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.
A continuously pulse-pounding adventure, from the bloody beginning to its exhilarating end.
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