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Resident Evil 4 (2005)

Certificate 15

Resident Evil 4

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Rated 4.0 stars
Average rating
(77%)
 
Developers: CAPCOM
Genres: Adventure | Role-playing
Number of players: 1
Released: November 04, 2005

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 videogame 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, as well as some special editions and a lightgun spin-off. When RE: Code Veronica appeared on the Dreamcast, the graphics and gameplay developed in line with the then-new consoles awesome powers. Since then, the series has continued on PS2 in third-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.

In something of a departure, the fourth instalment in the series proper debuted on GameCube. Now finally, the game comes to what many would consider its rightful home, the PlayStation 2, though GameCube fans might find it irresistible to point out to Sony supremacists that the graphics had to be downgraded to get it to run on the machine. As a result of the game already having been in the public domain so long, the storyline is well known by many: the horrific incidents at Raccoon 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 creatures is. As well as having still 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.

PS2 fans can now rejoice that the latest and most ambitious iteration of the zombie killing franchise is back on familiar territory. But being a restless creature, Resi wont stay there for long: Resident Evil 5 is slated to make an appearance on the Xbox 360 in 2006.

Screenshots

Highest rated reviews

18 out of 21 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
A Small Miracle on the PS2

J Richards from Manchester, UK., 14th March, 2006

Resident Evil 4 was originally scrapped when it was believed that the PS2 wasn't powerful enough to carry Capcom's vision, and it was destined to be a Gamecube only title. It seems it was thankfully only shelved, and despite not having quite the graphical excellence of the GC version, this is still one of the PS2's finest games. The graphics, despite the fact that they are often portraying grimy, decaying or creepy locations, are nothing less than gorgeous to look at. The amount of detail on show is astounding. Enemies react to being shot in a pleasingly realistic way, so leg shots bring them to their knees and arm shots cause them to drop their weapons. The gameplay, even though the control system is fiddly at times, is also highly accessible. The standard run, point and shoot dynamics are broken up by skill tests, with interactive cut scenes that require a well-timed press of 2 specific buttons in order to avoid injury or death. The shocks and jumps of previous RE games are missing but in their place is a real sense of tension that's never more present than when a group of villagers are advancing from different angles towards the hero, Leon, and ammo is running low. Unless something outstanding appears between now and the PS2's imminent obsolesence once the PS3 arrives, this is the PS2's greatest achievement. A genuine step forward for the series and an example of a current generation console being pushed to produce a game worthy of a next-gen console.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2.0 stars
Basic

MR P D CALLCUT from Hitchin, 10th January, 2008

I was very disappointed with this game. I have thought about buying Resident Evil when it first appeared as there were a lot of good reviews in magazines but did not want to pay out the dosh for a new release, when the opportunity came to rent RE4 before purchasing I jumped at the chance, I can honestly say, I don't know what all the fuss is about. I only played for a couple of hours but had enough, from the very start I was unimpressed, it has blocky graphics and the movements of the Characters are clumsy, I won't go any futher with my review as it will only upset the regular followers of RE4 who have come to accept inferior gaming.

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6 out of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
What a game

nated23 from from Birmingham, 15th April, 2007

A great achievement for the ps2. My favorite game for the ps2. I'm ready for resi 5.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
excellent Game

A Customer from colchester, 21st May, 2006

its the best horror ive played packed full of zombies and a huge selection of weapons, brill story and very creepy most of the time and there is a certain monster in there that will scare you alot.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 5.0 stars
Awesome

GMeister from , 19th April, 2009

Resi 4. Awesome. Its a spooky game with action. The gameplay is so much better than the fixed camera views and the mini games and side missions keep you entertained for ages. A lot of game for your buck. Downside is ammo is in short supply which makes you think about how you shoot as opposed to just blasting away. However its a bit of a git when fighting some of the bosses!

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Rated 4.0 stars
Scarily Amazing!

calvins48 from from Eastbourne, 17th February, 2009

A brief review here. Resi 4 is a game that, if zombies were really going to attack the world, it would make a great simulator. The fact that you can only carry a certain amount of weapons and items (including health in the form of mixing herbs) in your inventory is great. You carry around an invisible briefcase that you can expand in size slightly if you have the funds. You can also buy new guns and items from an excellent shadey dealer that pops up every so often, you'll often find yourself sighing the largest sigh of relief when you see this guy round the corner with only a knife to protect yourself as you just emptied your shotgun and pistol ammo on the last hoarde of zombie flesh eaters. The bosses are great, the gameplay is excellent with the over-the-shoulder view and the zombies are strange yet exciting to butcher with the simple control system. This is a game that pushes the PlayStation 2 to its limits, defines a genre, and shows that if you put the effort in as a developer, the PS2 can pull out all the stops.

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Rated 4.0 stars
Entertaining..

Lucky7 from from London, 5th August, 2008

Enjoyable game... not as scary as the earlier versions, but still worth the rent.

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Rated 5.0 stars
Brilliant fun!!!

CAZ123 from from Corby, 28th July, 2008

Another outstanding game from the Resident Evil series Great action Great story and gameplay enough to last you ages!!!!

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