Resident Evil 4 has now been reincarnated for the Wii and if you haven't played the game yet, the Wii Edition is, by far, the best version (and hopefully the last) to date. In the original GameCube version, Leon Kennedy aims with his gun using laser sighting. The level of success for finishing each chapter was dependent on how well you can precisely use the analog stick and its cumbersome button configurations. Now, with the Wii Edition, the console's limitations of third person shooting goes away. Using the Wiimote, you can point and aim with a higher level of accuracy and speed than any controller. The gameplay hasn't changed much nor has the controls been overhauled. You can't just aim and shoot enemies while strafing or running, for example. You will still need to stop walking to shoot. But the huge improvement in speed and accuracy goes a long way. In some cases, it turns into a confidence booster. It is also a great invitation to PC gamers who've been used to aiming with their mouse for years. Birds that flew away before can be easily shot dead during flight. Headshots will come more naturally, including legs and arms which should no longer pose an aiming problem. You will with very little practice be able to walk through environments with the Wii Nunchuk's analog stick, all the while setting up your next shot with pinpoint accuracy using the Wiimote. It's an undeniable improvement in control and one that helps you play better and enjoy the game much more. This is exactly the kind of gameplay the Wii was meant to demonstrate. Suddenly, aiming and pulling the trigger on your TMP sub-machine gun seems more satisfying than using the analog stick. The same can be said for the reloading and melee attacks. Knife attacks are executed by just swinging or stabbing with the remote. Reloading is accomplished by flicking the Wiimote while holding the "B" trigger. When you locate and join the President's daugher (Ashley), the (+) button is used to tell Ashley to "follow" or "stay" while the (-) button is used to browse through your inventory, switch weapons, or view the map. The controls feel so intuitive that the game becomes a seemless experience when you are dealing with any hostile situation. It's unfortunate that Capcom did not extend the Wiimote's intuitive control with some of the other parts of the game. Arranging or selecting items in the inventory screen, viewing the map and solving puzzles require you to use your analog stick. On another strange note, aiming with a scoped-rifle also requires the analog stick. However, for some odd reason, the interactive cutscenes haven't suffered from this. As you're dodging boulders, tentacles, or climbing up the edge of a cliff you will be frequently asked to shake or swing the remote. Although the gestures may not fit in the whole context of the scene, the interactivity is there. It may have been Capcom's intention to simplify the movement and gestures of the remote. By doing this, the player does not constantly die to learn more gestures and break up the game's incredible pacing. Either way, the cutscenes happen so fast that these simple gestures are a welcome update of the game. It works well because the intensity of these cutscenes are not lost in the process.
If you have a Wii, the Wii Edition of Resident Evil 4 is a must buy, especially if you have not played it yet. Althrough Resident Evil 4 has been familiar territory for sometime, the new control scheme injects more visceral action into this already great game. The feeling of mowing down hoards of enemies with the Wiimote can become so addictive that you may find yourself unlocking some of the other weapons, especially the ones that carry unlimited ammo. RE4: Wii Edition is currently the best action game for the Wii that is leaps and bounds over its current competition (i.e. Red Steel, Godfather, Far Cry, etc) and it even contains all of the latest enhancements including the Ada Wong chapters from the PS2 version. At 30 bucks, the Wii Edition is an incredible buy that can't be beat.
Other Helpful Reviews for BioHazard 4: Wii Edition
I am a big fan of Resident Evil 4, and I was quick to buy this game when it came out today. After about 4 hours into the game and having done some homework online about it concerning it's new options, I have to say I am... Read Full Review
Pros: The same amazing boss fights, And a captivating story line. Only costs $30, and its better than most $60 games on the market. Oh, and its Resident Evil 4! Cons: Controls, although you do get used to them, can be... Read Full Review
