Saul: Wow, what a game!! I was thinking this about an hour into the game, before I even knew that the game still had about 15 more hours of content waiting for me. Such is life when you are playing what has got to be one of the best games of this console generation. Resident Evil fans have been waiting for this game for years, and Capcom delivered the best Resident Evil game in the series (surpassing the stellar Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil remake on GameCube). Yet Capcom went beyond the call of duty and put forth the best survival/action game on the planet. This game is crammed with action and horror from beginning to end. Amazing level design is brought to life with life-like visuals and immense detail to create a dark, moody atmosphere that will serve as the backdrop to your Resident Evil experience. Capcom also flexed their creative muscle in constructing the most unique and disturbing creatures ever seen in the Resident Evil universe. The series has always thrived on creating a tense atmosphere and filling it with strange creatures, and this game presents a giant leap forward in those areas. I could really type up an essay featuring nothing but praise for this game and its talented developers, but I'll let my fellow editors take their turn.
Kaleb: I'm sure you've all read my review, so you know what I have to say about this. The truth is that I agree completely. There's not enough good stuff to be said about RE4. Games don't come any better than this, and that's a fact. Every single aspect of this game is completely praiseworthy, so it's hard to know what to single out. Capcom did a brilliant job in every aspect of RE4.
I would like to mention, as well, one thing the press doesn't seem to emphasize, which is that RE4 has some of the best damn bossfights of all time, in a 2D or 3D game. The bossfights in this game, as a whole, are right up there with Zelda or Metroid. And that says a LOT.
Marc: Funny you should mention the boss fights Kaleb as I think you are right. The boss fights in this game are simply amazing and I wasn't expecting them at all. When you play a game like this you don't expect to have the kind of boss battles you have in an epic game like The Legend of Zelda, but Resident Evil 4 is, in my opinion, as epic as is Nintendo's fairy boy adventure.
Capcom has made an amazing game, one of the best this generation and one that will be remembered for a long time. Resident Evil 2 had long been my favorite, but RE4 surpasses it in every possible way!
Kaleb: The most shocking thing about this game, though, is Capcom's acceptance of the fact that Resident Evil HAD to be completely overhauled to continue being a popular franchise. As much as the fans defended the pre-rendered environments and awful controls of the past, Capcom still completely shredded every single notion we had of the series. It doesn't take the formula of the series a step farther--instead, it completely rewrites that formula. The game plays very little like its predecessors. As much of a gamble as that was, it really paid off in the end product.
Nick: As Kaleb stated, the series has been given new life thanks to RE4 and its departure from the RE formula. Just when it looked like the series was running out of steam comes the most polished, innovative survival-horror game yet. Fans of the series (and gamers in general) were well rewarded for the wait and directional uncertainty by the developers.
I think the game is so strong because it's so well rounded. Where most triple A stitles do a few things well, RE4 doesn't have one aspect in which it lacks. As stated above the graphics are excellent but still have the gritty feel, the control perfect and intuitive, sound is great and the story is good. I think the biggest change from previous installments and the aspect that has been most overlooked is pacing. RE4 moved along at a much speedier pace than the other RE4 titles and puts more emphasis on the action and less on the puzzles.
The one thing I enjoyed most about the game, beside the boss battles which are tremendous, was the setting. Maybe I'm just sick of zombie infested mansions and cities but the locales in the game had a fresh feel and were truly creepy.
I am glad the pre-rendered graphics have been left behind in favor of real 3-d. I do think that a pre-rendered background can look a lot better than a 3-d background, in certain cases, but it's often at the cost of gameplay especially camera function.
Marc: Pre-rendered environments are still a good thing and I think they can still be used in certain areas of games but relying on them for a full game was only acceptable last generation. This time around the game is a lot more action oriented and it wouldn't have been possible without a 3D world. With pre-rendered backgrounds you can't really tell what is going on in front of you as you have to move from area to area and it slows down the gamepay a lot.
Capcom did a lot of smart moves with RE4, but the controls still aren't that great. I mean, Leon still controls like a tank!
