By Tyson Lex Wheatley
CNN Headline News
| The villagers are faster and more determined than the enemies of previous 'Resident Evil' games. | ||
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(CNN) -- Forget everything you know about survivor horror games. Japanese developer Capcom has not only revolutionized the tired genre it helped define, but has created the first truly great action game of 2005.
"Resident Evil 4" is a single-player game made exclusively for Nintendo's Gamecube. Fans of the series are reacquainted with pretty-boy protagonist Leon S. Kennedy, the idealistic rookie cop from "RE 2."
Leon is now a U.S. agent on a top-secret mission to find the president's abducted daughter. His investigation leads to a mysterious European village, where the locals aren't exactly happy to see him.
Where are the zombies?
Just minutes into the game, Leon finds he has no choice but to waste a crazed villager. That's right, Leon is not taking on mindless zombies, rather humans who have gone bonkers for some reason.
The villagers are faster, more determined, and much more intelligent than the enemies of previous "RE" games. Attackers team up, dodge bullets and spring forward with blinding speed. Leon finds himself at the mercy of his attackers for most of the game with little time to catch his breath.
To combat his unnatural foes, Leon can be armed with an impressive arsenal from sniper rifles to rocket launchers. A new action system enables the player to perform context sensitive moves, such as kicking injured opponents, jumping through windows or dodging enemy attacks. Beautifully crafted cut scenes serve to move the story forward and provide context to the game's bountiful action sequences. The dialogue is cheesy, but thankfully kept to a minimum.
It is hard to imagine anyone not enjoying the fast-paced story development and white-knuckle action. But this game is not for everyone, particularly the squeamish, and those otherwise not qualified to play.
The game is rated Mature for a reason: extreme violence and gore. Scares are plentiful as menacing enemies lurch from darkened corners, while others chase you in a relentless frenzy. Game play is often a panicking experience.
Graphically the game is superb. An amazing attention to detail, from the crackling of torches, to the splattering of raindrops, add to an already frightening sense of realism. The eerie soundtrack adds to the suspense and sense of dread. Also, there is an amazing array of twists and surprises that keep the player guessing and eager to advance the plot.
A new perspective
| The camera angle remains just behind Leon at all times -- allowing the player to see more of the surroundings. |
Traditionally, survival horror games are plagued with a sense of disorientation, and slow tank-like maneuverability. "RE 4" is presented in cinematic wide-screen, giving players a wider perspective and adding to the games movie-like feel.
The camera angle remains just behind Leon at all times -- allowing the player to see more of the surroundings. The ability to tilt the camera angle slightly in either direction, gives the player the chance to peek around corners. Capcom has also installed a quick-turn motion, reducing the chance of an enemy getting the drop on Leon. Believe me, they will try.
Like its predecessors, "RE 4" is a challenging game to beat. Luckily there are checkpoints throughout the vast region, so when Leon does succumb to a brutal death, the game never sets you too far back.
Also, the frustrating ribbon-based save system of previous RE games has been eliminated. Now, you can save wherever you find one of many strategically placed typewriters.
Capcom has also injected a bit of role-playing game strategy in "RE 4." Instead of finding powerful weapons and items, you must buy them from a cryptic shopkeeper who has a knack for showing up in the creepiest places. You also have the option to buy tune-ups to certain weapon attributes, such as firing speed, and time required to reload. Choosing which weapons to upgrade will determine your abilities in battle.
Furthermore, your inventory space is limited to what you can squeeze inside an attach case, making item management a must. Building an effective arsenal becomes a critical and rewarding task. The game is lengthy, with more than 20 hours of adventure with hidden secrets, puzzles and bonus subplots.
