Resident Evil 4 Review

By Kristan Reed Published 25 January, 2005

A game worth buying a GameCube for?

Version tested: GameCube

Order yours now from Simply Games.

Headless loser or shotgun-toting blood-splattered Bruce Campbell-esque badass? That's the question Resident Evil always asks of its audience, but one that the epic fourth in this veteran horror series wastes no time in hollering in the ears of anyone who dares to pick up a GameCube joypad to challenge it. Compared to most games, the Resi series has been notorious at busting gamer's balls in all manner of ways, but number four grabs those unwary testicles, twists them 720 degrees, hacks them off with a blunt instrument and promptly feasts on them before flobbing them back in your disbelieving face. While emitting a dry rasping cackle.

Having played the E3 demo a number of times last summer, we knew roughly what to expect. You play as one-time STARS rookie cop Leon Kennedy, on a mission to rescue the US president's daughter Ashley from the clutches of a Spanish gang. Entering a stark, decaying rustic village in the midst of Autumn 2004, it's clear your presence is not welcomed. Even the most polite enquiry is met with the swing of an axe, and very soon you get the picture that you're going to have to fight for your survival every step of the way. But unlike every other Resident Evil game released to date, you're not fighting off bloodthirsty zombies, rather what appears initially to be a bunch of normal-looking middle-aged locals who for reasons yet to become clear are programmed to kill intruders on sight.

Village of the damned

'Resident Evil 4' Screenshot 1

So, having fought off a few stragglers on your way into the village, all hell breaks loose. Whoever spots you immediately shouts gruff instructions in their native Spanish tongue and before you know it you're frantically running into the nearest house, hastily constructing impromptu barricades in front of exposed doors and windows, kicking the hordes of invaders off ladders and even jumping fearlessly out of windows and off roofs to make your escape.

But escaping itself, it seems, is a futile exercise when all the exits from the village are locked and reinforcements keep on appearing no sooner than an entire wave have been disposed of - a task made even more complicated when a hooded chainsaw-wielding leatherface appears on a mission to remove your head from your torso. When it comes down to it, it's you or him, and if you're not careful one quick swipe and you'll be witnessing with some disbelief the sickening sight of the screeching mechanical blades growling their way clean through your neck in one fell swoop, followed by much spurting of claret. What's initially unexpected is followed by the stark realisation that that's it. Game Over. No second chances, it's back to the last continue point to Do Better Next Time. You'll wonder what the hell's hit you, and needless to say you'll blame the game. We always blame the game.

We can virtually guarantee that you'll howl in righteous indignation at Capcom for yet again implementing an initially unfamiliar and as a result unwieldy control system that feels at odds with the industry standard. Combined with a comparatively zoomed over-the-shoulder camera view and a characteristically slow turning circle, Resi 4 is the kind of game that will reduce even experienced campaigners to gibbering wrecks. It's a real shock to the system that, to be honest, we weren't expecting.

Persistence reaps

'Resident Evil 4' Screenshot 2

But stick with it. Once you've endured the steep climb to the top of the learning curve, progression is relatively straightforward thereafter and only then can you begin to appreciate the immense amount of breathtaking entertainment the game has to offer.

It seems hard to believe that we've got this far through our review and haven't mentioned the one thing that immediately stands out about the game - the visuals. We blame our inability to settle into the gameplay quickly enough before shouting about them, but even if you find the game not to your taste, it's undeniable from a technical standpoint that it's a glorious achievement, and sets the kind of benchmarks we find it hard to believe anyone will top on any console platform in this generation. Capcom has hardly been found wanting in its ability to deliver delightfully detailed game worlds rich with atmosphere over the last nine years, but RE4 is something that stands so far apart from the old pre-rendered days that you can immediately see why the game's taken so long to emerge from its development chrysalis. Right from the very first scene to the last almost every location is a thing of great beauty that deserves the greatest accolades possible, crammed with typically sinister monstrosities that come layered with not only an added dimension of artificial intelligence, but with some of the best animation and visual effects witnessed.

The first thing you'll notice in the game when you face an enemy is their human-like qualities. Not only do they look like normal rural folk getting on with their business, but they will shout for help the second they see you, try to stove you head in with the tools of their trade and react proportionately to the power and precision of your shots, with area-specific reactions should you, for example, shoot them in the shoulder. One long held tradition that's been carried forward, though, is their inexorable shuffle towards you; like living zombies. It's more of a mass possession than a march of the living dead, but either way they're not pleased to see you and will stop at nothing to beat you to a bloodied pulp, and look mightily impressive while they're doing so.

Not your ideal holiday destination

'Resident Evil 4' Screenshot 3

All of the attention to character detail wouldn't count for much if it were not for the consistently impressive settings that are easily among the most beautiful and atmospheric any video game has yet pulled off - something that's especially critical for a slow-paced game such as this where you're largely ambling around. Kicking off in a leafy rustic village it's a sight to behold, with a feel that's at once remote and positively reeks of impending doom. In every intricately detailed texture there's a game setting that oozes dread, with Capcom going all out to create the most wonderfully-crafted rocky, leafy backdrops, full of damp, shabby wooden buildings, each bedecked in the most Spartan fashion imaginable; a table here, a dresser there, but little else in the way of home furnishings. Even the trees surrounding the village look impoverished, skeletal and stripped of their leaves in the autumn gloom. It's not a place you'll be planning your holidays anytime soon.

And so it goes on, further into the village via a lake, into an enormous castle, through its vast interior and predictably terrifying netherworld and onto a heavily-defended island in what must surely be the biggest, most intricate and certainly most impressive Resident Evil adventure yet. There have been a few minor compromises, sadly, with the game rendered in a letterboxed 4:3 format that effectively means you lose about a third of the screen area to black borders. Widescreen gamers with the right TV can zoom in and effectively eliminate the borders entirely, but the payback is a somewhat less impressive image quality (even with 480p progressive scan mode switched on). This is the price of benchmark visuals, it seems, and one we can live with for now.

Meanwhile, back to the game itself, much of the game structure itself stays true to the long-established concepts that have seen it through six or more iterations (more if you count the light gun titles, of course), with many of the more tedious mechanics ditched in favour of a far more playable game that lends forgiveness when it's needed most. Virtually every single area of the core mechanics have been overhauled to a greater or lesser extent, and in almost every sense it's a positive improvement in areas we've been campaigning about probably ever since the first one arrived back in 1996.

Combat rocks

'Resident Evil 4' Screenshot 4

Although to begin with you might argue differently, the combat controls have been considerably improved; even taking into account the initially mystifying lack of a target lock-on. At first your laser pointer will be wobbling all over the place, straying in all directions other than where you actually want to place it. Enemies will gang up on you and although you'll occasionally be handed the opportunity to kick or shake enemies off you, you know you're in trouble if that happens. But sooner or later it starts to feel perfectly responsive and natural, and moreover you'll start actually being a little more strategic, taking out enemies from a distance to avoid being crowded out, with headshots by far the best means of doing so. The main beneficial addition is without a doubt the laser pointer, which comes as standard on most weapons and generally makes your life so much easier by taking a lot of the guesswork out of the equation. You'll even feel more impressed with your handiwork than just hitting a cheating auto-target button at every opportunity.

Add to that, enemies evidently drop a damned sight more ammo and health pick-ups than they ever used to, taking a massive amount of frustration away from the game as a result, and reducing the requirement to be ultra-conservative with ammo - as was always the case in the past. You still can't afford to be profligate, but nor do you end up hearing that hideous 'click click' after 10 minutes, nor find yourself having to mess about fighting with the knife or any perverse ammo-saving nonsense, and the game is all the better for it.

Better still, Capcom has finally listened to gamers' objections to having to 'buy' their right to save the game with a stock of typewriter ribbons. This was always a faintly ludicrous idea anyway and happily now you can record your progress as many times as you like - albeit at the nearest typewriter save station. But even when you die, you're not forced to lose 10 minutes of painstaking progress, with a sensibly implemented continue system that allows you to pick up from just before your most recent death; usually the entrance to a new location or just prior to a boss fight for example. This seems a particularly welcome change, and makes it much less frustrating than ever without taking anything away from the challenge.

Pack up your troubles in your old XL attaché case

'Resident Evil 4' Screenshot 5

A few compromises haven't quite gone far enough, though, with another restrictive inventory system that allows you to hoover up as much treasure as you wish, yet treats every box of ammo as a separate inventory slot-hogging entity. Admittedly you can upgrade your inventory space several times, but it's never quite enough to carry all the things you need and is probably the last pointlessly irritating thing that Capcom doggedly clings onto even now.

