BOO! Did I scare you? I didn’t think so. Old scare tactics just don’t work like they used to. Likewise, things like creepy sound effects, gory images and chainsaws don’t work in the movies as much as they did 20 years ago. But when you take a classic formula and introduce it to a different medium, video games for example, it’s possible that you might get that warm, fuzzy scared feeling you did when you were a kid. That’s what the “Resident Evil” series has done.
Since the release of the first “Resident Evil” game in 1997, gamers have been eager to be terrified. The first three “Resident Evil” games were hits on Nintendo 64 and PS1, but after a series of PS2 flops such as “Resident Evil: Dead Aim” and “Resident Evil: Outbreak” (not to mention the “Resident Evil” films), the series has revived itself with the aptly named “Resident Evil 4.”
The game follows Leon S. Kennedy, the protagonist from “Resident Evil 2,” who is now a U.S. Special Agent assigned to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter from a small European village. The plot sounds corny, and in all reality it kind of is, but it gives the gamer a reason to explore the eerie environments and undergo the horrifying encounters of the game.
After the game’s first cutscene, you guide Leon into the village, unaware of what exactly is going on. You quickly find out that the villagers are a little strange, seeing as how they are all trying to kill you. After a climatic encounter with the villagers, notably the one wielding a chainsaw, gamers will get only a small sample of just how amazing the game actually is.
The game design strays from its roots, now using a third-person over-the-shoulder camera angle as opposed to the classic fixed camera view. The game also includes new features such as an upgradable weapons system and melee attacks, both of which gamers will find very useful. Another notable change includes the fact that “RE4” is the first in the series in which enemies aren’t zombies, or humans for that matter (don’t worry, it’ll be explained and it actually makes sense). “Resident Evil 4” still contains much of the series’ unforgettable elements: creepy music and sound effects, ghostly environments, startling enemy encounters and, of course, a surprising plot twist early in the game. What makes the game special though is that it fixes a lot of the previous games’ flaws.
As you progress through the game, Leon will go from the village to a castle guarded by monotonously chanting cult members who have an uncanny resemblance to the priests hitting themselves in the face with boards in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” As cheesy as that might sound, even the most outrageous villains are intriguing, scary and tastefully designed. During the castle section of the game, the player gets a break from constant shooting and defending. Leon won’t be able to relax, though. This section of the game proves to be the hardest with puzzles, traps and psychotic monks galore. Players will literally be at the edge of their seats while trying to make their way through the castle. It pays off, though, as players will have many of their questions answered by both the cult leader and main baddie Saddler and a strange midget who looks a lot like Napoleon Bonaparte.
The final part of the game, located on an outlying island, while not the greatest, will still keep the player on edge. Everything about the story will become clear and by this point, if the player has invested and spent the currency he earns throughout the game well, Leon will wield powerful weapons which are fun to play with.
Completing the game is rewarding as well, as unlockable content including two new game modes and Leon’s “RE2” costume are made available.
“Resident Evil” vets will appreciate every aspect of the game. “RE4” lives up to its other numbered predecessors and the new changes compliment the console’s abilities, as well as add a new method of gameplay. Newcomers to the series will be delightfully glued to their television screens for hours, as will vets, who have probably been glued to their screens for about two weeks anyway.
For those who own a Nintendo Gamecube, this one is a must-have. It is arguably the most gorgeous game on the system in terms of graphics. The developers clearly pushed the limits of the console’s capabilities to produce the eye candy that “RE4” is. The gameplay is immaculate, never repetitive, but always terrifying. With the two discs that make up “RE4,” players are in for over twenty hours of gameplay. Buy a plastic cover for your couch, turn the lights off, and prepare for one of the best gaming experiences you’ll ever have, this game is a gem.
“Resident Evil 4” is currently exclusive to Gamecube, but PS2 owners may be in luck. A Fall 2005 release date has been slated for a PS2 version of the game. Xbox owners are completely out of luck. If you want a Gamecube system or any system for that matter, Gamecube is practically a steal at $99.99 at nearly every retail store and “Resident Evil 4” is a necessary component.