Resident Evil 4

[Finsbury Girl]

Wow - what can I say it really does get better & better.

Rather than relying on cheap scares, they have suceeded in conveying a real sense a dread & claustrophobia (even in the outdoors!) that lasts throughout the game (& I'm only up to chapter 4!!). Only in the save areas can you breathe easy.

From the moment you enter the village with wave after wave of villagers (plus the dreaded Chainsaw man) after you, to the desparate attempts to keep Ashley safe, the player is kept constantly on the edge of the seat, a tight ball of fear lodged deep in the gut as you desparately wonder when and where the next horror lies.

My only criticism (& I believe the ONLY reason this game is not worthy of a perfect) is the many instant death scenarios where a mistimed/slow/fat fingered button press (or indeed mis-press) results in the player having to continue or else load a save game.

However that minor point aside, I cannot believe how good this game is - if this doesn't make game of the year then I will be genuinely shocked.

[Concept]

My major criticism of Resident Evil 4, and one I didn't properly highlight for the review (it's only become more prominent through repeated playthroughs) is the lack of the ability to change weapons on-screen without having to enter the menu. A lot of the time, because of the variety of the enemies and ammo considerations, you often have to swap weapons to maintain a proper grip on the combat. This means constantly going in and out of the menu which breaks the action up to a degree, though to be fair, the instant transference helps a lot.

As for the narrative, in hindsight I take back what I said about the plot. It's clearly tongue in cheek, and self-mockingly cheesy throughout. When viewed like that, the game's sense of pace and action become very entertaining.

[Uptime]

Very good point concept, i'd like to see that instead of the paused selection.

[Tetsuo]

As for the narrative, in hindsight I take back what I said about the plot. It's clearly tongue in cheek, and self-mockingly cheesy throughout. When viewed like that, the game's sense of pace and action become very entertaining.

Maybe it's so awful that you want to convince yourself it was "done on purpose", when really you just have to accept it was ****. Sometimes it really is that simple.

[Concept]

The progression isn't **** at all, and there are numerous points in the game where it is clearly not taking itself seriously. You may have a different opinion - I have mine. Sometimes it really is that simple.

[Mephistopheles]

I quite liked the plot. If you play Separate Ways on PS2 it helps a lot in fleshing it out.

And yes, being able to cycle through weapons with the d-pad or something would have been nice. But how would they animate the change? Just make the current weapon disappear and the new one appear? It's not an FPS. Or Leon could pull the new one out of his pocket but that would look dumb.

[Concept]

It would have done the polish no favours, but the easiest option would be for weapons just to appear. Logic in Resident Evil has never been the series strong point (to say the least). You can apply the same argument to the enormous inventary you're allowed to carry around, but doesn't appear on Leon's body in-game.

[Ish]

I always assumed it was sewn into his baggy pants.

[anephric]

He hides them in his hair. Or behind Ashley's ears.

[Rossco]

Hardly any games bother about things like that, GTA has them just appear and disappear in the guys arms and many other games do too. I think MGS does as well.

Really would help the action of the game to be able to change quickly.

[112]

They should do it like sam fisher does it in Splinters cell, all his 'ish is on display and you can see him manually pull em out or lug them about when trapsing enemy terrain. Anal detail which jus helps, little things ehh? Gotta luv em!

112

[spagmasterswift]

Or behind Ashley's ears.

I'm still laughing at that **** man! Quality!

[iloveannie]

Well let's accept that the developers are fairly bright lads. On this assumption I guess they can tell the difference between an entertaining tale and a rather woeful one. So I reckon that if asked they would smile and say the story was, err, how to put it, ****? It's a soddin' game for flips sake. If they wanted a good story they'd read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (odd choice but first that sprung to mind) or something.

Did they know? They'd be pretty dim not to notice! We're all adults here so why the debate about validating games all the time? I play games, so what? They're for kids? I'd be the first to admit that the last two hours playing Deus Ex could have been used more constructively. But I enjoy games. Now I'm two hours behind and should have been to town and back by now

Resi Evil, game of the year? For me? Yes. Without a doubt. That and the (short lived) thrills of Mashed. I like to have fun when I play games. Something new and shiny to cheer me up. And by new and shiny I don't mean 360.

[iloveannie]

I often wished I could get into a chest in Resi and teleport to another area. Y'know, like the items do. Save walking and running past Hunters.

[VonManc]

I quite liked the plot. If you play Separate Ways on PS2 it helps a lot in fleshing it out.

And yes, being able to cycle through weapons with the d-pad or something would have been nice. But how would they animate the change? Just make the current weapon disappear and the new one appear? It's not an FPS. Or Leon could pull the new one out of his pocket but that would look dumb.

Can I just ask you lads if the PS2 version is worth getting if I already have the GC version??

I got the GC version on US import ages ago, completed it about 5 times and unlocked everything (including the beast that is the hand cannon) before the PAL one came out but, I do love the series and am intregued about this "Seperate Ways" thing and isn`t there a new weapon or summat??

I had a go on my mates at the weekend but I was bladdered. I played upto the part where you reach the dam and I was impressed. The enemies appear in exactly the same places as the GC version with the main difference it seems is that there is less ammo on the PS2 version but the baddies seem to takes very little damage before the die (shame).

I think what I`m asking is............ is it worth getting just for the "seperate ways" extra game??

Cheers!

VM 8)