Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
Die Zombies! Wait, Spaniards?! What fresh hell is this!?!
By Matt Kelly
Since this is a remake and not one of those obscure remakes of some game that no one has ever heard of, we're going to dodge the epic retread of the awesomeness that is Resident Evil 4. The game is still the same departure from the traditional format, still managing to be an invigorating and exciting take without throwing the book at old fans. The plot is still amazing, well paced and a real journey.
So what's changed then? Presentation? Nope, you'll find that Resident Evil 4, despite being on the more powerful Wii looks and sounds almost identical to it's Gamecube forerunner. The PS2 version's 16:9 screen format has come across, so really it's the best of both worlds. The cut scenes are retaining the Gamecube real time rendering, the voice acting is still a tad on the b-grade side, though the forced 'oh my god' nature has definitely been lifted from Resident Evil 3, Zero, etc etc.
So if not awesome graphics, what has the Wii Edition got over the rest? Some seriously agile controls for one thing. Movement is still pretty traditional with Leon strolling via the nunchuck stick, but beyond that you'll find all the combat controls have taken full advantage of the Wii Remote. Gun play for one thing is a real joy, revolving around IR pointing. Want to head shot a Spanish villager? Point and shoot baby! Arm and head shots are equally easy. Even those prop birds that exist purely to be eerie are no worries when your loaded Wii Remote is in hand. The game also comes with it's fair share of waggle moments. Reloading and knife slashing is powered by shakes (the latter can also be done with the A button). Struggling away from being groped by villages/bugs/other interesting folks is done the same way. It's a really good show off for how you can utilize the unique nature of the Wii without over doing it with waggle/IR in everything you do.
The Wii version of RE4 is also one of the few games with quick action moments that are actually fun. From time to time you'll be called to make a quick movement or hit a button during a scripted sequence. Resident Evil 4 already did these quite well by integrating them into exciting cut scenes, but adding the quick snap action of motion really does make it much more immersing rather than just a button pressing cut scene.
Like we said, the Wii Edition is the best of both the GC and PS2 incarnations and that means plenty of bonus', such as the Ada Wong side missions exploring her dealings with series holder of the 'most awesome RE character' title, Albert Wesker. You'll also be getting the game in 480p which will give a noticeable clarity to everything.
At the end of the day, while Resident Evil 4 on Wii isn't revolutionary in it's presentation, it's the best version of the game and it's still one of the best games for the platform. Long time RE fans will still find a lot of the traditional puzzles, though there is a distinct lack of the survival part of 'survival horror' genre. The gun play has been reved up, and while from time to time you'll still find yourself backing away from hordes of enemies, you won't find much of those 'think first' moments before firing your gun. The plot is incredibly well paced, and it's pretty rare you'll find yourself waiting for the next big part of the game. Instead chances are you'll be having epic sessions of the game as it really is very gripping.
Gameplay - 9.2
One of rare times the remake seriously stands out over the previous versions.
Graphics - 8.5
Definitely not a technical achievement but one of the most impressive games on Wii... kinda depressing really.
Sound - 8.0
The ambiance and music really bring out the atmosphere but the one liners get repeated quite a bit and the dialogue still retains it's RE style of forced delivery.
Replay - 8.5
The initial run through will take you some 12 or 15 hours, plus side missions, unlockables and all sorts of fun things equal serious value at a reduced price tag. Awesome!
Overall - 9.0
One of the most solid games on the platform.