Controls-wise, it still doesn't quite have the flexibility most gamers are used to from a third-person action game. The main bugbear is the continued use of the 'spin on the spot' system, which makes targeting enemies on opposing sides particularly bothersome as Leon slooooowly turns around (seemingly in no hurry at all) to aim in their direction. Admittedly you can do a 180-degree about-face in an instant, but it's not always appropriate to do so. Likewise, the limited ability to wrestle control of the camera from the game wasn't wholly necessary; we'd have preferred at least to be given the choice of automatic or manual camera. We guarantee it would have eliminated half the trouble we got into with enemies making unexpected lunges at us on our blind side. Still, you do get used to it, it's really not that big a deal and we enjoyed our experiences nevertheless, but we don't entirely get on with having a viewpoint nanny dictating what we can and can't see.

As always with all Resi titles, puzzle-solving is a fairly important factor within the game, with plenty of familiar ground covered from the standard object collection, block pushing, and the like overlaid with the odd timed 'get out of that' teaser thrown in. This time around much of the obscure object-hunts have been left out, or are so obvious that the problem is solved no sooner than it arrives. Very little is left for the player to get truly stuck over, which makes a change, with a much greater emphasis on combat or Shenmue-style button combos (e.g. hit A and B now to dodge, L+R to duck, and so on). Some sections even require the player to rapidly pummel the A button to dash away from something, or rotate a lever rapidly. In this sense it's probably the least challenging Resi ever, but by no means a doddle. We're not entirely convinced though that the long-term adventurer will appreciate having the need for lateral thought replaced with action, but we certainly appreciate more people will get on with the game as a result. It's a tricky balancing act. No one likes being stuck on obscure puzzles, but nor should we be able to simply breeze through either, and the truth is we couldn't, but that had more to do with Capcom ratcheting up the combat to compensate.

What are ya buying Cobber?

'Resident Evil 4' Screenshot 6

One very welcome change this time around is the weapons upgrade system, which comes in the form of a shadowy merchant who pops up at regular intervals to buy and sell all your combat related needs. Being set in Spain, Pesetas are the currency of choice in RE4 and usually spew forth from dead villagers, or from raiding the many crates and vases strewn around. Bashing everything up is usually a good idea, as very quickly you'll amass a small fortune of coinage and treasure (not to mention ammo stocks) with which to trade weapons upgrades with the throaty and curiously Antipodean Merchant. And not only can you buy more powerful weaponry, but 'tune up' your existing arsenal in terms of firepower, capacity, reload time and aiming. It's a huge improvement to any upgrade system employed in any previous survival-horror game and offers a massive incentive to search every nook and cranny to enable you to tool yourself up in the most devastating fashion, with a wide selection of pistols, magnums, rifles, shotguns and grenades as well as the more devastating mine launcher and rocket launcher to see off stubborn bosses in style.

In terms of the overall cinematic feel, Capcom still holds dear the B-movie ham feel of old, with the usual collection of over-the-top megalomaniacs to meet, spar with and eventually depose of. They're not especially frightening on their own as such, given that they're completely ludicrous pantomime characters with matching costumes and voices. Half the time you're expecting the audience to shout 'he's behind you', but even if they did your head would have been munched off long before you could spin around on the spot to face him.

Yes, for sinister thrills the game works best when it's not annoying the player with the hammy character and story interludes where Ashley (the president's daughter you rescue about 40 times) does her best Kim Bauer impersonation [her high-pitched bleating cuts through your senses worse than any chainsaw, believe me -bloke who sat next door throughout]. Just shuffling around the immensely impressive environments and dispatching yet more shuffling villagers or moaning monks is scary enough. The story is secondary, and rightfully so, usually no more than a device to set up the next boss encounter. We can happily live with that, so don't be surprised to be greeted with another over the top cartoon caper. Some things may have changed, but this is not and never will be Silent Hill, Project Zero or Forbidden Siren in terms of its feel. Despite the grittier, more realistic look, this is still camp pantomime horror with men with silly hats and even sillier voices that morph into tentacle wielding supermonsters after you've dealt with a dozen of their minions, and we still love Capcom for it. After all, it wouldn't be Resident Evil if it were serious would it?

Time to buy a GameCube, then...

So having wrestled with the game from every angle we could think of, the simple realisation we came to it that although Capcom still hasn't quite managed to exorcise the series of all of its demonic bad habits, it has managed to craft a relentlessly compelling title that feels so rich with atmosphere, breathless excitement and palpable tension that virtually all our minor quibbles go out of the window. Yes, most players will have justifiable issues with the camera and controls that simply don't exist in most games (and really shouldn't exist here), but once you get into the groove after an hour or so you really do adapt and just get on with enjoying a fabulous 25 hours-plus of non-stop entertainment. In short, it's the biggest, by far the best looking, arguably the most enjoyable and least frustrating Resident Evil game we've played and it was worth every torturous minute to savour what will rightly become regarded as a true masterpiece of the horror genre. If you need to buy a GameCube to play it, then don't hesitate. Waiting a year for the almost certainly inferior PS2 port is not an option if you don't want to miss out on one of the games of 2005.

Order yours now from Simply Games.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (145) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • trav #1 7 years ago

    Should this be the last dying breath for my Gamecube, at least its going out with a bang. Roll on March.

  • Blerk #2 7 years ago

    Well, that takes care of most of my worries. It's going on the pre-order list right now. Yes.

    But...
    the game is letterboxed 4:3, so you can zoom it to widescreen

    Why did they do that? Grrr.

  • Boom #3 7 years ago

    On Chapter 4 now and can't stop playing it. Fantastic game.

    Controls aren't perfect but they're good enough.

  • Destria #4 7 years ago

    Looks good

    Trav: Don't ditch that 'cube just yet. If they're your cup of tea, there's at least a new Zelda/Mario due out eventually.

    Not that I'm suggesting that those titles alone can resurrect the Gamecube, but they're worth *not* selling it for, especially as new ones go for around £40

  • steven #5 7 years ago

    Cleared the game yesterday :p

    Awesome game, just awesome, it would even have been a 10 out of 10 if i were the one rating.

  • dadrester #6 7 years ago

    Why did they do that? Grrr.

    what you should be asking in this time where everyone owns widescreen tellies and games are purportedly becoming more cinematic is "why doesn't anyone else do that?! Grrr."

    i know loads of games have the shitty widescreen option but almost none (i can only think of ninja gaiden) is actually designed with a 16:9 display in mind. it's like playing the opposite to pan and scan. take note hideo kojima. i for one am thankfull someone has the balls to do this.

  • HairyArse #7 7 years ago

    Great review Kristan, as always.
    I'm midway through chapter 2 at the moment and am loving the game so far - when I get chance to play it.
    Just wondered if any of the other boys had played the game and if so what would they have scored it?

  • victor #8 7 years ago

    Yay, my copy just arrived !

    /starts freeloader

  • Blerk #9 7 years ago

    what you should be asking in this time where everyone owns widescreen tellies and games are purportedly becoming more cinematic is "why doesn't anyone else do that?! Grrr."

    i know loads of games have the shitty widescreen option but almost none (i can only think of ninja gaiden) is actually designed with a 16:9 display in mind. it's like playing the opposite to pan and scan. take note hideo kojima. i for one am thankfull someone has the balls to do this.

    I have a widescreen telly. I heard that this was designed for widescreen and lo, I did rejoice!

    Then I find out it's not actually designed for widescreen at all. It's in 4:3 with huge borders. So I can have a small 4:3 image squished into the centre of my screen, or I can zoom it up to full screen in glorious 'fuzzy-indistinct-o-vision'.

    I wanted proper 16:9 support, God damn it. Not this half-arsed 'pleases nobody' bag of monkey nuts.

  • space_ace #10 7 years ago

    it has m070rb0475

  • mcmonkeyplc #11 7 years ago

    So how much can I get one of these "game" cubes for then?

  • Neverness #12 7 years ago

    That review felt strangly downbeat and negative about the whole thing. Suppose someone has to calm things down a bit (other reviews seem to be stupidly positive).

    Personally I would say the letterboxing and controls/camera haven't bothered me in the slightest. I admit they felt a bit clunky at first (bit like metroid I thought), but you do soon get used to them, and it does add pressure when there are a hord of villagers slumping towards you.

  • drumbaby #13 7 years ago

    "and sets the kind of benchmarks we find it hard to believe anyone will top on any console platform in this generation. "

    So the GCN is the most powerful console, eh?

