Jonny's not a big fan of the series that popularised survival horror. Well, he wasn't...

I've never been a Resident Evil man. I tended to find that the two or three genuinely thrilling frights and entertaining b-movie story you got from the earlier titles were not enough of a reward for sitting through hours of interminably dull backtracking, logic-defying puzzles, jerky character movement and those bloody door animations.

Yep, Resident Evil had become a bit long in the tooth it has to be said - Doom 3 was scarier, Manhunt more violent, Eternal Darkness smarter and Project: Zero more creepifying.

Resident Evil 4 however, like Capcom's other recent release, Devil May Cry 3 - is easily the best in the series so far, and marks something of a reinvention for the series. No, it's more than that - it is, quite simply one of the finest games ever made. Gone is the sluggish gameplay of earlier titles, replaced by nothing more complicated than serious hardcore action from start to finish.

This is immediately apparent upon playing through the first few minutes, as wondrous discoveries are made in this horrific new playground with childlike glee. Protagonist Leon Kennedy (he from Resident Evil 2) can hurl himself out of any second story window to the street below... it's never particularly important that he does so, as there are always perfectly serviceable stairs, but nonetheless he can. He can now also nail or even decapitate stunned assailants with a vicious roundhouse kick, while shaking off assailants who have actually got hold of him is far more violent, and satisfying than the lame-ass shrug manoeuvre he used to have.

Also immediately apparent is the splendour of the visuals on offer - having finally finished the game I'm still not convinced it hasn't fooled me into just watching an exceedingly long cutscene. Nothing on any console looks this good - no, nothing on any console even comes close.

be a good zombie

There has been a lot of talk about the lack of zombies in the game (they're mostly possessed Spanish peasants this time around) but for all intents and purposes it doesn't make a difference to the gameplay. They're still slow witted, numerous, shuffling, blank-eyed and begging to be riddled with hot lead like any good zombie.

Other assailants are frighteningly fast, or practically indestructible, or, best of all, absolutely gargantuan. Up until now, it would be fair to say that the Zelda series has been the king of the giant boss battle - now that crown belongs emphatically to Resident Evil. You've no doubt seen the stunning screenshots or the movie footage of the terrifying lake monster or that huge troll thing - while later battles against even bigger and more terrifying baddies really up the ante. I'm itching to rave about a particular battle involving some lava but don't want to spoil one of the most sublime moments of any game you've played before you see it yourself.

Another noteworthy gameplay facet is it's use of Shenmue-like Quick-Time-Event-style moments. These (where you have to hit certain indicated buttons at a second's notice to evade peril) are infused to add cinematic action into both cut scenes and gameplay and are very welcome - especially a superb nod to the only "decent" scene in Paul Anderson's appalling movie adaptation.

Many of the finest games of recent years have been blighted by 8-12 hour playing times - so it's a relief that not only does Resident Evil 4 take considerably longer to finish once, but that there is considerable replay value, not to mention bonus missions which are unlocked by finishing the game.

Oh it still has its problems. Creaky dialogue abounds (Leon's shouted insistence that "You can't even compare insect life to humans!" is particularly funny) and isn't helped by the occasional line which is blatantly translated wrong from the Japanese. And the stupidity of the bad guys (who leave memos lying around with such titles as "Our Secret Plan" and "How To Get Into That Room No-one Is Supposed To Get Into") defies belief. Leon's inability to sidestep will infuriate during the beginning stages of the game (though you will soon learn to compensate) and it's annoying that there's no quick-change for weaponry (it's a shame to break up action of such calibre for farting around in your backpack) - the inventory system itself being an unwelcome hangover from earlier titles in the series.

But these issues are irrelevant. I don't care about them and neither will you, because Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece from start to finish. It's the new standard for visuals, for set-pieces, for bosses and for action. More than that though, it is the embodiment of brutality. No game before has conveyed the physical impact of being on the receiving end of extreme violence to the player like this does. You'll actually panic - big time - during the hairier moments. You'll physically flinch as you feel each blow, while death can come from out of the blue in so many sickening ways - afterwards you'll often be left staring slack-jawed at the screen in awe and horrified disbelief of what you've just seen.

So as I was saying, I'm a bit of a Resident Evil man, me...

GAME's Verdict

• Those graphics!!!
• The bosses - oh my...
• The new word in brutality.

• No quick weapon change.
• Inventory management plays a bigger role than it should.
• Lack of a sidestep is slightly annoying.

Review by: Jonny Austin
Version Tested: GameCube
Review Published: 24.03.05