Resident Evil 4

The Good
If Capcom took a long time to release this, there's a damned good reason for it. This game is beautiful, grim, violent and scary all at once. Never have you faced a threat quite like the threats you are faced with in this game. The game just throws everything at you from the beginning and doesn't hold up to catch a breather. While the story isn't as expanded as it was in the previous entries in the saga, there are enough guns, bosses and areas to cover, that you almost never care for its plot. But the characters are all cool in this one. The bad guys are a hoot, and Wesker pops up more in the PS2 version than he did in the initial GameCube release. I'd definitely always recommend this game to anyone over the age of 15.

The Bad
The plot of the previous games was virtually non-existant. Leon mentions that he used to be a cop in Raccoon City. And apart from the opening intro, that's about all we are provided with in relation to the build-up so far. I'm aware that a lot of people hate having to escort a girl around. But what's the whole point of having a game if there is nobody to secure? I'd just like to comment, that if you're as deaf as I am, you'd like having the option of subtitles as well, as the tacky voice acting is hard to make out at times.

The Bottom Line
It's very long. Like 20 hours long. But if you're a pro, half that, and you have yourself 10 to 12 hours of pure action. With loads of weapons to buy and upgrade, this will keep even the veteran zombie slayer happy.

The Good
Right, first things first. This is Resident Evil 4, the eighth or ninth game in the primarily survival horror series, for those who don't know. (Email me if I'm wrong, but I haven't played all of them, just most of them. ???) The Resident Evil series was beginning to feel kinda stale after a lot of great gameplay. The innovative gameplay was no longer innovative, the fixed camera angles and ridiculous item storing system were irritating and the franchise was lacking in new ideas. (If anyone has played either Outbreak title or Dead Aim, you'll have some idea of what I mean.) Thankfully the idea of scary gameplay, tense atmosphere and a hammy plot and voice acting didn't fizzle out with Resident Evil 4, which was a definite make-or-break game for the series itself. Instead of making another game like the old PlayStation 1 outings, Capcom has stepped up and delivered a masterpiece. Resident Evil 4 features the protagonist of Resident Evil 2, Leon Scott Kennedy, as a US agent on a mission to find the President's kidnapped daughter, Ashley Graham. (He's not a lowly cop anymore...... wonder what happened there?) He is investigating a sighting of a woman who looks very like Ashley in a remote Spanish village. From the very start, the game pulls you into the world of Leon S. Kennedy. This is thanks to the over-the-shoulder camera which follows Leon around wherever he goes, and eradicates the "OH MY GOD, I died because I couldn't see a zombie" problem of the previous games. The other thing that instantly grabs you is the violence and more action-oriented approach than in previous Resident Evil adventures, which manifests itself less than five minutes into the game. (Don't tell me you were expecting a welcome party......) You will find yourself constantly in need of ammo, new guns, upgrades, healing items, and indeed places to hide as the game runs its up to 15-hour course. (Oh yeah, you can now sort through your attache case and move items around, upgrade guns, sell things to the aptly-named Merchant. It's a great feature, but how does he pop up whenever you need him?)

There are a lot of guns in this game, which really equates to more pain inflicted on the poor Spanish villagers. Always a good thing. The choice of weapons ranges from handguns to shotguns, to magnums, to rocket launchers (You heard me.......) and even rifles and machine-guns. Most of them can be bought from the Merchant at some point, although a few can be found elsewhere (Chapter 4-1, a certain locked door and second story window........ Take your companion, you heard it here first......)

really this is a great game, the best in the series so far, and is worth every dollar you spend on it. Really. Buy it. it will keep you gripped until the end, and way past it (Play through again for some special items to unlock..... I'm saying nothing more.....)

The Bad
Not a lot, actually. The lack of ammo in some areas was a bit disturbing, especially the lack of rifle ammo in the last chapter (I never want to hear shuffling and heavy breathing again......... play the game through and you will see what I mean), but it's not a fault, it was intended. It was great, the mini-games are brilliant as mini-games go (Separate Ways is almost a game in itself) and the game has amazing graphics and replay value. Oh, the El Gigantes look too much like Shrek for my liking. But apart from that I'm fairly sure that Resident Evil 4 is perfect.

The Bottom Line
It's brilliant, the best horror game ever. Buy it.

The Good
Does anyone remember the original Resident Evil? If not, any of the classic Resident Evil's? How it kept you on the edge? How you had to figure out the mystery? Well Resident Evil 4 has paved that sense of fear, mystery, and action.

I suppose there are some good points in this game.

Game play - The game play has totally changed. No more camera angles. I guess this is alright. I think this is the only good thing about game play.

Sound - Its nice to not have to hear those annoying footsteps anymore. The sound effects are decent, but the explosions, not so much.

Difficulty - Not too difficult, gets repetitive on the "Professional" setting.

Selection of items - Perhaps this is the biggest improvement in the series. There is a ton of more inventory space, lots of ammo, and more weapons to choose from.

As you can tell, I really don't like this game.

The Bad
Oh goody. Where do I start??

Game play - Game play is fun when you play it for the 1st time. After you have played, the game is so boring. There is not a single zombie in RE4. The game is populated by people who are mind controlled. Some people consider that to be zombies, but in Resident Evil terms, zombies are the living dead. You get some creatures, but even those aren't befitting. The game is dark yet its not scary. This Resident Evil will not put you on the edge of your seat, but more like at the edge of falling asleep. There aren't any puzzles in the game, and if there is, they are exceptionally easy. This game is also very repetitive.

Sound - What is up with Leon's voice?? He sounds like an old man who has smoked his whole life. Ashley's voice is irritating. And the "zombies" just mumble the whole time, or speak in some language I don't know.

Difficulty - Like I said earlier the game gets repetitive on the "Professional" setting. The game is really easy on medium as well.

Selection of items - Lots of guns to choose from, but they all get boring to use after awhile.

The Bottom Line
This RE has totally strayed away from the original objective of Resident Evil. The game seems like an entire different game in itself. It has very little relation to the other Resident Evil's. If you like the original RE's then avoid this one. This one has no originality and is perhaps one of the most overrated games for PS2. Same goes for the new Resident Evil 5. That's even worse. If you'd like to change it up a little bit, then this game would be good for you. As I have said, fans of the older Resident Evil's won't find much in this installment. If you want to check out other Resident Evil games for PS2, I suggest Code Veronica X. Or simply play the older versions.