Resident Evil 4

[Rossco]

I decided not to play it in cinema mode anymore, gives me a sore head!

I just

->Open Spoiler<-

killed the big swamp dude! Amazing!!

[Adam Stone]

Just got onto the 2nd disk.

The boss before you move from one disk to another is... erm... tense. *adam wants to type so much more but reframes from doing so*

Have you guys used the rocket launcher at all? It?s amazing how powerful it is. I've only used it on bosses (usually have to make a sacrifice of selling one of my guns to purchase it just before the boss encounter) I tried taking the boss out, dodging, weaving, shooting, shouting, screaming, drooling...

Got so damn close so many times... but in the end I thought... meh, i'll Ca-Boom him into oblivion. Took a couple attempts but I got a perfect shot in, ONE shot! One shot and it was over. Release a sigh of relief I did.

One thing I?ve been meaning to mention is how much I love the reload animations. Not only do they look cool but also help expand the tension. Also even the fact a little more thought and tactic must be taken into consideration is great imo. It?s clear why the option to manually reload via the menu was taken out - because of the new weapon management (as you progress you can upgrade the reload time to practically nothing). What would be the point in spending ur currency on decreasing the reload time if you could simply just press start and select reload?

The sub bosses (like the prison foe?) have really impressed me. There is one slightly later in the castle who is eye-wateringly nasty.

I?m nearing the end now I think. Cant wait to re-play

[Rossco]

Damn, I want to go play it again but I have an exam tomorrow and I really should study!

[fu-q]

Just got this today, i was so afraid that it wasn't going to work with my old freeloader, as i got them when they first came out but it worked It is amazing. nothing short of breath taking, by far my favourate resident evil.

You may have a problem when it comes to the second disk, maybe.

I've had about 3 hours playtime now and I'm completely blown away, the controls, the shooting, the atmosphere all top notch. I don't think I'll be doing much work tommorow....or much sleeping tonight.

[AllYourBase]

yea! got mine today, gonna play now! w00t!!

[cella]

I have to give resi a rest now, mommy deeds call...I managed to get as far as

->Open Spoiler<-

the presidents daughter being kidnapped

looking forward to see how I do from here on out...I think I will have impressed hubby when he see's how far along I've come with no verbal cues from him.

[rjpageuk]

There is a lot of loving in this thread so I wanted to take some time to give across a view from someone who literally hates the previous Resident Evil games (I struggled to get more than an hour into Remake before turning it off in disgust). The impressions are based on my first 2 hours play.

Firstly RE4 looks completely stunning - everything about the game looks truly fantastic, its one of the best looking games I have ever seen and everything is very atmospheric - the town feels real, and your locations feel real and are genuinely spooky.

The controls are not a radical departure at all, and the game as a whole doesnt feel like a radical departure to me either - make no mistake this is a Resident Evil game. The controls are clunky and are an important part of the atmosphere and add greatly to the unsettling feeling you get while playing the game. At the back of your mind always is the wonder whether you will be able to move how you want to to quickly escape. As you hide in rooms you will wonder if you have time to peek out to see if someone is coming after you - unlike say a FPS where you would simply strafe out and in again quickly.

You have a very one dimensional viewpoint - perhaps an unfair critisism because its how it is in real life but you never feel like you have a clue whats behind you. People can creep up on you and get you from behind and you genuinely dont have a clue where they came from. This is unrealistic in a sense because the sound cannot be immersive enough to give you a proper warning but it adds to the unsettling feeling again. I find RE games make it their goal to make you as uneasy as possible and these small "faults" greatly add to this (but also to my frustration in a way).

People have hit zones and react according to where you hit them well although it still never feels quite as nice as Goldeneye in this sense (I dont think I have played a game which captured this element as well since). Having said this its an important element of the game because you should never be sure you can kill anyone with a headshot, it all adds to the tension.

The locations being so much more open mean the controls (which are improved anyhow) feel less constrictive than in previous RE games so its much easier to forgive them.

There is lots and lots of action which can only be a good thing. Things have been mixed up for me already too which is also a good thing - you are never quite sure what will be coming up next.

The menu still feels a bit clunky (but is much improved on previous games) and the acting is pretty bad but all can easily be forgiven. So for all you RE haters out there: give this one a go, it feels pretty special even to me at this early stage.

[MikeF]

I have just met the salesman for the first time and bought the rifle. Do I need to buy the scope this early in the game or should I wait a while ??

[Rossco]

Don't bother no, you'll meet him twice more quite soon and I've not used it at all, I bought the rifle and scope straight away and it's been a stupid buy. Not used it on anyone but I don't want to ditch it now incase I need it.

[fearbat]

I've been playing this on and off today, need time to recover now. I've only just got past what I'm pretty sure is the second boss(best moment of the game so far for me) and am absolutely loving this. The game world feels just spot on, with the pace of the game very well judged. After a tense situation you always have a moment to wind down before you're thrown into the next.

I've not found much fault with the game, maybe a diet of too many Sega games has warped what good ingame story telling is but I think Capcoms effort is a very decent effort. The direction of the game is particularily striking and does make you feel like you're experiencing a game and a film all in one. Weapons feel brilliant, although I've not strayed beyond the shotgun and a certain pistol that can become available to you. I am struggling with ammo at the minute, but I haven't been conserving any and am still making my way through so I don't think it'll be a problem.

One thing I'm hoping is in the game is a chapter select to become available somehow as some of the moments I've experienced I just want to do them over and over again(especially the second boss), fingers crossed one can be unlocked in some way. All in all a great game so far, can't wait to see what awaits me next.

[Hitcher]

Hank cinema mode is just another term for basically doing what Im doing with my zoom mode, it all comes down to people with widescreen sets having to stretch the picture to eliminate (most) borders, and it looks gash compared to other games which have a proper anamorphic widescreen mode. Its such crazy omission, why give us a pro-scan option but no widescreen? Its a real pisser for me at least, but Ill get over it.

It's a pain there's no anamorphic but at least cinema mode looks all the better for being in prog scan for those of us that have it.

[nintendo DS rocks!]

hope i don't have any problems with the second one

[fearbat]

I am actually playing the game in 'Cinema Mode' that in itself is stretched 16:9 and then I've stretched it manually a couple of notches more, even then the game looks anything but 'gash'. I agree that there really should be a proper anamorphic display mode on offer though.

[Bleeders]

I've left mine as it is. Looks fine to me, must admit don't even notice it that much.

The missus has commendered the TV now for E.R, but managed to get a couple hours of play in; managed to progress to Chapter 4-1 now.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Got my copy today from VG+.

Really enjoying it so far, graphics are awesome as is the atmosphere. The feeling of being swamped by enemies is amazing, and those headshots... tremendous.

But the control is horrendous, why is the turning ON/OFF. It's an analogue stick Capcom! And why the run button? Worse, why does Leon run at an angle if the camera is pointed straight ahead? You have to always look slightly to one side or you just keep drifting over to the right. Pretty annoying.

And the lack of anamorphic W/S makes those lovely models and textures look pretty flickery and scruffy, but I'm sure there are technical reasons why it wasn't possible. Still, it's a shame.

So yeah, the control stinks, REALLY stinks, but it doesn't harm the game too much. It's sheer quality can overcome it, but it's either one hell of an oversight, or just really dodgy design. At least the aiming is analogue now. FINALLY!