Resident Evil 4 Review

Resident Evil has a long history of success on both PC and consoles. It's one of those games I've always enjoyed playing, primarily because of two things - the eerie atmosphere and fighting for survival. Yeah, yeah, I know, that's true of every other shooter on the market these days, but Resident Evil was always unique in a certain way. It managed to lure gamers into a believable horror-like ambiance, without making it feel phony. And it still had all the essentials: gruesome monsters, solid level design and a decent storyline. On top of that, it featured some distinctive elements that made it enjoyable and different from other shooters.

All this fits into one's pocket. Amazing.

Holy shit! Imagine seeing that threw your spyhole.

Just to let you know, Resident Evil 4 continues the story of special agent Leon S. Kennedy - who was a rookie cop back in Resident Evil 2. Also, don't expect any direct tie-ins with RE 3: Nemesis.

Capcom finally brings the fourth installment in its triumphant Resident Evil series to PCs. The GameCube version of Resident Evil 4 turned out splendidly, hence we were hoping for a decent port.

Although Resident Evil has always targeted console audiences, PC ports were often an inevitable course of action for the development team. Sadly, whenever Resident Evil makes it to PCs, it was criticized for incorporating a lousy control system, which ended up aggravating the hell out of gamers who are used to the old PC keyboard/mouse combo. As before, players are advised, nay, urged, to use gamepads. Otherwise, it may take a while to get into practice with the keyboard.

As the game begins, players are given a brief introduction regarding the main character and his objective. As I've said earlier, you'll find yourself in the role of one Leon S. Kennedy. Leon is a tough chap with plenty of experience in the field, so it was no coincidence that he was chosen for an important top-secret mission to locate the president's daughter. Upon arriving to an isolated village, Leon is immediately greeted by hostile inhabitants. Actually, "hostile" doesn't exactly fit the description. How does insanely violent and unbelievably bloodthirsty grab you? Yep, the recognizable Resident Evil formula is back. Zombie-like people, wielding torches and sharp axes, start screaming and moving slowly towards Leon. Panic-stricken, Leon franticly reaches for his firearm and starts loosing lead. In the hope that you won't run out of ammo, you'll soon begin pilling those mutants one by one.

The gameplay mechanics and the overall design of RE 4 might appear archaic at first, but, oddly enough, they still work. The game is faced-paced and always keeps you on the edge of your seat, which is probably the one thing I like most about it. In truth, the gameplay in Resident Evil 4 follows the same principal from earlier installments in the series. You shoot your way through hordes of monsters until the ammo gouge on the right reads "Empty." When it comes down to that, players must rely on strength of limb. As an alternative, players may use the knife (it can be handy when you want to save on ammo). Still, ammo supplies shouldn't be too hard to find. They are either scattered throughout the levels or may be picked up from fallen foes. The unique inventory system allows you to combine crucial objects, which may be required to unlock passageways. As always, you are also able to mix red, yellow and green herbs to come up with more effective healing solutions. When the going gets tough, players simply access their inventory and heal themselves without any hindrances. It's straightforward and rather easy to use.

Every step of the way, you'll find yourself wanting more destructive weaponry by your side, as more and more monsters keep seeking your blood. With the help of a detailed map, which gives you ample info on the surrounding area, players may easily locate key spots where they may recuperate or save their progresses. The well-known typewriter routine is still there, and that means you cannot save at any time. This is a good thing mind you, since it increases the challenge and makes you think carefully about the actions you're about to take. Running into a sinister weapons merchant, who has more weapons on him than a terrorist arms dealer, is also a neat addition to the gameplay. Occasionally, he offers you a chance to practice with diverse weapons on a handy shooting range. A decent mini-game, if nothing else.

Another thing that struck me about this game is the brilliant artwork and monster design. I literarily gasped a few times after seeing some of those monstrosities. On one particular occasion, I managed to hinder one of my enemies with a well-placed headshot. The head of the unsuspecting foe burst into pieces and a hideous parasite emerged out of its neck, lunging at me with stretchy razor-sharp appendages. Eventually, I gunned it down and, having the crap scared out of me, I pursued the task ahead. Moments like these kept me playing on.