    ;)

    Seriously, I'm looking forward to this game sooooo much now it's starting to hurt!!

    :)

    "Awesome game, just awesome, it would even have been a 10 out of 10 if i were the one rating."

    Shame that 10's been squandered on an fps tech demo. :(
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 11:01

  • Universal_Hamster #14 7 years ago

    Woo! This is the first game I have ever tried to import. (Its on order, but not arrived yet) And viewtiful joe 2 as well. Im so looking forward to it.
    Where did everyone get their copies from?

  • DUFFMAN5 #15 7 years ago

    Can't wait, I only got back into playing games ( thought I had finished once I sold the C64 years back ) because my bro in law had a copy of Resi 2, I have played and loved all the Resi's since then, well apart from the last piece of crap they put out on the PS2, how dare they! at least Nintendo will do it proud.

  • Hicksy #16 7 years ago

    it is a superb game

    even as a gamer who had not enjoyed previous resi games, this has been inspirational

    it's brilliant

    9.5/10 :)

  • bionutz #17 7 years ago

    will there be a GC RE4 bundle?

  • Galvanizer #18 7 years ago

    Fuck waiting a year! I'm gonna get a GameCube!

    This and the new Zelda are MUST HAVES!

  • krudster #19 7 years ago

    Weeeeeell, yeah I guess they have, but maybe they haven't arrived in the rural parts yet, with their local ways.

    As for the whole 10/9 debate, it was a close run thing. It's as good a nine you'll ever see, put it that way, but the control, camera nonsense just chipped off it being worthy of top marks.

  • Neverness #20 7 years ago

    Universal Hamster:
    Got mine from Videogames+ (good choice as it turns out, Play Asia still haven't sent out one of my mates copies).

    I would say the score was spot on, the clunkyness, while not REALLY an issue because it adds a layer of panic to the whole thing, makes the game not quite worthy of a ten.

  • UncleLou #21 7 years ago

    But...
    the game is letterboxed 4:3, so you can zoom it to widescreen

    Why did they do that? Grrr.

    The answer is in the article:

    This is the price of benchmark visuals, it seems, and one we can live with for now.


  • tiddles #22 7 years ago

    Nothing wrong with the controls and camera... sure, they're initially unwieldy, but that's the point - as mentioned it contributes to the tension, the speed of the enemies is balanced accordingly, and you get the hang of it pretty quickly. There's genuine skill involved in picking off enemies from a distance, but when the chips are down, a shotgun blast at close range doesn't require much aiming.

    This is a superb game - up there with Half-Life 2 for me so far...

  • mystic_mick #23 7 years ago

    I don't think it's worth the embarrassment of owning a Gamecube for 1 decent game, I'll be waiting for the PS2 version. The PS2 will be the best version, the PS2 has more power and Capcom will put extras into the game. I'm surprised Nintendo didn't insist on Mario getting the lead role in Resi 4, the Presidents daughter could of been Peach. This game won't make the top 20 in the UK games chart on the Cube, most of the 10 people that own a Cube will have imported it by now.

  • Blerk #24 7 years ago

    The PS2 will be the best version, the PS2 has more power

    I can't believe anyone seriously continues to spout this shit.

  • Royal Fool #25 7 years ago

    I've never heard of this Game Boy Cube before, where can you buy one? Isn't it really expensive? I bet there's no good games on it, it doesn't have the Sony logo on it.

    [/retarded public opinion]


    "This game won't make the top 20 in the UK games chart on the Cube"

    Actually, this is true. NFSU2 will most likely top the charts during RE4's launch week. How pathetic the industry has become.
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 12:05

  • markypants #26 7 years ago

    "number four grabs those unwary testicles, twists them 720 degrees, hacks them off with a blunt instrument and promptly feasts on them before flobbing them back in your disbelieving face"

    o_0

    Somebody has been watching Anatomy for beginners last night!

  • onyxbox #27 7 years ago

    I can't believe anyone seriously continues to spout this shit.

    Yeah you'd think by now people would realise that there's bugger all in it between all three machines. Well certainly not enough to get excited about IMO.

  • dadrester #28 7 years ago

    Then I find out it's not actually designed for widescreen at all. It's in 4:3 with huge borders. So I can have a small 4:3 image squished into the centre of my screen, or I can zoom it up to full screen in glorious 'fuzzy-indistinct-o-vision'.

    ...oh :(

  • rev9of8 #29 7 years ago

    That review just felt... odd. The score means that you clearly loved the game but, as Neverness said, it felt strangely downbeat and negative. Slightly irritating because this only seems to happen with Cube games - the problems with the likes of Halo 2 or GTA:SA are always glossed over or not mentioned at all or the complete pain in the arse Steam-shite which can potentially seriously hamper your enjoyment of Half-Life 2 as well as its shockingly long load times are treated as minor irrelevancies. I'm not having a go at Eurogamer but this has always struck me as a general problem with the current generation - witness the difference in approach between, for example, Mario Kart:Double Dash and Halo 2. Both games come into their own in multiplayer whilst both can be so-so in single-player. Halo 2 gets perfect tens almost everywhere whereas Mario Kart can get a kicking (*ahem* Edge *ahem*).

    Few quibbles (don't worry there'll be no demanding a ten and proclaiming you heathens for not giving it one - I'm not gonna be a Halo-style fanboy). I felt the controls game together very easily and I'd never liked them in previous RE games... although I had been playing MP2 shortly beforehand and there is a lot of similarities in the control mechanics. RE4 just happens to be sans strafe which I never really found to be a problem especially as the C-stick allows you to fairly nicely tweak the camera. It's an action-adventure game not a first or third-person shooter. You have Half-Life 2 for that.

    As for not noticing the people creeping up behind you, well there is a reason the game is presented in Dolby Pro-Logic 2. But I accept that not everyone has their console hooked up to a hi-fi.

    You are, however, just plain wrong about every box of ammo being treated as a seperate resource hogging slot. 9mm shells bundle up automatically into blocks of fifty and you can do a similar bundling up for other amounts. The use of the attache case with the grid layout a la Deus Ex etc adds an element of strategy to the game especially in conjunction with the RPG-style weapons upgrading.

    I agree that the bosses aren't terrifying per se but there are certainly plenty of seriously tense moments (which I don't want to spoil - and the line in the review "morph into tentacle wielding supermonsters " might well be a partial spoiler).

    The game is very much a B-movie homage with references to loads of films and books littering its chapters although I thought the voice acting was pretty damn good especially when you consider how bad most videogame voice acting is.
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 12:21

  • dadrester #30 7 years ago

    Actually, this is true. NFSU2 will most likely top the charts during RE4's launch week. How pathetic the industry has become.

    according to game it'll launch the same day as GT4. still i can see it reaching top 5 and even shifting a few cubes. now wouldn't that be nice.

  • andrewfromdoncaster #31 7 years ago

    "I don't think it's worth the embarrassment of owning a Gamecube for 1 decent game, I'll be waiting for the PS2 version. The PS2 will be the best version, the PS2 has more power and Capcom will put extras into the game"




    HAHA!!!! mystic_mick aka thick_mick
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 12:21

  • meepster2312 #32 7 years ago

    Fantastic game - about 1/2 way through. I keep replaying bits to make sure I have enough ammo and health for the tough(er) sections, but even then it's fun to play. Better than HL2? In terms of sheer enjoyment I'd say yes.
    Got mine from DBD box office and it arrived the weekend after the US launch (£28 including p&p - bargain!)

  • IronGiant #33 7 years ago

    "HAHA!!!! mystic_mick aka thick_mick"

    I see sarcasm is totally wasted on you my son.

    "I've never heard of this Game Boy Cube before, where can you buy one? Isn't it really expensive? I bet there's no good games on it, it doesn't have the Sony logo on it.

    [/retarded public opinion]"

    Or maybe just maybe the majority of the games buying public is sick of Mario this and Luigi that and their gaming tastes are different then they were a few years back. Maybe it's games like Halo2, Riddick and GT4 that they want to play. Resident Evil and a handful of other more adult titles isn't enough to make people go out in their droves and buy a Gamecube. Also the cube doesn't play DVDs and the games can't be copied which unfortunately is a huge deciding factor for a helluva lot of people. Oh and then there's the fact that Nintendo shaft europe with game releases.

    "Actually, this is true. NFSU2 will most likely top the charts during RE4's launch week. How pathetic the industry has become."

