simply put: this game is Fantastic
User Rating: 9.6 | BioHazard 4 GC
2005 had just begun, and yet so suddenly, a game like RE4 managed to grace gamecube owners at the start of January, and it was a great experience. It’s satisfying to watch a series that has lost its touch, turn itself around so well and so surprisingly in this game. It’s something else. Story-wise, it’s completely new. You simply cannot call RE4 a rehash of any sort. NOTHING remains noticeably the same, and it’s a great breath of fresh air for old RE fans. This is now six years after the events that occurred in raccoon city. And you’ll be playing as Leon Kennedy. Along the way you will meet up with some familiar faces, and also some completely new ones. The most important of them all of course, being Ashley graham, the president’s missing daughter. Right from the beginning, from the time you first take control over Leon, this is a whole new Resident evil. The new over-the-shoulder perspective allows for very cohesive movement and maneuvering of your character, and the camera will never let you down at times of suspense. The new gun mechanics are nearly flawless, and to keep players from breezing through, the developers added a shake effect to Leon’s hand so that you have to be careful where you are aiming. Though this won’t be a huge problem when using shotguns, it will be nerve-wrecking in some sections where targeting is a must. Expect herbs, ammo, and key items to return in this game, but don’t expect the puzzles to be as boring and repetitive as the previous games. However, one thing you will note is that the gameplay itself which consists of shooting your enemies will get repetitive as well. And be warned, you will die a whole lot of times before success in numerous sections. The graphics are nothing less than photorealistic, probably the best in 2005 and the best on any console. They’re that good. Lighting, shading, poly count, character models…everything is top notch. Perhaps you may be able to see though some polygons at times, and your character will rarely go through some solid items but this is no reason to take off points considering the graphics are still amazing otherwise. The sound matches the graphics at every point. Voice acting is convincing enough to make you feel as though the mood is serious and intense. Expect strong language, lots of sarcasm, and some pretty well written dialogue along the way. Length-wise, this game will keep you busy for quite some time. It will take an average of 20 hours to complete the first time, which will then unlock multiple extras that should keep you busy for at least another 3-5 hours as well. And you’ll want to play through the game another time because of some forks in the road or for other unlockables in the single player mode. Overall, this game is, like said before, something else. If you have a gamecube, you should be wondering very hard why you don’t have resident evil 4 right now. It’s one of those games that doesn’t come by every time, and for everyone who knows where to get it, you should take this opportunity, and GET IT.
