Back in the early days of the PlayStation, Resident Evil (Biohazard in Japan) was a must-have game. A forerunner of the survival horror genre, it aimed to give players the experience of a video game that delivered the frights and intense atmosphere of a horror movie. The gameplay involved claustrophobic fixed view cameras and required the player to blast at horrific groaning zombies. Two sequels followed for the Sony console, aswell as some special editions and a light gun spin-off. When RE: Code: Veronica appeared on the Dreamcast, the graphics and gameplay developed commensurate with the then-new consoles awesome powers. Since then, the series has continued on PS2 in 3rd-person and lightgun versions. In 2002, the franchise came to Gamecube with two titles: RE: Zero, an all-new prequel, and Resident Evil, a remake of the original. This remake, regarded as a worthy and laudable endeavour by some, and something of a white elephant by others, was perhaps the first game to show what Nintendos diminuitive and easily underestimated console was really capable of. The terrifying mansion, rendered in real and vibrant 3D rather than pre-rendered graphics, looked amazing. But as new versions arrived on the PS2, it was easy to believe that Capcom were hesitant to commit fully to the Nintendo system.

Now in its biggest departure yet, the series is back on the Cube with the hugely-anticipated Resident Evil 4. The horrific incidents at Racoon City now exist only in the memories of those who witnessed them. Leon, a US Secret Agent, is assigned to investigate the kidnapping of the Presidents daughter, and is led to a rural part of Europe in his quest. When he stops to ask directions, he is attacked by hideous monsters that he had assumed were human. Now his only choice is to battle for survival and hope to somehow find what the source of the dread creatures is. As well as having very impressive graphics, the game is now played in a free-roaming environment rather than a series of fixed viewpoint scenes. Most exciting for horror fans is the inclusion of a new weapon, the shotgun, which tears chunks out of more than one enemy at a time; its just as well, because ammo is limited. The creatures you battle all react convincingly depending on where you shoot them.

Capcom have truly blessed Nintendo with a good looking and gritty game that will leave other console owners green with envy. Buy it for your Gamecube and then let them tell you its just for kids...