Resident Evil 4

There was an old game on the Super Nintendo named Shadowgate that always used to scare me. The eerie music, the fear of the unknown, and of course the possibility of dying at every turn for the slightest misstep added up to a tension that few games could achieve at the time. Very few games have made me feel the same thrilling apprehension since then. Thus, I don’t take it lightly when I say that every last Resident Evil game has scared me to death, and I’ve loved every minute of it.

My love of the genre started on the original PlayStation with the very first installment of the series. I played the game at night for full effect, and I got more entertainment value than I could’ve dreamed. Your character quietly tip-toes through a deserted city with the only sound being your echoing footsteps, when all of a sudden a zombie lurches out at you. That’s not to mention the constant fear you have of running out of ammunition. With a few exceptions on the PS2, all of the Resident Evil games are fantastic.

I must say that the latest addition to the series has not let me down, even though my expectations were admittedly high. My wife and I rushed to buy it the moment we saw it out, even though we make a rule to rent any game before doing so. This has been the only exception. I have since beaten it half a dozen times, and continue to return to it occassionally when I feel the need to take out some excess aggression.

The game has fantastic graphics, both in and out of cutscenes. The real-time combat keeps you on edge; give an inch and the fiends will eat you alive, literally in some cases. Good reflexes and precision are rewarded as well, because the enemies respond dynamically to being attacked in different locations.

One of the biggest ingenuities of this game is a unique player-driven cutscene system. You have to hit button combinations quickly in order to avoid certain hazards. Remember what I said before about the threat of imminent death at every turn? This game takes an already good premise to a new level, with player responsiveness being cut down to the split second to avoid disaster.

On top of all that, the game has a vast storyline. Even rushing with all of the best equipment, it still takes me 15 to 20 hours to beat. There is a great variety of different environments, from castles and caves to high-tech research labs and modern warzones. That’s not to mention the array of complex and challenging situations you must overcome. Trust me, this game will take you awhile to beat, but you won’t get bored doing it.

I could go on with more praises, but I think the message is clear. Resident Evil is a fantastic genre chocked full of great games, and Resident Evil 4 lives up to the legacy of its predecessors. Take it from me. If you have any interest in horror games whatsoever, buy this game. You won’t be disappointed.

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[…] Review of Bully | Home | Family | Web Design | Gaming | Entertainment | Thoughts | Boredom | | World of Warcraft | LARP | Console | Tabletop | December 6, 2006My wife and I decided to rent Bully last week when X-Play gave it a five out of five. Now, I occassionally disagree with their assessments (and I’ll surely contradict them some in this review), but I take notice when they pull out the perfect score. As a long-time fan, I know they don’t do it lightly. Heck, they gave Resident Evil 4 a five-out-of-five, and it was certainly well-deserved. […]