Retro Review: Resident Evil 4 (Game Cube) (English)

"Behind you, stupid!"
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Resident Evil 4 was born on January 11, 2005 at the hands of video game company Capcom , being launched in principle for the console Game Cube of Nintendo, and later, a few months later, for the Sony PlayStation 2 desktop console. Over the years, the game developer decided to work on several versions that were released for multiple platforms: PC, Nintendo Wii, Android, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (among others). As the anniversary of the 20 years of the saga (completed in March 2016), Capcom decided to create remastered versions of the last three numbers of Resident Evil games, with RE4 being the third to be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Breaking with the stereotype imposed by its predecessors, RE4 marks a turning point in the saga, because Capcom chooses to change some aspects that characterized it, giving it a fresher, new, authentic and different touch; in order to attract the attention of a wider audience and not only of the connoisseurs of history. Fixed and static scenarios are changed by more dynamic ones, allowing the character to have more interaction with their environment. Similarly, the game style is more inclined to type action / adventures shooting in the third person, maintaining the essence of survival / horror .

Following chronologically, RE4 is located six years after the events in Raccoon City at the hands of the T Virus created by the Umbrella Corporation. Leon S. Kennedy, ex-policeman and survivor of that incident, is recruited by the Secret Service of the United States to perform a special mission: Save the President's daughter (Ashley Graham). We will travel to a peasant village located in the European country Spain to rescue it from a strange organization, although our research is difficult when we are attacked by a group of (infected) people without any reason.

Leon will be captured by Bitores Méndez, leader of the town, who will inject a parasite known as "Las Plagas". This is placed in the body of people in order to control their mind. Once we take control of the character, we will leave in search of information about Ashley, discovering that the president's little daughter is in the town's chapel. Once on the site, through Osmund Saddler (leader of the sixth "The Illuminati") we will know his plan and Ashley's goal in all this.

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Although not everything is about Ashley. We will have to find a way to eradicate the virus that is located inside the body of Leon and thus avoid becoming an infected anymore.

Due to the changes made in comparison to the past titles, the story is presented in a fairly simple and linear way, although it manages to be interesting and addictive. RE4 is positioned as a more independent game, since it does not influence the RE universe as much (as for example RE2, RE3, etc), giving rise to an original and new story.

His graphics are quite remarkable, although dark tones predominate. It has remarkable visuals and an excellent work done with respect to its texture and brightness, giving it a rather dark touch to its environment.

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The effects of guns when firing, fire, rain and blood were done in a great way, creating a more serious and realistic environment never before seen in the saga. But the graphic section is not only there, since the casting of the characters is excellent, each of their animations surpass that of many games presented at that time.

Capcom worked with great detail and detail each one of the visual aspects of the game. Its new approach with the camera gives panoramic players never before seen, providing a totally new experience. Being the first RE that dares to innovate in all these aspects, at first it may seem a bit strange but as we get used to it we can appreciate much more this great work.

As a method of survival, the exploration of scenarios becomes essential. In each one of them we will find objects or boxes with "items" that will help us in our mission. A blow will be enough to break them and take what is inside.

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The developers adapted the enemies in a new way to adapt to the demands of the game. Zombies vary a bit in this installment; we will go from the traditional zombie eats brains to people infected by viruses that allow them to speak, run, carry weapons, etc., being faster and stronger, giving a greater challenge to the title. At times we will feel in trouble, because they usually appear in packs and our goal will be to leave alive their attacks.

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Your "gameplay" is quite comfortable. The game is developed with a 3rd person view focused on the back of Leon, although when aiming, the camera will focus on the shoulders of the character, allowing us to maneuver our visual better. Similarly, at the time of firing, RE4 gives us the freedom to direct the weapon in any direction, giving us a wider range with our firearms. To improve our experience, we will have a laser sight, whose purpose is to achieve a better accuracy in each of our shots.

Leon is the possessor of new movements of defense and attack, giving him ease when facing the infected. In addition, among its new aspects, it highlights the inclusion of an interaction system - control / player . Depending on the situation, we will have to press the buttons (as shown on the screen) to jump windows, evade blows, even survive the enemy attacks to stay alive. In case of failure in those circumstances, we could lose the game.

Although on the other hand, the artificial intelligence of infected is high. They can evade our attacks and shots. We will have to be very cautious when facing them.

One of the most important factors in a game of this style is the soundtrack and we must say that they do an exceptional and quality work. Misao Senbongi and Shusaku Uchiyama manage to set each stage in the best way, nothing to criticize or reproach our friends of Capcom with this choice.

RE4 loses a little the essence of yesteryear and managed to innovate in the best way a title that sought new airs. There are players who feel nostalgic and see it as a very drastic change, but the truth is that the game fulfills its purpose, since its bases are presented in a very solid way that makes it a reference, managing to attract the attention not only of the followers of the franchise, if not also of a wider public.

His great sales and development earned him to be awarded as the best game in 2005 by the magazine Nintendo Power , in addition to being considered one of the best games that have existed.