Kaleb: Pre-rendered graphics are rarely justified. I can't think of any situation where pre-rendered graphics work better than 3D. I'm glad Capcom completely ditched the pre-rendered stuff.
The one thing I enjoyed most about the game, beside the boss battles which are tremendous, was the setting. Maybe I'm just sick of zombie infested mansions and cities but the locales in the game had a fresh feel and were truly creepy.
I am glad the pre-rendered graphics have been left behind in favor of real 3-d. I do think that a pre-rendered background can look a lot better than a 3-d background, in certain cases, but it's often at the cost of gameplay, especially camera function.
Marc: I like pre-rendered graphics. In fact, I don't think the Final Fantasy games on the Playstation would have been better if they had been fully 3D. Also, if you go back to Ocarina of Time, there were a few places that were pre-rendered like when you got in Hyrule Castle or in certain houses. Pre-rendered graphics are only a bad thing when the game is in an action setting as you really need a dynamic camera in those situations.
And I don't quite see how you can still say that the controls are good. I mean, sure, there were a few improvements, like the fact that you can use your knife without having to select it as your main weapon, but besides that it's not all that great. I would prefer if Leon could move like in the N64 version of Resident Evil 2 where you could change the controls that made him walk around like 3D platform games.
Brandon: I'm fully glad they ditched the pre-rendered backgrounds. They looked very beautiful but I hated having the cameras static in corners and from the top constantly. It made controlling your protagonist harder than it should've been.
This game has blown me away with how superior it is over all the RE games. I'm a huge fan of the series, been with it since day one and this has impressed me more so than any of the other titles. The controls are vastly improved thanks to the camera transition. I don't know how anyone could deny that.
Overall this is one of my favorite games on the system, right up there with Wind Waker and Metroid Prime. Excellent game.
Nick: Marc, I really did think the controls were good. My only problem control-wise (and it is a minor complaint because I forgot about it an hour or two into the game) is the lack of strafing. The camera control was good, the guns felt responsive and accurate and the control scheme was streamlined and took about 5 minutes to learn.
Saul: The basic controls weren't even changed!! It's just that the behind-the-back dynamic camera created an ease of movement that wasn't possible in previous games. You still ALWAYS press up to move the character forward, down to move back, etc. just like previous Resident Evil games, but the camera placement removes the disoriented feeling you got playing the other titles with the static camera. The aiming mechanism was a nice gameplay addition, too. It added a sorely missing strategic element to the series. There were plenty of times during REmake when I had no idea if I was aiming at an enemy or a wall, and I'd be wasting handgun ammo.
As far as pre-rendered backgrounds, I enjoyed them in the previous GameCube Resident Evil games, since Capcom presented them as FMV loops for added realism. I don't mind either way, and I think they have their place. For example, Baten Kaitos looks amazing thanks to the pre-rendered backgrounds.
Marc: If they had added a button to strafe left or right it would have made the game a lot more playable I think. It's not that it matters that much since the game is still very good anyway, but I thought the controls were frustrating at times that's all. I understand how you felt about not knowing where you were shooting in past RE games because of the fixed camera but that's something I had gotten used to.
The game itself is one of the best on the cube and that's all that matters. I really hope people go ahead and buy it as it is definitely worth it. Sales in Japan don't seem to be all that great though lately so I hope it's not because most fans are waiting for the PS2 version!
I don't think it's the best game on the cube though as there are titles I have enjoyed more. It still deserves a nearly perfect score and I'm fine with the fact that some people think it's the best game ever, but there are a few other games that have a bigger place in my heart than RE4.
Kaleb: I disagree about a strafe function. As much as I wished I had one at the beginning, the removal of it heightens tension and makes the game scarier without the removal of ay major play mechanics. Combat gets awesome when someone attacks you out of nowhere. You don't know what's coming, which is an important component of the series.
Marc: I don't think making a game scarier by having bad controls is good, in fact I consider it pretty cheap. It does heighten the tension just like in past Resident Evil games though, but it's still CHEAP!
