Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition Review - 9/10

If any out there are fans of the Resident Evil universe, you will understand the predictable revamp of the franchise with their 2005 release of RE4. The award winning game featured many key changes to the gameplay used in previous tittles yet still keeping steadily down the road of survival horror. Now many gamers feared the change from set angle 3rd party, to an over the shoulder 3rd party in a free roaming 3D environment, would push the series into the category of shooter, one thing the Resident Evil series has never been. Yet this change and other nip and tucks at the 2005 release of one of the most successful gaming series were later appraised by fans and critics alike, causing a plethora of awards to be handed out to the team behind its success.

The only question is, does this simple 'port' live up to the grandeur of its original a massive 2 years after its original release?

The answer, simply, yes.

Somewhat like the engineering behind Zelda: Twilight Princess, the team behind RE4:Wii already had the core of a game infront of them as they set down to create this ravishing new beast. This allowed a large emphasis on controls and gameplay, which thrived in an already flourishing and compelling storyline (assisted by intriguing cinematics, believable voice acting, and alluring mystery).

Gameplay is where this game separates itself from the others. Highly efficient and engaging controls, take the ease and comfort of the wiimote to the extreme. Finally I can play a game that involves many engaging moments, and yet I can relax my posture thanks to the separation of wiimote and nunchucks. Something that I personally praise the wiimotes construction for. But relaxing postures only happen occasionally, as within moments after your rest you are thrown into another sense invading scene. A particular moment I remember screaming aloud myself (something that isn't that rare in RE) was within a moment of pure adrenaline as a flaming person bursts out of what seems to be an oven to embellish me in flames. A situation easily slowed down by the well designed enemy reflexes in the game combined with controls: shoot an enemy in the head to cause most damage, shoot in body to cause a weakening blow that opens their cringing paralytic body to a nice kick, or even a shot in the leg to drop them to the ground/in their arms to drop their daunting weaponry, respectively.

Its the kind of experience above that makes RE4 a rare jewel of a game, its not often you get gameplay that makes your heart race, your eyes widen. And that's not even mentioning that all too common inner turmoil of wanting to venture forward into the unpredictable unknown of the game, yet unfortunately too afraid to.

If it takes horror and mystery to make a game that will push my engagement to the max then I am willing to offer myself to the humble slaughter of these wickedly minded game designers.

Overall, the reception of the new wii controls to this great game are commonly known as a great success. I personally will find it hard to go back to a Resident Evil release without it. With the combination of all the extra features of later ports to PS2 and PC, the Wii version holds a collection of extra missions, guns, gameplay options and costumes. This combined with the unique control scheme of the Wii system make it the ultimate release of this groundbreakingly thrilling title.

NOTE: the only reason I gave this a 9 instead of a 10 was really because overall graphics are pretty much the same as the GC release (though modifications of 480p and true 16:9 have been made) and also we have played this game before. BUT that does not mean it's not a reason for people who own older releases of this game to pick it up. The extra content they may have missed out on, and controls makes it very worthwhile.

Razarelie 09/07/2007

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