    Yeah pathetic, people are buying games and playing them. Exactly why shouldn't a racing game be more popular than a horror game?



    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 12:32

  • krudster #34 7 years ago

    If this review comes across as "downbeat" then maybe have a glance at the GTA SA review and Halo 2 and realise that picking apart even the games we *love* is something we do routinely. It's not about having some giant OMG celebration while glossing over the flaws. We try to be as balanced as possible and highlight everything good *and* bad, but often conclude, like yourselves, that often the niggles are worth tolerating; surely that's the sign of a very good game?

  • Peekaboo #35 7 years ago

    "The PS2 will be the best version, the PS2 has more power"

    "I can't believe anyone seriously continues to spout this shit."

    Actually, haven't several developers already said that yes, the PS2 has more 'power' but it just doesn't have the 'talent' (For that read groovy built in effects that don't suck said power away).

    Or some such bollocks............

  • El_MUERkO #36 7 years ago

    /strokes cheap Tesco gamecube

    Sooon my pretty :)

  • NAC #37 7 years ago

    No seriously guys the review was very downbeat. Its strange you had problems with the controls, item storage, camera and story. But then gave it a 9. The Halo 2 and GTA: SA reviews just didn’t seem so pessimistic.

  • freedumb #38 7 years ago

    'Oh! Oh no! Where are my horse's legs?! '

    I...have them...

  • mystic_mick #39 7 years ago

    Laugh at me when I'm playing Resident Evil 4 as Dante. And to be labelled thick from someone that comes from Doncaster, has to be a joke. andrewfromdoncaster aka andrewfromdumbcaster.

  • mash the x button #40 7 years ago

    I'm sure my wife would have something to say if I bought a cube just for this. Perhaps I should investigate other Nintendo games :)

  • Tweakmonkey #41 7 years ago

    lol @ Mr Dude

  • krudster #42 7 years ago

    *Every* EG Res Evil review has moaned bitterly and gone on to score the game very well. It comes with the territory. It's one of the most broken games ever, but makes up for it in a multitude of other ways. Less things are broken now than ever, but there is still room for improvement.

  • Feanor #43 7 years ago

    LOL. I bought a Gamecube last night just so I can play RE 4.

    But I could barely get Disc 1 out of the box! The discs are stuck down so tightly to the spindle in the middle it's very hard to get them out. Anyone know a trick to getting Gamecube discs out of their boxes easily?

  • tengu #44 7 years ago

    Looks ace, can't wait.

    Although, it goes without saying the PS2 version won't be as good, so I think I'll settle for the Gamecube one :)

  • Feanor #45 7 years ago

    I also bought this Dual Shock-style controller because I have never liked the standard GC controller. It seems to work very nicely so far.

    http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801896
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 13:48

  • IronGiant #46 7 years ago

    I'll wait till the PS2 version comes out then pick up the GC version for peanuts :)

  • andrewfromdoncaster #47 7 years ago

    Laugh at me when I'm playing Resident Evil 4 as Dante. And to be labelled thick from someone that comes from Doncaster, has to be a joke. andrewfromdoncaster aka andrewfromdumbcaster.

    Well what you said was most certainly thick - absolutely incorrect. And whilst many people aren't achieving as well as the rest of the country here, it does not make me or them thick.


    I see sarcasm is totally wasted on you my son.

    maybe you should enlighten me then as to the sarcastic merits of such a ridiculous statement. Something cannot be sarcastic if it is spoken in the tone of a serious statement and does not have a smiley - remember that reading into the true meaning of text of someone you don't know is very difficult.



    Or maybe just maybe the majority of the games buying public is sick of Mario this and Luigi that and their gaming tastes are different then they were a few years back. Maybe it's games like Halo2, Riddick and GT4 that they want to play. Resident Evil and a handful of other more adult titles isn't enough to make people go out in their droves and buy a Gamecube. Also the cube doesn't play DVDs and the games can't be copied which unfortunately is a huge deciding factor for a helluva lot of people. Oh and then there's the fact that Nintendo shaft europe with game releases.

    Odd point of discussion that wasn't really the topic

  • Tweakmonkey #48 7 years ago

    The PS2 version might be excellent, and if the game is that good it deserves to be ported to every console.

    However I'll be getting mine for GameCube :-)

  • drumbaby #49 7 years ago

    I think the PS2 version will be just fine, but seeing as I bought the GCN for this game and for this game only....

    GCN it is!

  • chappers #50 7 years ago

    I don't think it's worth the embarrassment of owning a Gamecube for 1 decent game, I'll be waiting for the PS2 version.

    Tosser

  • MikeD #51 7 years ago

    I for one like that eurogamer are as negative as possjble. At least that means they are honest and don't have to fill the review with vague compliments which hardly say anoything useful.



    Though I get the feeling reviews of this game are a bit too exaggerated all around. I haven't played it yet, of course, but looking at the graphics alone (screenshots, movies) they don't look as magnificent as most people seem to be pretending. TThey are certainly pretty, but not the best thing I have ever seen. But that's just one aspect. The controls, though improved are still not perfect. Puzzles are apparently almost completely removed (something silent hill was berated for, but resi? oh no, hurrah!). I'll have to see for myself.

  • mugwump #52 7 years ago

    >krudster,

    I think rev9of8 is right though - this review doesn't really seem to contain much in the way of excitement induced by playing the game. You've criticised the control system, and in doing so down-played what makes the game so much fun in the first place. The on-the-spot, over-the-shoulder, laser-pointed targetting system feels genuinely intuitive, and REALLY makes this game stand out from all other 3rd person games. It's innaccuracy and the fact that you have to abandon your ability to run away to use it add a big layer of risk to the proceedings and thus make pulling it off incredibily satisfying. I think the "wooden" control system is totally the point - I found it generally unnerving that I had a blind spot and could only use the sound effects to help me in that regard. I certainly didn't find it to be much of a hindrance to the game as a whole, as the over-the-shoulder targetting more than made up for it. It's a wonderful blend of the old and the new!

    Just one extra point. You've not really mentioned the bosses. That is, this review does mention them, but there's nothing in there that refers to just how impressive they are. The boss characters are bigger, better and more varied than of those in any other game I can think of at the moment.

    A 9.5 out of 10 for me. Not that my score differs much from your own. But I'm certainly a lot more enthusiastic about it ;)
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 14:16

  • IronGiant #53 7 years ago

    andy you've been on here long enough to realise when someone is taking the piss.. surely? if not them you really do need to learn about sarcasm, try reading Mick's post again.

    As for my so called odd comments and them not being relevant, exactly what have you added to this thread apart from this crap:

    "HAHA!!!! mystic_mick aka thick_mick"

    Nothing constructive, as usual. Thicko.

  • Raymeister #54 7 years ago

    Stop having a go at the man - He writes a good review. He gave it 9. Full stop.

    Anyone know where I can get a cube for £40? Argos have sold out.

  • Natalio #55 7 years ago

    Fuck! I don't know what to do! The game that makes a GameCube worth buying and I go and already have one.
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 14:28

  • krudster #56 7 years ago

    I just fundamentally disagree that Capcom's control system is "the point". Surely the *point* is to make a game intutive and fun to play, not force people to spend an hour or more having to adapt to the disabilities you're faced with? I've seen a few other people trying to play this who are not uber hardcore gamers, but far from being casual either, and noting their frustration is very telling.

    A lot of people won't have the patience or persistent nature to stick with what is an unusual and intially fiddly control system. Yes, like everyone who sticks with this game, I got used to it, got good at it, and eventually loved the game warts and all. But denying the controls are in any way problematic is head in the sand fanboyism to the extreme.

    It's a lovely game, but ignoring fundamentals and claiming that its broken design is all part of the fun is an argument no one can truly win. The point really is whether we still loved the game despite having to work against a control design that doesn't really feel as natural as it could, and of course the answer is yes.

    As for not mentioning bosses; Yes they're big, look lovely, and aren't as hard as other Ressies.

  • mugwump #57 7 years ago

    >krud, thanks for replying! :)

    I wonder if RE4's control system could be compared to the flashlight in Doom 3? Both are irksome to use - even somebody new to gaming would see an opportunity for improvement - but both force you to rethink your approach to the game. Whether or not this is a good - re: intentional - thing could be argued until the cows come home. In Capcom's case, they must be well aware of how the arguments against their aging control system are stacking up, yet they still insist on using it. It makes me wonder whether the game would be too EASY were they to implement an analogue, pin-point responsive system, or whether it might drop the level of suspense by a peg or two.

