I've never played a Resident Evil game before this one, but this was a lot of fun. Not for young kids though, so beware.
Anyway this game shocked me a little bit. I was expecting a gore fest to the point of ridiculousness and me getting bored of wandering halls, little action, and constant spooky music. I kept thinking that it would be nothing more than another way to veiw a cheesy horror movie. Obviously, that veiw blew up in my face. Obviously, I didn't know much about the potential in this genre.
This game was mind blowing for me. I can't discribe the sensation very well, but I can only bring it as close as this: Feels great just surviving sometimes.
Story: The story was actually a bit odd at times. You don't need to play previous Resident Evil games to appretiate it, but from what I've gathered there where quite a bit of references that wouldn't make since if you didn't look into it. Raccoon City, T-virus, Ada and Leon's background, ect. are seemily just sidenotes in this game, but you apperitiate the characters a little more once you understand where they came from. From what I understand though, it is actually that the entire essence of the story in RE4 is just a set up for another conituation of the traditional classic zombie scene that the rest of the RE are is famous for. This, RE4 is actually the first RE game that does NOT have flesh craving zombies in it. I repeat, as far as I know this is the first RE game with NO ZOMBIES. I know this might upset some fans (athough I can't really relate as to why, I've never been a fan of cannibalistic undead myself) but this game has plenty of creepyness left just the same in fact, some of the creature are so close to zombies anyway that fans might not even be bothered by the tecnical differences anyway.
Anyway, the plot is basically this: You assume the role of Leon, a previous surviver in a previous RE game that, because of his uncanny luck and skill at surviving was noticed then trained to be a part of a law enforcement group that acts, more or less, as guard dogs for the continued safety of president and his family. Unfortunately, with poor Leons odd relationship with lady luck, Leon's first assignment ends up bringing back painful memories for him. Leon seems to be a magnite for freaks. You see, Leon has traveled to Spain in search of the President's missing daughter, Ashley, who is rumored to being held against her will by a strange religous cult in the middel of nowhere. Easy job right? Go in, poke around, find the president's daughter, call for backup and get her out of there. Simple stuff for a trained agent. The real problem is that no one told him about the whole surrounding populous are brutal, psycotic, and are all hosts to a rapidly evolving parasites that use and are being used in horrific ways. Still stanger yet, why on earth would such horrible yet secritive people/bugs want to risk holding the presidents daughter hostage? And why is Ada there? Things are about to get really complicated for Leon.
........P.S: On a more humorous sidenote I would like to say this: By the way, Mr. President, if my daughter were kidnapped by a group of sadistic people, I would bother to send more than just one man to get her back. Even if she was a spoiled brat like Ashley.
Gameplay: Interesting, but I'm not quite sure about how much I liked the gameplay by itself. Too slow to be a shooter, to fast to be and RPG, and too linear to be a plateformer. I'm not sure this style of gameplay would work in anything other than a game like Resident Evil. The closest thing that comes to mind might be some feel from the Metal Gear Solid serise, but even then that's a real bit of a stretch in comparision.
Graphics: Very good. Not just because of the characters and backgrounds, but because of the way they managed to do such a great job on the cinematography as well. The scene where full of feeling...mostly a creeped out and jumpy feeling, but still very successful. Again, parents, I don't care what your 14 year old or his freind or one of the other reveiwers says, the back of my rental box says Mature: 17 year olds and older and I fully agree with it. Yes, I COMPLETELY beat this game, I played out the whole thing, and I still wouldn't get it for a young kid. You don't have to listen to me, but if you are read this you wanted to see my opinion so here it is: NOT FOR LITTLE KIDS. That is...unless you want your youngist to wake you up in the middel of the night because they have nightmares of there teacher growing a blood stinger from underneth his or her flesh and skewering people with it. If you do, you sicken me beyond words.
In conclusion, this is a great mix of elements that is great if your in the mood for something grity and creepy. If you are in the mood for haunted houses this game will feel perfect for you.