Anyway, these are just minor flaws for what is one of the most amazing games this generation. I never thought that a Resident Evil game would mean that much, but Capcom's created a system seller with this game, one that GameCube owners should be proud of. This is as good as survival horror gets and I hope the game gets the sells it deserves on the GameCube.
Kaleb: I disagree. The lack of a strafe function is not a problem. It wasn't a problem in Metroid Prime and it isn't a problem here. It's just the genre--it's not that necessary in an adventure game. A strafe function would make the game play faster, and I don't think it would have worked too well.
And ultimately, you ARE wrong. There are no real flaws in this game. It IS the best game on the GameCube, and it IS one of, if not the, best games of this generation. It's hard to fault this game for anything--it's as close to perfect as games come.
Marc: Isn't the R button in Metroid Prime a strafe button? Correct me if I'm wrong but I've always used that button to strafe left or right, unless of course I was the only one on earth with a Metroid Prime copy that had a strafe button.
And maybe it's just me that has higher standards than everyone, but the game does have a few minor flaws just like any other game on earth. A perfect game does not exist as there are always things that could have been added to make the game better. I'm not saying that Resident Evil 4 is a bad game, it's right up there with the Metroid Primes and The Legend of Zeldas and the Pikmins and the Marios or any other great games that has been released for the GameCube, but I think the reason why some people call it the best thing ever is because it was incredibly hyped. The same applies to a game like GTA San Andreas. I've seen website give it perfect scores and the game was extremely hyped, but for me there were flaws in the game and some things could have been done better, so the game is not perfect.
The flaws I am talking about though are not directed towards the fun factor of the game as it is indeed a fun game to play and it would get a 10 from me just for that, but when you take into account all of the other aspects of the game then it comes real close to perfection, but not perfect. If I had reviewed the game it would have gotten an overall score of maybe 9.8 or 9.9. What matters the most though is how much fun you have with the game and RE4 doesn't disappoint in that area and I think we can all agree on that.
Kaleb: Metroid Prime did have a strafe function, but it was, for all intent and purposes, useless because it was impossible to circle-strafe. There was no combat advantage.
But as for RE4, the fact of the matter is that it is the most fun I've had this generation. In terms of the gameplay itself, I have no problems whatsoever. Not one complaint. There are a few insignificant technical issues, but they don't affect the gameplay. It's the most fun I've had this generation, without a doubt, and when I was done, I racked my brain to come up with a reason why it shouldn't get a 10. You know what? There wasn't one. RE4 really does border on perfect. The removal of a strafe function was an aesthetic decision more than anything else, and in my opinion, it doesn't hamper the gameplay.
Kaleb: I'm sure you've all read my review, so you know what I have to say about this. The truth is that I agree completely. There's not enough good stuff to be said about RE4. Games don't come any better than this, and that's a fact. Every single aspect of this game is completely praiseworthy, so it's hard to know what to single out. Capcom did a brilliant job in every aspect of RE4.
I would like to mention, as well, one thing the press doesn't seem to emphasize, which is that RE4 has some of the best damn bossfights of all time, in a 2D or 3D game. The bossfights in this game, as a whole, are right up there with Zelda or Metroid. And that says a LOT.
Marc: Funny you should mention the boss fights Kaleb as I think you are right. The boss fights in this game are simply amazing and I wasn't expecting them at all. When you play a game like this you don't expect to have the kind of boss battles you have in an epic game like The Legend of Zelda, but Resident Evil 4 is, in my opinion, as epic as is Nintendo's fairy boy adventure.
Capcom has made an amazing game, one of the best this generation and one that will be remembered for a long time. Resident Evil 2 had long been my favorite, but RE4 surpasses it in every possible way!
Kaleb: The most shocking thing about this game, though, is Capcom's acceptance of the fact that Resident Evil HAD to be completely overhauled to continue being a popular franchise. As much as the fans defended the pre-rendered environments and awful controls of the past, Capcom still completely shredded every single notion we had of the series. It doesn't take the formula of the series a step farther--instead, it completely rewrites that formula. The game plays very little like its predecessors. As much of a gamble as that was, it really paid off in the end product.