    On the subject of difficulty, you're dead right about the bosses. Perhaps I should save this for the forums, but I think several games of late are guilty of letting their challenges slip (*cough* GTA:SA *cough* *phlegm* um not nice). Does this indicate a future of dumbing down for the general masses? I hope not :(
    Edited by 2 at 25/01/05 @ 14:49

  • drumbaby #58 7 years ago

    It is worth pointing out if the control scheme is needlessly old school and clunky, imho.

    For example, I resisted buying Onimushas 1 or 2, but caved in just before 3 came out, so I'd be up to speed with the storyline.

    Though I soon adapted to the control scheme, and thoroughly enjoyed both games, by God I was glad when they finely got the dual analogues involved with 3. The D pad only controls weren't the best in the world, even if they worked just fine.

    Same applies to any game that could just have easily had an up-to-date control scheme as opposed to an old clunker.

  • mugwump #59 7 years ago

    Spot on about the headshots.

    Atm, this is a gritty and real as ingame gunplay gets. Which can only be a good thing :)

  • andrewfromdoncaster #60 7 years ago

    Its the first comment i've ever seen mystic_mick post! the only thing that could be assumed sarcasm, though it is more of an irony, is the mystic part of the name. The post appears to be mindless drivel - its difficult to differentiate between truth and piss-taking when they are essentially the same thing, although a smiley or two to notify the reader or greater exaggerations tend to help.

    The reason i picked up on your previous comment was because in referring to me as your 'son', i assumed you were being demeaning. Blerk basically pointed out the same thing as me; he didn't think it was sarcasm

  • Sid-Nice #61 7 years ago

    I think if you change the control mechanics in Resident Evil too much, then you might as well change the games name.

    noway Wrote: I hope Xbox gets a port too as all console gamers deserve to play this and Capcom deserve the sales, the game is one hell of a ride from start to finish and I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a single player game as much.

    No way noway, there's enough good games on the Gamecube to justify a purchase of a Cube and Resident Evil 4. By the time an Xbox version was developed, it would be lost in the Xbox 2 hype. If I want to play exclusives, then I buy the relevant console. Personally I hope the PS2 version will turn out crap, in the hope that this game boosts the Gamecube's user base in the UK. I'm a bit pissed off that Europe won't be getting Alien Hominid on the Cube, the game is already out in the US on the Gamecube. It looks as though I'm going to have to import the game, something that Nintendo asked its fans not to do. :)
    Edited by 2 at 25/01/05 @ 15:52

  • IronGiant #62 7 years ago

    But you've still added nothing to this thread, why are you here?

    This may well already be well into development for the XBox.

  • Tweakmonkey #63 7 years ago

    Personally I've never had a problem with the control schemes in Resi games, but most of you seem to really hate it. However the control has always been fundamental to the gameplay, and I believe Capcom designed it this way for effect as other people have already mentioned. Of course they could change it, but they don't because like film directors they want people to experience the action in a particular way. If all games had the same control scheme it would be rather dull...

  • Universal_Hamster #64 7 years ago

    Here's a couple of questions...
    1: How many discs does it come on?
    2: With the pistol, I know you aim with a laser sight, but how do you aim with other weapons? Is there a laser on every weapon?

  • Feanor #65 7 years ago

    2 discs.

  • mugwump #66 7 years ago

    You pretty much get a laser sight on every weapon, bar your knife. Those without have a first-person scope.
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 17:01

  • Neverness #67 7 years ago

    There is a sight on the shot gun, which is one of the most satisfying weapons in a game ever.
    Though using the pistol to shoot a grenade from the hand of a 'zombie' thus blowing a group of the buggers into bits is mighty close as well.

    The controls are strange, I don't have any problem with the ones in this game, but I could never get on with Metroid Prime which works in a similar way.

    A side step would be nice, even if it was just a lurch like the villagers do. Having said that, in the Edge interview this month the developers say that in a previous build they did have a sidestep/strafe, and it changed the atmosphere too much.

    Krudster: I just re-read the review and found it wasn't as negative as I read it first time, still a good review.

  • Kami #68 7 years ago

    I argue AGAINST decapitations after the first chapter. Not that they're bad - fastest disposal of 50% of baddies... just... err... about that other 50%...

    NOTE: TECHNICAL ASPECTS TO WORRY ABOUT FOR IMPORT PLAYERS.

    Please remember that UK TV's are not usually setup to handle NTSC signals from your console. There are certain issues to contend with when you play an import game. There are three main scenarios to this:

    First of all, you may find your TV doesn't support NTSC at all. If this is the case, you're s**t outta luck and you'll need a newer TV. Although a few TV's before 1995 -MIGHT- handle NTSC, I doubt it.

    Secondly, your TV may handle NTSC but still dumb it down to a PAL50 signal. Basically, this means an approximate 17% slowdown issue. I know there are meant to be ways to fix this, but I've never found a tried and trusted method, so I put up with slowdown - not on all games, but RE4 is definately one of them. If anyone has suggestions, I'm open to 'em.

    Lastly, if you're one of lucky/rich/clever (delete where applicable) people to have either a TV which is fully capable in handling NTSC60, or you have an American TV with a stepdown transformer, then rejoice. You're going to have a ball.

  • Zero Beat #69 7 years ago

    This could have been a 10 for me if the last two thirds of the game were as brilliant and exciting as the Village. I can actually understand why a review would score RE4 so highly yet be so downbeat because a few hours before the end I was wishing the game would come to a close already.

    Best part of the game for me was when the storm kicked in and you rappel down a rope, that bit there was just so atmospheric with all the water.

  • Raik #70 7 years ago

    I'll buy it for my Xbox

  • BradlayLaw #71 7 years ago

    I'm on 5-3 now. I fear I'm near the end.

    10/10 for me so far, unless it takes a serious quality dive in the last few hours.

    Also, Ashley is probably the best escort mission character ever. She never got in the way or got herself killed.
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 17:37

  • Tweakmonkey #72 7 years ago

    I'll buy it for my Xbox

    You'll need the new version of TardLoader for that.

  • nyaede #73 7 years ago

    Haven't played it yet but I definitely will and yes while the score was upbeat the review sounded depressing. No offence Krud, I still think you have IGN kicked to bits :).
    The last 2 Capcom-Gamecube exclusives (Viewtiful Joe 1&2) that got ported to PS2 didn't do well even with their "extras" and I think the reason why is because the exclusiveness of the game probably boosts a games fanbase. Do you really think Metroid could be more popular if ported to the PS2 or XBox? I don't.
    I personally believe that gamers have gotten lazier and generic that they probably would prefer if all games had the same control schemes.

    My tuppence.

  • Kami #74 7 years ago

    My fried just pointed out something that I didn't know, and it has relevance to the import subject.

    You can buy NTSC to Pal Convertors, and PAL Boosters - these little devices will set you back £30-£40, and from what I hear, work extremely well. He tells me that the game ran juddery and slow on his TV normally, but the PAL Booster they got now means it runs silky smooth.

    Gonna find one and order it now. No more 17% slowdown for me!

  • gamingdave #75 7 years ago

    "No more 17% slowdown for me"

    If the gamecube is outputting a 60Hz signal, there is no slowdown. Your TV isnt slowing the game down but dropping frames and there is a difference. You get jerky playback, but everything is at the right speed.

    Think about it, if the TV was slowing it down you wouldnt be able to play at all as after 1 mins play, what you were seeing onscreen would be 20 seconds behind whats happening.

  • andrewfromdoncaster #76 7 years ago

    "But you've still added nothing to this thread, why are you here? "

    Hmmm; editorial slant from someone who isn't actually an editor......puzzling. I'm here for games related news and discussion. Why are you here?

  • Kami #77 7 years ago

    The problem I have is this.

    The graphics and the sound don't play at the right speed. When I get them to do that, the whole lot loses colour, visual quality and slows down considerably.

    However, I can run the game very nicely. It runs smooth, but I have the sound and visuals not running in sync with each other. My TV is a year old, and cost £350 - and it SHOULD run perfectly well. But it doesn't.


    I was told a PAL Booster may help - but if you've got another suggestion, I'd love to hear it. Not that it's a terrible problem, but of course I'd rather play this game all the way through without that issue.


    For your reference if you wanna try and help, I'm using Freeloader v1.4, on a PAL Gamecube (Which I got the day it was launched - yep, it's STILL going.) and on a Bush Widescreen TV. The TV has the strange option to recieve TV signals from USA and Canada, so theoretically it should be fine with an import game, but it's not.


