Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition

"An Exceptional next step in the RE Universe"

Gameplay - 10/10
Compared to previous installments in this survival horror series, RE4 plays quite differently. The over-the-shoulder camera creates a different experience when plowing through those infected with the Las Plagas virus. In RE4, there is more emphasis on action and less on survival, which may turn off veteran RE players who enjoy the originals on the PS1. Most often the player can kill anything that moves and still be well-stocked on health and ammunition. But that's not to say that the game is quite that easy. The player must still carefully aim their shots at vulnerable areas such as the head or knees, temporarily stunning them. Then they utilize a melee attack to do some damage as well as knock the infected to the ground. Conserving ammo isn't as high of a priority in this game, but there are times where supplies can wear thin and the player must carefully place their shots to continue on without trouble.

There are a variety of enemies to fill full of lead, ranging from your typical village folks to cult members to hideously mutated monsters. As the player progresses through the game, enemy groups become different and are harder to kill, mostly due to the types of weapons that they are holding and their aggressiveness. Speaking of aggressiveness, the A.I. is quite relentless in their pursuit to murder Leon Kennedy

Fortunately, the player picks up currency in Pesetas to buy new weapons available from the mysterious Merchant as well as upgrade existing weapons in your inventory. There are a plethora of weapons to use, including pistols, machine guns, rifles, shotguns, magnums and the fan favorite rocket launcher. These weapons, along with healing items and ammunition, are stored in an attache case. The limited space in the attache case compels the player to balance the amount of weapons with other items. Some strategy is required to squeeze in items into all of the available squares in the attache case (which can be replaced with larger versions). It is quite different from previous RE games as each item takes up varying amounts of space. At the same time, it fits quite well into the game.

The boss battles are quite memorable and are fun to play, each one deviating in their weaknesses to Leon's attacks. All of them sadistic in their own way, being able to successfully navigate Leon is vital to avoiding sometimes lethal boss attacks.

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Controls - 10/10
The controls featured in RE4 are welcoming to the series known for its static camera and "tank" controls. The over-the-shoulder, third person perspective plays nearly flawlessly, engrossing the player in creepy environments spread throughout the game. It is very welcoming to be able to accurately and more easily control Leon Kennedy on screen, especially with the Wiimote. It will take about an hour of initially playing the game to get used to the controls, but once the player has them down, they will feel second nature. Using the back B button to aim and the A button to shoot, it becomes quite easy to decapitate enemies from a distance. It also helps that there is a circular reticle on the screen which corresponds to where the player is pointing. Compared to the PS2 and Gamecube versions, which use a thin red laser as a pointer, the Wii version feels easier. The other buttons on the Wiimote are mapped in a straightforward manner and the player should never have to feel that they are struggling with them. Because of these fantastic controls, this game is very accessible for all playing skills.

To note, the Wii version does also support the older Gamecube controls, which are suitable for those uncomfortable with pointing at the screen or waggling with the Wiimote.

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Sound - 7/10
For the most part, gun sounds are great and each can be uniquely identified. The player will know when they are firing a magnum as opposed to a pistol or shotgun. Music in RE4 is mostly utilized when there are hostiles on screen that the player must kill. When the music cues, the player will know that there are still a few enemies left and to stay alert. But besides that, the sound is quite average. Many sound effects from previous games, such as opening doors, are taken directly from past games, which in a sense is nostalgic but at the same time a little underwhelming. Nothing really seems to stand out and luckily, the gameplay is so well done that this is a minor issue. What can be considered a bright spot and a blemish is the dialogue. It is good to hear the native Spanish tongue being spoke by the enemies, but the variety in what is said can be lacking at times. During some points, the player will hear the same dialogue constantly, which is only mildly annoying. As for the English dialogue during cutscenes…there are definitely some memorable moments, some good and bad, but mostly bad. The Resident Evil franchise has been notoriously labeled as a series with bad voice acting. Don't expect anything groundbreaking here. But its amusing in its own way and can provide some comedic moments during a mostly serious-toned game.

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Story - 5/10
There is really not much to expect out of RE4's story, as it seems to take a sharp curve off the path of the original plot involving Umbrella. There are definitely references to the Umbrella Corporation, but much less so than in previous installments. You play as Leon Kennedy, a retired officer from the Raccoon City Police Department who now works for the United States government. He finds out that the President's daughter, Ashley Graham, has been kidnapped by an unidentifiable group of people. Intel leads them to a desolate part of Spain, where they now believe a cult known as the Los Illuminados resides. Leon travels to Spain to start asking questions of her whereabouts and this is where the nightmare begins. Overall, it does introduce the player to a new, more advanced biohazard, which spreads across a number of groups. But it lacks in creativity and can be construed as cliched.

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Graphics - 8/10
The graphics are done well for the most part in RE4. The detailed character models are quite good and the cutscenes are nice and easy on the eyes. RE4 is quite atmospheric, with subtle graphical effects (such as fog) that snare the player in the environment they are trekking through. For a game that was released on the limited hardware of the Gamecube and even PS2, they still hold up to this day. However, one thing that holds it back from greatness are the backgrounds and the levels in general. Some are done well but others look quite dull and boring, lacking colorful designs. One flaw in its graphics is how it translates to a HDTV. The game can look grainy or fuzzy on bigger HDTV sets, which is mildly noticeable, but not game-breaking. To look its best, an standard definition TV will suffice.

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Replayability - 9/10
Despite the game map being naturally linear, it is quite satisfying to replay over and over. The variety of weapons to try out as well as altering playing styles can make it a unique playing experience every time. The option for a new game + is a staple in the RE franchise and that holds true in RE4. Reclaiming items saved over from a previous game to try out at the beginning is quite enjoyable. Also, saving Pesetas over time will allow the player to purchase secret unlockable weapons that are a blast to play with. To increase the replayability, players in the RE4 community will often try to test their mettle by completing challenge runs, which increase the difficulty but retain the same fun factor.

Alongside the two difficulty levels (Normal and Professional), there are two sidestories to play, involving Ada Wong, whom we see first in RE2 and throughout RE4. The story, called Separate Ways, is told from her perspective and after playing through Leon's campaign, it is quite interesting to see how Leon's and Ada's paths intertwine. The other game mode called Assignment Ada is irrelevant to the story of RE4 but is still fun to play. Finally, there is the Mercenaries, a challenging mode that pits the player against the clock as they try to aggregate a high score. An interesting aspect of this mode involves the number of characters you can play as, each differing in starting weaponry and strategy. Very challenging but quite addicting.

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Overall - 9/10 (Not an Average)
A great action game that is a fresh take on the RE franchise. Some RE veterans may feel turned off by the lack of puzzle solving and more focus on shooting, but the game achieves what it is dishing. That is an engrossing, atmospheric, and creepy game set in the RE universe. Players new to the franchise will feel it to be more inviting to play than previous installments, as the camera and controls have been updated. Overall, it is a game that should be tried by any person who owns a GC, PS2, PC, or Wii that is likened to the action/horror genre. The Wii holds the definitive version, featuring the graphics of the GC version and the extra features of the PS2 version.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/30/09, Updated 08/10/09

Game Release: Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (US, 06/19/07)