Updated Review: Resident Evil 4 is one of the best games ever made. The Wii Edition is essential for everyone!
Gameplay- Resident Evil 4s gameplay was breakthrough for its time. It slightly uses its predecesors core gameplay, such as collecting items and ammunition and solving various puzzles. However the game is much more action oriented then its predeccesors. The enemies the player fights against are far more agile and fast then the slow trodding zombies in past resident evils. They fire bows, weild weapons and come at you in organised swarms.
Resident Evil 4 also has a a great trade and collect system involving a fellow merchent who meets up with you various times on your journey.You can buy weapons such as pistols, Uzi's, Shotguns, rifles and upgrade them based on how much money you collect. You can also sell and combine rare treasures that are hidden throughout the game.
Perhaps the most groundbreaking feature to Resident Evil 4s gameplay is its 'context sensitive controls'. Based on certain situations, wether it be during gameplay or a cutscene, the game may ask you to quickly put in a number of button combinations that flashes at the bottom of the screen, failure to input this quick reflex of button pushing may result in the death of the character. These button combinations can also be used to dodge, counter and melee attack both common and powerful enemies. Using this aspect of the gameplay against bosses makes you look very skilled and helps ensure your victory as you you dodge the enemies powerful attacks.
Note: The Wii's motion controls make the experience so much easier.
Resident Evil 4 also has a ton of replay value and unlockables. Overall, the main game can take around 20 hours to complete. Once the main campain is completed a number of extra scenarios and mini games are unlocked. Many of these extra's were once exclusive to the Sony Playstation 2(PS2) Version, however these extra's were later put into the Nintendo Wii Edition .
Story- Resident Evil 4 sets itself up as a follow up to the epic events of the first three games. It is set 7 years after those events. Leon S Kennedy (from Resident Evil 2) has become a BSAA agent, stopping bio-terrorists from releasing bio-toxins around the world. Leon is sent to a forest in Italy where the presidents daughter is being held hostage by a mysterious cult. Story wise Resident Evil 4 veers away from its predecesors profoundly; however this does not stop the progressing plot from being a epic and horrifying experience on its own.
Graphics- Resident Evil 4 had one of the best graphics for its time. The original gamecube version holds up extremly well for its time even with its 4:3 aspect ratio. The Playstation 2 version has worse visuals and cut many corners in the graphics so it could be played on the systems limited graphics compared to the gamecube. The Nintendo Wii edition utilises the Gamecube's beautiful graphics along with a added 16:9 (wide-screen) aspect ratio that improves the visuals of the game even more so.
Overall if you own a Nintendo Wii; get this game! Even if you can get a hold of the Playstation 2 or Gamecube version, get it and play it! This is one of the greatest action adventure games out there!