Mark welcomes back an old friend…

"Leon. Long time no see". It's a line well known to anyone who's seen the montage intro of Resident Evil 4. Spoken in the game's most iconic scene, it signals the meeting of the game's protagonist Leon S. Kennedy and the spy he thought long dead, the mysterious Ada Wong.

A lot happened in the six years since the two last saw each other in Resident Evil 2. Ada plummeted seemingly to her death at the end of that adventure, only to be rescued by the series omnipresent villain, Albert Wesker. Leon escaped Raccoon City and was trained as a government agent. The Umbrella Corporation was closed down, and their bio-weapon research apparently destroyed. Then the President's daughter was kidnapped, sighted somewhere in Europe, and Leon was tasked with bringing her home.

That's how Resident Evil 4 begins. But how do events conspire to throw Leon and Ada together for a second time? Why was the President's daughter kidnapped? Who by? And what does any of it have to do with the traditional Resident Evil remit? These are the mysteries posed by the game even before you take control. Now, for the first time, PS2 Resident Evil 4 can provide all of the answers - including some that even the GameCube original didn't.

Most of the game's mysteries are undoubtedly uncovered in the main singleplayer mode, which is ostensibly a direct port of the GameCube original. Considering the gap in power between the two systems, differences between the two versions are surprisingly slim. PS2 releases of multi-format titles typically take a dip in graphical prowess, and make up for it with the superior control of the Dual Shock pad, but the jaw-dropping visuals and perfectly mapped controls of the GameCube original were thought by many to be a nigh-on impossible combination for Sony's machine. For a game as aesthetically stunning as RE4, a bad port could have been damning.

We're delighted to say that it isn't - though there's no denying compromises have been made, and that the Gamecube version is the better looking title. Character models are slightly less detailed, forest areas exhibit marginally lower texture quality and fire filled rooms lack the exact same spectacular lighting as they did on 'Cube. However, animation and framerate are nigh on faultless, and the all-pervasive sense of dread exuded by environments has been painstakingly ported to the PS2. The overall effect is so slick that, unless the two were put side by side, the differences could go largely unnoticed. With a true 16:9 widescreen mode on top, there's certainly no reason for PS2 owners to feel they've got a raw deal; Resident Evil 4 is arguably the finest looking title on Sony's system.

And we'd defy anyone to find a better Action Adventure. It may be subjective, but you'd be hard pressed to cite a title offering a hands-down more complete, scary and intense thrill ride. The sheer force of enemies is impressive enough, with the series' traditional Zombies replaced by a new mutant enemy that group together, communicate with each other, bob, duck, weave and charge with vicious intent and sharp, shiny metal objects. And that's just the beginning. We'll risk the cliché to say that boss creatures are jaw-dropping and become ever-more imposing as the game progresses, while set pieces start off hi-octane and never let up. Even cutscenes offer little respite, with Shenmue-style Quick Time Events spread right throughout the game. In short, Resident Evil 4's main mode is nothing short of a continuously pulse-pounding adventure, from the bloody beginning to its exhilarating end.

The PS2 version's greatest selling point though is its extra content. As with the GC release, Assignment Ada and Mercenaries are back, unlocked as before when the main game is completed. But Ada's second unlockable mission, the six-hour long Separate Ways, is the icing on the cake: an all-new system exclusive that adds depth and context to the events of Leon's main game and fills in some of the backstory of the infamous spy herself. Taking control of Ada, you'll see Leon's adventure in a new light, discover extra layers to the conspiracy surrounding the game's bio-weapon threat, and even gain insight on Ada herself; her methods, motivations, and her soft spot for the floppy-haired ex rookie cop.

With such a complete package, it's tempting to think of RE4 as flawless. In fact, the biggest possible cons come from the integrity of the Resident Evil franchise, and the heritage that represents. RE4 is undoubtedly more linear than all previous Resi titles, and the tale it tells feels really more of a sidestory than a fully-fledged continuation in the series' ongoing narrative. Die hard fans hoping for the next puzzle-packed instalment in the Umbrella/Redfield saga will find they come away from RE4 with more questions than answers, and may feel nonplussed at the game's dramatically different all-action focus and shoot-em-up slant.

A new direction

Such people however, are few and far between, and even the most hardcore Resident Evil followers would have trouble arguing against the series needing a major change in direction. RE4 is most certainly that - the most visceral, exhilarating, action-packed take on Survival Horror there has ever been. That's the change Capcom decided on, and it's an undoubted success.

Any other minor niggles are as much designer idiosyncrasies as actual flaws. While music is never less than fantastic, the script and dialogue are truly cheesy - Leon's anguished cries during one particular scene for a character introduced mere moments before is a highlight for anyone looking for laughably funny lines. But then, dialogue in Resident Evil has always been noticeably bad, and though RE4 doesn't buck the trend, it's as forgivable as it's expected.

More out of left field is the curious inclusion of what can only be described as a westcountry leper as the game's conveniently situated (and apparently invisible to monsters) travelling weapons salesman. His ridiculously husky voice and tendency to swing open his coat when you approach give him the feel of a guy on a street corner selling dodgy Rolex's, and set him apart as the most out of place addition in the history of Resident Evil. The service he provides as a mobile armoury and item source is invaluable though, so his oddness at least serves a purpose.

There really is very little more to say about Resident Evil 4. It's a game that should be owned by everyone old enough to play it, and the PS2 release, together with a surprisingly low 15 certificate, should see it get the mass-market exposure it deserves. As an action game it's up there with the best the genre has ever produced, and with Separate Ways it's a more complete package than ever before. Like Ada, It's been a long time since we've seen Leon in a Resident Evil game, and even longer since the series had a PS2 release to be proud of. Resident Evil 4 is that game. Survival Horror is back… and it's so good, it's scary.

GAME's Verdict

• New sidestory Seperate Ways is a real treat.
• True anamorphic 16:9 widescreen mode.
• One of the best games of its generation with added extras.

• Some graphical compromises from 'Cube version.
• More linear than Resi purists may like.
• Script and screenplay cut from the finest Edam.

Review by: Mark Scott
Version Tested: PS2
Review Published: 10.11.05