    I'm floundering because usually my imports are either PC games or GBA games (which work fine, of course) or PS2 games (Where I have no problems either). I'm totally stumped, and I'm willing to try (almost) anything to sort it out.

    If anyone has a clue, I'm all ears.
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 18:07

  • Kami #78 7 years ago

    Cheers mate. Didn't realise that.

    ... time to upgrade...

  • neosalad #79 7 years ago

    thank god it seems to work ok with Freeloader 1.06b anyhow. I still ahvent got mine, ordered from play-asia. i know it was shipped ont he 18th. maybe it'll come tomorrow when i have the day off work :) .. the free umbrella with it may be handy too judging by the weather recently.

    the only thing i dont like is no widescreen mode, (as in PROPEr widescreen, not 4:3 ws)yet the game is in wiodescreen. i liek how xbox does it alll the time. but not so with PS2 or cube. F zero and Soul Calibur 2 are the only cube games i have where i know they have a ws mode

    But cant wait to get to grips with this game. so many 9/10 10/10 type scores. woudl ahve liked to have suported nintendo here in the uk, but i just couldnt wait till March i have to admit!

    neosalad

  • MonkeyMatters #80 7 years ago

    There is a reason the controls are this way....it's supposed to give you a feeling of being there where you aren't always at the top of your wits, you aren't playing a frecking platformer here...this is survival horror...and the controls add that definition to the game. It works brilliantly!

    I'm near the end of Chapter 3 right now, i would have finished it if i hadn't been so busy with work, bloody work.
    Anyway, the game is top quality, definatey one of the best i've played in a very long time. No one should miss this game, and I don't mean just horror fans...all gamers should play this game.

  • freedumb #81 7 years ago

    That includes MGS3 and DMC3 as well

  • IronGiant #82 7 years ago

    "Hmmm; editorial slant from someone who isn't actually an editor......puzzling. I'm here for games related news and discussion. Why are you here?"

    I asked why you were in this thread as you've added nothing whatsoever and still you continue to add, well, nothing. Nice trolling.

    Good to see Capcom really getting impressive results out of the little box, with the right marketing this could shift some cubes off the shelves.

  • O-Fox #83 7 years ago

    Does it work on freeloader?
    edit: never mind, my question was already answered above
    Edited by 1 at 25/01/05 @ 23:39

  • Feanor #84 7 years ago

    Only marketing I needed was seeing footage on TV and reading the reviews. :) And the only other GC game I'm interested in is Resident Evil... I rented that on the PSOne years ago and didn't have time to finish it.

  • Blerk #85 7 years ago

    I can't quite fathom the number of people who still seem to be convinced that 'bad controls' are somehow part of what makes Resident Evil 'Resident Evil'. I've played and enjoyed ALL of the Resident Evil games so far, but hell's teeth - you've got to be insane if you think that better controls could do anything other than enhance the experience further!

    There are many other survival horror titles which borrow the Resi gameplay mechanic but marry it to a perfectly usable control set. Bad controls don't 'improve tension', they 'create irritation'. It's a completely different thing - you get worked up not because the game is scary but because you can't make your character do what you want him to do quickly enough.

    Tell me, if you were in a deserted mansion and a zombie lurched at you from nowhere, would you rotate slowly on the spot and hit every chair, table and door frame on your way out?

  • krudster #86 7 years ago

    You tell 'em Blerk. You're talking my language. I keep trying to patiently explain all this, but they keep putting their fingers in their ears and going "LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA&q uot;

  • Blerk #87 7 years ago

    They drive me nuts, Kristan - honestly, they do. It's like they're making excuses for Capcom. Surely nobody really, truly believes that the game wouldn't be the same or better if you could control the characters easily?

    Have none of you played Obscure?

  • krudster #88 7 years ago

    And another thing that cracks me up is how some people can't bear reading *any* criticism of a game, even when you go onto spell out how you're enjoying the overall experience so much that you forgive the flaws.

    Madness I tell thee!

  • gamingdave #89 7 years ago

    Tired getting into RE on the Dreamcast, but the controls put me off. The character animation looked stupid because of the way it played, combined with the "run along the wall mashing X incase theres an item you need hidden somewhere" put me right off. An old flatmate was a fan of the series, and I must say when he got the last Cube one, I was impressed, it looked buitiful, but there was still the wall mashing problems and the controls were still there. This time though I think im really going to have to have a go at gettting to grips with it.

  • Blerk #90 7 years ago

    I think it's probably a good job I didn't point out how Silent Hill and Project Zero are far finer examples of survival horror, then. :-)

  • MonkeyMatters #91 7 years ago

    if you haven't played the game yet blerk, ; then you can't talk.

    The controls are vastly different from all the previous games and the gameplay is much improved. It doesn't need to feel like a platformer or whatever you guys want it to feel like, this isn't devil may cry. Perhaps the only addition I would have liked is a strafe...but I can easily live without it. Don't open your mouth until you try it for a bit.
    Just because one person doesn't seem to be absolutely convinced doesn't meen that one person is always right....

  • Blerk #92 7 years ago

    if you haven't played the game yet blerk, ; then you can't talk.

    I wasn't speaking of this game - I was speaking of the previous ones, as were the posters I was berating.

    I've yet to see this and I'm very much looking forward to seeing how it compares to both the other Resi Evils and the other survival horror games.

    But Kristan said the controls weren't perfect, people countered that 'non-perfect controls were what made Resident Evil'. I say 'bilge'.

  • Tonka #93 7 years ago

    Since I don't have a copy of RE4 I decided to try out the Non-Strafing problem IRL. I went for a walk around the office with out strafing and then I toook the same rout relying heavily on the strafe function. To my big suprise I found it quite difficult to strafe. But then I realized that what I was missing was a z-loc. So my question is: Is there a z-loc function in RE4?

  • steven #94 7 years ago

    There is no z-button lock.

    BTW Blerk, the only real problem now with RE4's control systems is that there is still no true analogue movement. However throughout my 20 hours of play, I didn't encounter ANY problem whatsoever with the controls. But then the older ones barely gave me problems too ;)

    The controls work fine this time, it makes more sense.

    Oh an Krudster, nice review, i agree with most of what you said ;)
    Edited by 2 at 26/01/05 @ 12:41

  • Roamer #95 7 years ago

    Never had any problems with the controls, apart from the time getting used to them. I don't think people agree with your view of the controls as 'imperfect', Blerk. I just think they're 'different'. I've grown quite fond of them.

  • steven #96 7 years ago

    ^^^Same here :-)

  • Blerk #97 7 years ago

    I prefer to think of them as 'cack'. :-)

    You do get used to them, but I'm forever cursing them under my breath while playing.

    I'm hoping that the different perspective in Resi4 will improve matters somewhat, so fingers crossed. Despite what it may sound like, I am very excited about the game! Really!

  • Khab #98 7 years ago

    Garth.de wrote
    'Being set in Spain, Pesetas are the currency of choice in RE4...'

    Haven't they been using the Euro for a while now?


    Heh. Yep, and they definitely used it in the autumn of 2004.

    /points at Capcom

    Duuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

  • mugwump #99 7 years ago

    I'm hoping that the different perspective in Resi4 will improve matters somewhat, so fingers crossed.

    Yes, yes it does! That was my whole point (above) :)

  • mugwump #100 7 years ago

    EDIT: meh, double post
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/05 @ 13:58

  • Blerk #101 7 years ago

    Blerk, i tried the demo and found the controls to be horrible... not sure whether you were alluding to them being horrible or an example of how GOOD controls can be.. if the latter, then i don't know... that game was unplayable IMO...

    o_O

    Which platform did you play on? The controls on the PS2 version are spot on. Proper analogue control of your character with the left stick, and no problems with running in the wrong direction if the camera angle changes. It's the only survival horror I've played this generation... no wait... ever... which hasn't made me think 'ooh, if they'd just done 'x' with the controls it'd have been perfect'. If you nip over to the forums and do a search for Obscure you'll find our resident Survival Horror fanboys (and girls) mostly agreeing on this, so it's not just me. :-)

  • steven #102 7 years ago

    Blerk, the improved controls make a whole lot of a difference. You'll see when you play :-)

    BTW This game has an action bias now. Its no longer your slow pace, key/item fetching, limited ammo quest anymore and i'd say i liked the change.

  • pollster #103 7 years ago

    Well I've loved all the other Resi games and I can't wait to get my hands on this. Due any day now by import :)
    However I would also be just as excited if a follow up to Eternal Darkness was coming out. Which in my eyes beats the likes of Silent Hill and Project Zero. Yet another example of a great cube game that no one bought.