Nick: As Kaleb stated, the series has been given new life thanks to RE4 and its departure from the RE formula. Just when it looked like the series was running out of steam comes the most polished, innovative survival-horror game yet. Fans of the series (and gamers in general) were well rewarded for the wait and directional uncertainty by the developers.
I think the game is so strong because it's so well rounded. Where most triple A stitles do a few things well, RE4 doesn't have one aspect in which it lacks. As stated above the graphics are excellent but still have the gritty feel, the control perfect and intuitive, sound is great and the story is good. I think the biggest change from previous installments and the aspect that has been most overlooked is pacing. RE4 moved along at a much speedier pace than the other RE4 titles and puts more emphasis on the action and less on the puzzles.
The one thing I enjoyed most about the game, beside the boss battles which are tremendous, was the setting. Maybe I'm just sick of zombie infested mansions and cities but the locales in the game had a fresh feel and were truly creepy.
I am glad the pre-rendered graphics have been left behind in favor of real 3-d. I do think that a pre-rendered background can look a lot better than a 3-d background, in certain cases, but it's often at the cost of gameplay especially camera function.
Marc: Pre-rendered environments are still a good thing and I think they can still be used in certain areas of games but relying on them for a full game was only acceptable last generation. This time around the game is a lot more action oriented and it wouldn't have been possible without a 3D world. With pre-rendered backgrounds you can't really tell what is going on in front of you as you have to move from area to area and it slows down the gamepay a lot.
Capcom did a lot of smart moves with RE4, but the controls still aren't that great. I mean, Leon still controls like a tank!
Kaleb: Pre-rendered graphics are rarely justified. I can't think of any situation where pre-rendered graphics work better than 3D. I'm glad Capcom completely ditched the pre-rendered stuff.
The one thing I enjoyed most about the game, beside the boss battles which are tremendous, was the setting. Maybe I'm just sick of zombie infested mansions and cities but the locales in the game had a fresh feel and were truly creepy.
I am glad the pre-rendered graphics have been left behind in favor of real 3-d. I do think that a pre-rendered background can look a lot better than a 3-d background, in certain cases, but it's often at the cost of gameplay, especially camera function.
Marc: I like pre-rendered graphics. In fact, I don't think the Final Fantasy games on the Playstation would have been better if they had been fully 3D. Also, if you go back to Ocarina of Time, there were a few places that were pre-rendered like when you got in Hyrule Castle or in certain houses. Pre-rendered graphics are only a bad thing when the game is in an action setting as you really need a dynamic camera in those situations.
And I don't quite see how you can still say that the controls are good. I mean, sure, there were a few improvements, like the fact that you can use your knife without having to select it as your main weapon, but besides that it's not all that great. I would prefer if Leon could move like in the N64 version of Resident Evil 2 where you could change the controls that made him walk around like 3D platform games.
Brandon: I'm fully glad they ditched the pre-rendered backgrounds. They looked very beautiful but I hated having the cameras static in corners and from the top constantly. It made controlling your protagonist harder than it should've been.
This game has blown me away with how superior it is over all the RE games. I'm a huge fan of the series, been with it since day one and this has impressed me more so than any of the other titles. The controls are vastly improved thanks to the camera transition. I don't know how anyone could deny that.
Overall this is one of my favorite games on the system, right up there with Wind Waker and Metroid Prime. Excellent game.
Nick: Marc, I really did think the controls were good. My only problem control-wise (and it is a minor complaint because I forgot about it an hour or two into the game) is the lack of strafing. The camera control was good, the guns felt responsive and accurate and the control scheme was streamlined and took about 5 minutes to learn.
Saul: The basic controls weren't even changed!! It's just that the behind-the-back dynamic camera created an ease of movement that wasn't possible in previous games. You still ALWAYS press up to move the character forward, down to move back, etc. just like previous Resident Evil games, but the camera placement removes the disoriented feeling you got playing the other titles with the static camera. The aiming mechanism was a nice gameplay addition, too. It added a sorely missing strategic element to the series. There were plenty of times during REmake when I had no idea if I was aiming at an enemy or a wall, and I'd be wasting handgun ammo.
