in RE4 from previous RE games (0, 1, 2, 3, Code Veronica and X).

• Free-roaming 3D camera: Past RE games used static cameras. RE4 has a dynamic, over-the-shoulder camera that follows you at all times. You can even use the C-stick to look around.
• Good control: Amazing! RE control that doesn't cause you fits.
• Analog aiming: Hold down R and you can use the analog stick to aim your shots! The laser sight makes this a breeze. You can even target various areas on a villager's body for different results.
• Quick knife: Press L to instantly equip your knife.
• Unlimited saves: You still save at typewriters, but you don't need a ribbon anymore.
• No item boxes: You have to be able to carry everything you want with you. To help make up for this, keys and other vital items don't take up valuable space in your attaché case.
• Plentiful ammo: Don't go nuts or you will run out, but it doesn't seem to be nearly the issue it used to be. Don't be afraid to shoot that villager chucking dynamite at you.
• No zombies: Since the destruction of Raccoon City and anyone infected with the T or G-Virus along with it, the mainstay of all past RE games is gone. However, the creepy villagers more than make up for it.
• Smarter AI: This is still a "zombie-esque" horror game so guys often head right for you; but now they can dodge, dash, attack in groups, and even raise ladders...
• Sweet boss fights: Boss fights in past RE games were a mxed bag. Here some of the coolest battles ever, in any game.
• No now-loading doors: There are doors of course, and some do have loading times, but it's short. The days of tension building doors are gone. Which is both good and bad. Mainly good.
• Intriguing puzzles: Remember the lame, non-intuitive puzzles of the past? They have been replaced with puzzles that are actually fun to figure out. Now you have no excuse to use hints, guides, cheats, ect.
• Solid voice acting and dialog: No more awkward "Master of Unlocking" lines.
• Radio contact: You now have outside radio contact with the organization you work for. Good thing? Bad thing? We'll see how it plays out.
• Chapters: The game is split up into several chapters and sub-chapters. After each part you get stats on how well you did, but this is also the only way gave saves are marked (i.e. it doesn't say "Chief's Cabin", just "2-3").
• QTE's: Yes, as popularized in Shenmue, at certain times in the game (usually during cut-scenes) if you hit A fast enough or L+R quick enough good things will happen.
• Yellow herbs: Mix them with green herbs and they extend your life meter.
• Color Manual: Instructions are for losers, but for you losers out there Capcom has given you a full-color booklet for once! Odd though how the 2 game discs are labeled in only black & white.
• Rocket launcher: No need to beat the game to get the ultimate boomstick, just buy it?
• Money system: You earn money that you can spend at a merchant in order to buy new weapons and upgrade others. You can even sell treasures you find to make some quick cash. This is the only change I'm not sure I like. RE is a SURVIVAL-Horror game, not some pansy ass RPG. I don't want to worry about money management as villagers are coming down on me. It does add another element to RE, so it's hard to complain too much. I'd complain less if you could use that cash to get Leon a haircut.

The only thing that didn't change that I wish did was I hoped for more interactive and destructible environments. No matter how many times you shoot that toilet, it won't explode. It's a small price to pay though for a game that looks and plays this good.

Not to spoil anything, but get used to Ashley following you around once you find her. Even though I usually agree with Adam Sessler (amazing!) that escort missions suck, even he'd make an exception here. RE4 does it well and puts her to good use. Plus I think Leon enjoys catching Ashley when she jumps.

Another point I should make is the shift from the focus being more on "survival" than "horror". Don't get me wrong. This is still a creepy game and a homage to B horror movies, but you won't find too many things jumping out at you. Instead, they upped the intensity of the game 10 fold. I don't remember the last time I played a game this intense. Barricading doors, jumping out windows, it's awesome!

I wanted to make this short, oops. So let me just say in closing: Get this game now! For starters, it would be nice to see this game sell well on GC (before the PS2 version hits later this year) so 3rd parties (and Nintendo) stop thinking every game needs Mario in it to sell. But more importantly, this game kicks ass! Even though 2004 was a great year for gaming, RE4 would of been right up there for Game of the Year.

Just do me a favor, play at night and in the dark. It's the only way.

Bonus Content (a.k.a. content you won't find by reading IGN):

I purchased the Special Edition RE4 at GameStop. It included this cool collector's tin to keep the game in; a small prologue "artbook" from Brady Games (it's basically a summery of all the RE games leading up to RE4 and it does contain spoilers, but it is a nice refresher or for those new to RE); and from Lasermach is a small limited edition laser cel of Leon (#44280 of 48000, I have the Certificate of Authenticity to prove it!). If you pre-ordered (and your GS doesn't suck) you got a CD of lame music from the RE movies too. I'm not sure if all this was worth the $10 extra, but then again if that's the price I had to pay to get the tin, so be it. All in all, a pretty cool special edition for fans.