  • Roamer #104 7 years ago

    Agreed, Eternal Darkness might be the best Survival Horror game out there at the moment, at least until this one arrives...

  • mash the x button #105 7 years ago

    Blerk - would you recommend Obscure then? Particularly if it can be found at the £15/20 mark?

  • Blerk #106 7 years ago

    Agreed, Eternal Darkness might be the best Survival Horror game out there at the moment, at least until this one arrives...

    ED was very good - I enjoyed it a lot. But it's no Silent Hill / Project Zero.


    Blerk - would you recommend Obscure then? Particularly if it can be found at the £15/20 mark?

    Undoubtedly - it's very good fun while it lasts. Bear in mind, however, that it doesn't last very long - five to six hours at best.

  • Feanor #107 7 years ago

    I paid US $100 for my GC two days ago, plus $10 for a 2-year store warranty. (I could of get a used GC for $90, but the used Xbox I bought last year has given me a lot of dirty disc errors and put me off buying used consoles.) RE 4 was $50 and two 59-block memory cards cost $10 for a total of $170. I also bought a Nyko controller, but I'm taking that back because the analogue sticks are too loose.

    So $170 is a lot to pay to play one game, but I have abandoned my idea of getting a new PC to play games on, so that's going to save me over $1,000.

  • meepster2312 #108 7 years ago

    'Garth.de wrote
    'Being set in Spain, Pesetas are the currency of choice in RE4...'

    Haven't they been using the Euro for a while now?


    Heh. Yep, and they definitely used it in the autumn of 20

    /points at Capcom

    Duuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!'

    Yep, but they don't have crazy villagers in Spain who try and spear you with pitchforks (not many anyway) or *SPOILER * fish the size of houses etc etc. I don't think Resi 4 is meant to be a documentary!
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/05 @ 16:20

  • Kami #109 7 years ago

    I think it COULD be Widescreen for Europe - or at least, it SHOULD be. When you zoom in on widescreen TV, the visuals are still something special. It would, could and SHOULD work on a true 16:9 - I think those of us who do bypass letterboxing through zoom will admit that at full screen, there is still nothing much to fault graphically - dare I say it, I prefer being zoomed in! (Maybe because my aim gets a lot ****ing better!)

    Controls do take a little getting used to. Some will get flustered and miss a lot, some will take to it smoothly and be sniping villager heads off with relative ease. A little practice is all thats needed, and you get it in the form of a very simple early "Sub-Mission". But they do work better now, because the game isn't as slow as previous RE games. Plus it's damned nice to be able to snipe from a distance - long overdue feature IMO.

    But seriously, zoomed in RE4 is still a beauty. I'm disappointed it's not in the US version, but then, there are means and methods around it - so not all doom and gloom.

  • tiddles #110 7 years ago

    Whats the situation with the rain. There was talk at one point that it was in older versions of RE4 then removed nearer its release date.


    It certainly rains... looks nice too.

  • Kay #111 7 years ago

    RE4 - 'Worth buying a GameCube for?'
    As opposed to the likes of Wind Waker, Metroid Prime 1+2, Paper Mario, Pikmin 2, Mario Sunshine etc.? Do people still need a reason to buy a GC?

    As a Nintendo fan, the fact that the game is also coming out on the PS2 is really annoying - I'd be lying if I said it wasn't - simply because of the fact that RE4 was the one game that had the potential to improve sales of the GameCube, and make people actually consider buying the console. However, now that it is also coming out on the PS2, a lot of people would be content to wait, so sales of the GC version will undoubtedly be affected. At the end of the day, the GC is a great machine (just like the N64 was), and doesn't deserve to fail - if many people realised this then there would be no need for a debate like this. Frankly, if anyone is willing to wait almost a year to play a slightly inferior port, when a GC + RE4 can be bought for peanuts, then...well, you get the point.

  • Blerk #112 7 years ago

    Obscure was really, really built for an analogue stick. I can imagine it wouldn't be right at all with a keyboard. :-)

  • Roamer #113 7 years ago

    ED was very good - I enjoyed it a lot. But it's no Silent Hill / Project Zero.

    I've never liked the Silent Hill series, I've always found them a bit confusing and 'artsy'. A little bit too surreal, if you know what I mean. I prefer the b-movie plots of Resident Evil :) Never heard of Project Zero, though. Classic?

  • JDub #114 7 years ago

    Hmmm, have just seen the GC on Amazon for £70...twitch...

  • Blerk #115 7 years ago

    Never heard of Project Zero, though. Classic?

    Are you kidding? It's only the scariest game ever made!

    Search Eurogamer for reviews, comments, forum posts, etc. It's the badger's nadgers!

  • Feanor #116 7 years ago

    "As opposed to the likes of Wind Waker, Metroid Prime 1+2, Paper Mario, Pikmin 2, Mario Sunshine etc.? Do people still need a reason to buy a GC?"


    I did, yes. None of those games you mentioned interest me, although now we have a GC my wife likes the look of Pikmin 2.

  • Tweakmonkey #117 7 years ago

    How does Luigis Mansion fair after all this time, as I remember it looking pretty tasty at the time of release :o)

    Luigi's Mansion is excellent, just don't expect it to be scary ;-)

  • Neverness #118 7 years ago

    "Hmmm, have just seen the GC on Amazon for £70...twitch... "

    Aren't Argos doing the GC for £35 at the moment? They certainly are in my local store.

  • Tweakmonkey #119 7 years ago

    I believe the PS2 is capable of great things if enough money is thrown at it but I'm sure you'll be waiting a long time to play it. If it is anything like the Code Veronica port then expect it to be inferior to the original.

    Now more importantly why don't Capcom sort out a proper networked version of Resi for Europe?

  • Megapocalypse #120 7 years ago

    w00t. My copy just arrived. \m/

    Only two weeks late :(

  • trevorsoh #121 7 years ago

    Great review guys. I always enjoy the frankness of your reviews.

    I loved the refinements of the old system , such as over the shoulder view, this analogue targetting which unlike FPS's (which I have enjoyed many of) has a 'zone' where the camera doesn't pan, feels natural and easy to watch. Many doors can be opened without loading screens, Combining items with the x button is a snap, New inventory and weapon management fast ann intuitive, and the creative freedom in firefights lends it a more personal experience.

    But I must say for me, the highlight was the village. Maybe I felt for powerful them, since I cold move faster than everything else. Later, enemies move faster and are more dangerous. By the end, when it became more old school, I was getting so creeped out, I didn't enjoy it as much. I must say I prefer action to horror, but I've always been a fan of Alone in the Darks tank controls. Back then it was a unique blend of action and adventure. I'm glad that its unlike an FPS as it asks you to come up with different strategies in different environments/situations.

    Such as running past or around a villager is sometimes a better option than stepping slowly back especially if you hear voices of enemies you can't see. Deciding when to move away from a pack of enemies to reload or to reload on the spot is always something to test your mind.

    Edited by 2 at 28/01/05 @ 18:30

  • mash the x button #122 7 years ago

    What does this game have to do with Resident Evil, apart from number 4?

  • Kami #123 7 years ago

    It's pretty sad when you find fanboys jumping into the comments of a game which really is something rather special.

    Yeah, it's coming out on PS2... in like, a year or so. Why wait? As said, the CVx port was inferior anyway (In more ways than I'd care to mention... HOW COULD CAPCOM KEEP STEVE ALIVE?! Oh wait, Wesker took him... hmm... always thought that Wesker played the other side of the field...) - Capcom's "Extras" aren't much to shout about, nor are their ports to be perfectly honest. You just need to look at their back catagory of ports to realise they don't give a **** - CVx one very rare exception but even there they managed to make it a rather desperate attempt to keep Wesker alive. We all secretly knew Wesker was alive anyway, we didn't need CVx to tell us that...

    Capcom do some great games, but their ports are just half-hearted at the best of times. PS2 owners are getting the really shoddy deal, and they don't even realise it! They'll get a pretty-inferior version of the game, and at a time when people will probably be saving for one of the next consoles - thats even considering if it EVER gets released. Remember, a year ago we had RE4 screenies. Nothing for the PS2 port yet, which is an interesting fact.