As far as pre-rendered backgrounds, I enjoyed them in the previous GameCube Resident Evil games, since Capcom presented them as FMV loops for added realism. I don't mind either way, and I think they have their place. For example, Baten Kaitos looks amazing thanks to the pre-rendered backgrounds.
Marc: If they had added a button to strafe left or right it would have made the game a lot more playable I think. It's not that it matters that much since the game is still very good anyway, but I thought the controls were frustrating at times that's all. I understand how you felt about not knowing where you were shooting in past RE games because of the fixed camera but that's something I had gotten used to.
The game itself is one of the best on the cube and that's all that matters. I really hope people go ahead and buy it as it is definitely worth it. Sales in Japan don't seem to be all that great though lately so I hope it's not because most fans are waiting for the PS2 version!
I don't think it's the best game on the cube though as there are titles I have enjoyed more. It still deserves a nearly perfect score and I'm fine with the fact that some people think it's the best game ever, but there are a few other games that have a bigger place in my heart than RE4.
Kaleb: I disagree about a strafe function. As much as I wished I had one at the beginning, the removal of it heightens tension and makes the game scarier without the removal of ay major play mechanics. Combat gets awesome when someone attacks you out of nowhere. You don't know what's coming, which is an important component of the series.
Marc: I don't think making a game scarier by having bad controls is good, in fact I consider it pretty cheap. It does heighten the tension just like in past Resident Evil games though, but it's still CHEAP!
Anyway, these are just minor flaws for what is one of the most amazing games this generation. I never thought that a Resident Evil game would mean that much, but Capcom's created a system seller with this game, one that GameCube owners should be proud of. This is as good as survival horror gets and I hope the game gets the sells it deserves on the GameCube.
Kaleb: I disagree. The lack of a strafe function is not a problem. It wasn't a problem in Metroid Prime and it isn't a problem here. It's just the genre--it's not that necessary in an adventure game. A strafe function would make the game play faster, and I don't think it would have worked too well.
And ultimately, you ARE wrong. There are no real flaws in this game. It IS the best game on the GameCube, and it IS one of, if not the, best games of this generation. It's hard to fault this game for anything--it's as close to perfect as games come.
Marc: Isn't the R button in Metroid Prime a strafe button? Correct me if I'm wrong but I've always used that button to strafe left or right, unless of course I was the only one on earth with a Metroid Prime copy that had a strafe button.
And maybe it's just me that has higher standards than everyone, but the game does have a few minor flaws just like any other game on earth. A perfect game does not exist as there are always things that could have been added to make the game better. I'm not saying that Resident Evil 4 is a bad game, it's right up there with the Metroid Primes and The Legend of Zeldas and the Pikmins and the Marios or any other great games that has been released for the GameCube, but I think the reason why some people call it the best thing ever is because it was incredibly hyped. The same applies to a game like GTA San Andreas. I've seen website give it perfect scores and the game was extremely hyped, but for me there were flaws in the game and some things could have been done better, so the game is not perfect.
The flaws I am talking about though are not directed towards the fun factor of the game as it is indeed a fun game to play and it would get a 10 from me just for that, but when you take into account all of the other aspects of the game then it comes real close to perfection, but not perfect. If I had reviewed the game it would have gotten an overall score of maybe 9.8 or 9.9. What matters the most though is how much fun you have with the game and RE4 doesn't disappoint in that area and I think we can all agree on that.
Kaleb: Metroid Prime did have a strafe function, but it was, for all intent and purposes, useless because it was impossible to circle-strafe. There was no combat advantage.
But as for RE4, the fact of the matter is that it is the most fun I've had this generation. In terms of the gameplay itself, I have no problems whatsoever. Not one complaint. There are a few insignificant technical issues, but they don't affect the gameplay. It's the most fun I've had this generation, without a doubt, and when I was done, I racked my brain to come up with a reason why it shouldn't get a 10. You know what? There wasn't one. RE4 really does border on perfect. The removal of a strafe function was an aesthetic decision more than anything else, and in my opinion, it doesn't hamper the gameplay.
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