    In summary, RE4 for the PS2 is not an exciting prospect. It will probably LOOK inferior (and comparing their graphical capabilities, cutbacks WILL need to be made for a PS2 port - I laugh when people say the PS2 has more power than the 'Cube... it doesn't guys, I'm not the one living in fantasy fanboy land!), control inferior (Shouldn't be bad, but the controls for the 'Cube felt so well put together, I wonder how they'd work on a PS2 pad), and god help us if Capcom decide to mess with the story. The impact will have worn off, the shine dulled. I won't be getting RE4 on the PS2 - if people are willing to wait, that's their problem.


    I don't have a lot of faith in Capcom ports... they may surprise me, but the chances are, they probably won't...

  • mash the x button #124 7 years ago

    A guess - it will look inferior but have a few hidden extras just to piss everybody off :D

  • pollster #125 7 years ago

    Kind of reminds me of the Speccy vs C64 versions of Elite. I wonder if the PS2 will have tribbles in it?

  • IronGiant #126 7 years ago

    Blimey Kami calm down mate.. is this your one man crusade to get people to buy a Gamecube!?! I think most of us are fully aware that the PS2 can handle good graphics and the controller works just fine.

    "if people are willing to wait, that's their problem."

    Problem? what problem.

    "In summary, RE4 for the PS2 is not an exciting prospect"

    Wrong, it is an exciting prospect indeed for all PS2 owners who don't want to buy another console to play one game because if they wanted a Cube they would have got one by now with it's ridiculously low price.

  • CARROT #127 7 years ago

    ANYONE WHO SLAGS OF NINTENDO ARE EITHER FROM EUROPE OR THICK AS PIGSHIT OR JUST FOLLOWING TRENDS AND PROBABLY SUPPORT CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB LIKE A BUNCH OF GLORY HUNTERS (BUT EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THERE ON OPINION OF WHAT THEY LIKE)

    BET EVERY PERSON THAT HAS PLAYED A FEW NINTENDO GAMES LOVES AT LEAST ONE AND YOU ARE LYING IF THIS ISNT TRUE

  • tengu #128 7 years ago

    Heh... I have the sudden urge to start drawing pictures of Mario burning Sonic at the stake like back in the good old days again.

    The Gamecube is a fantastic console, I don't see how anyone could argue that, and Resi 4 looks the nuts. I couldn't give a fuck if it's coming out on PS2 as well, as past experience has taught us that when a game is multi-format, the PS2 version is ALWAYS the poorest looking one, so I'll be surprised if the PS2 can even match the GC version in terms of visuals alone.

  • mash the x button #129 7 years ago

    Given all that will Sony have the sauce to release it full price?

  • tiddles #130 7 years ago

    This is a superb game - it should be released on GC, PS2, Xbox and the Gizmondo to reach as many people as possible!

  • Kami #131 7 years ago

    I wasn't being funny, just stating some pretty resonable points:

    1) Capcom don't give a sh*t about their ports. They really don't. A good look at PS2 Viewtiful Joe will tell you that. At best, they're half-hearted. At worst, when they DO make alterations (CVx) they nigh destroy the game by just messing with it too much. The RE3 PC port an exception - it handled nicely, looked nicer and had some nice extra outfits for Jill, but then - Capcom didn't port that, Eidos did, so doesn't count unfortunately.

    2) RE4 on PS2 is not an exciting prospect - yeah, people can wait - but as I said, it's their problem when they whinge it looks dodgy, or when they say they already knew the plot, or when they complain about one of dozens of things which can very easily go wrong in the port. As I said, not to mention by that time there's going to be a lot of new stuff, the next-gen consoles and other bits and pieces - so the hype will have worn off considerably. I hate people saying, "But when I got to the game, I knew what was going to happen! It's not fair..." - of course it's not fair. But if you're holding off for a whole twelve months to play a PORT, then you deserve it IMO. I'd say the same thing for the Doom 3 and Half Life 2 ports. You know whats gonna happen, if you were holding off the ports and complain you know what happens - I can't hold any pity. They had a chance to play it fresh, and to play it the way it was meant to be played, instead they waited for a port. Their fault, not the developers.


    But I would welcome an X-Box version, and hell - Capcom should port to the PC as well, and make it a universal title because the game really is that good. It's a great game, deserves a HUGE audience. It's not a one-man crusade, you clearly misread the whole thing. I was saying, if you want to wait for an inferior port - do so, but do so with a warning. I don't really wanna have to look back in a years time and say, "I told you so..." - wanna get the most from a game, play it when it's fresh.


    Absolutely NO PITY for ANYONE who holds off for a port - especially when it's going to take at least a year. I'm sorry. Goes all ways for me - no matter the console, no matter the game. If you want to hold off for a port, you have to take the spoilers and possible problems in the end product. It's as simple as that - PS2 fanboys WANT to play RE4, but they don't wanna get a 'Cube to play it on?

    Please note, this isn't an attack on those who might not be able to afford to just rush out and get a 'Cube. It's more an attack on fanboyism. They want to play RE4, they should learn to look past that blatant stupidity of the fanboy and appreciate all systems - RE4 is an excellent game. It should be ported, yes, but those waiting will have to accept that by the time they get it, things may have gone rather stale...

  • drumbaby #132 7 years ago

    "1) Capcom don't give a sh*t about their ports. They really don't. A good look at PS2 Viewtiful Joe will tell you that."

    Uh....what? Pretty bloody good port, isn't it?

  • Lothar Hex #133 7 years ago

    Just picked up the game, and while the graphics, sound, atmosphere and plot are excellent, I'm not really enjoying it that much.

    It just seems to play far too slow for my liking. I suppose you have to be a fan of the other games in the series to appreciate the change in direction from the old. I do like the interactive cutscnes and the scripted events, such as running the hell away from a huge boulder. But the main crux of the game (the gunplay) works too slow for my liking. But I do realise this is the point, tryuing to make you feel slow and vunerable, but to me it dosen't make me feel vunerable, it just makes me wish I could turn faster and see more than a 45 degree angle.

    If you like action themed games, Resident Evil 4 is a good one, but if you're used to your gun play being a bit faster paced, you may not appreciate the games slower pace.

  • drumbaby #134 7 years ago

    After finishing the truly excellent DMC 3 last week I probably should have bought RE4 today at lunchtime. However I've preordered God of War on US import off Ebay instead. The GOW demo's amazing, and also -- 9.8 score at IGN....wow.

    For some reason, despite the high scores, I've suddenly got cold feet about RE4.

    Weird.
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/05 @ 10:49

  • tiddles #135 7 years ago

    Any chance of a Euro review update thingy then?

  • Genji #136 7 years ago

    Is it changed from the US version? Why review it again if it's basically the same?

  • drks #137 7 years ago

    wtf someone thought it was slow paced?


    it's one of the best paced, most exciting games i have ever played

  • The Old Bill #138 7 years ago

    This is incredibly hard to find in the shops now.

  • Feanor #139 7 years ago

    drumbaby, as someone who likes DMC 3 almost as much as you do, I really recommend you get RE 4. I think it's a better game than DMC 3, and you know I think DMC 3 is a great game.

  • Salaman #140 7 years ago

    If you have to buy a gamecube to enjoy it, do so?

    Well I'll be. that's exactly what I did.
    :-)

  • harrisimo #141 7 years ago

    Wow, this game is good. Every bit as good as all the hype has suggested and then some. I've been playing it for about two weeks solidly, and I can't believe how it keeps on getting better and better. I'm coming up to 24 hours worth of play just as I'm approaching the final boss... and every minute of it has been superb. So many beautifully realised environments, each different and unique, with almost no textures or props reused. How do they do that? So many different adversaries, each with their own character. So many brilliant touches... great cut scenes, great dialog, even some acceptable acting, wonderful mix of weapons and a clever system of upgrades, encouraging exploration to find treasure (and mass slaughter of baddies to collect coins). Even a really enjoyable shooting gallery mini game. It's just quality from start to finish, and must have taken some talented people years and years of work to put together. So many favourite moments... I'll be disappointed when it's finally over. It's one of the very few games I really want to play again all the way through the minute I've finished.

  • mickey #142 7 years ago

    I love this game it is so much better than the other resi evil games, it has more puzzles and excitement. I just wish someone would give a clue on how to save ashley as i am totally stuck, so if anyone can help please please please give me a clue on what to do next, thanx in advance.

  • kinggid #143 5 years ago

    Best game ever. Seriously.

  • Mashum #144 5 years ago

    ...still looks good and plays like a dream. Roll on Resi 5!

  • Grayvern #145 4 years ago

    The controls are amazing because they limit you, just enough to make Leon feel fragile while still allowing you to slaughter herds of enemies. If you haven't played Resident Evil 4 by now you really should.