Best Resident Evil ever. Even without zombies, though the alternative "human" enemies presented in RE4 are effectively the same thing, but smart. The graphics are fucking goregous. The game is huge. It's actually challenging (Bosses are anyway, and most require some thought on the proper way to dispose of them).
It's really not much like any previous RE that I've played (1-3, REmake, and RE0), but it's addictive as hell. Anyone else playing it? Thoughts? Comments?
Resident Evil 4
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Jarochai Alabaster
- The Original Crayola Cleric
- Posts: 2380
- Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 3:52 pm
- Location: Behind you
Resident Evil 4
"I find it elevating and exhilarating to discover that we live in a universe which permits the evolution of molecular machines as intricate and subtle as we."
-Carl Sagan
-Carl Sagan
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Iloll the Bard
- Mastah Elect of 9
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 8:57 pm
I'm a huge fan of the remake of the original RE on Gamecube. It's probably the scariest game I've ever played. While a lot of people would argue that the poor camera angles, "tank" controls, and door sequences are a hindrance, I would strongly disagree. I think they are what make that particular game so great. That’s what I miss in RE4.
I was really sad that RE 4 deviated so far from classic RE
(It reminds me of a better Outbreak - which I had to cut off after about 15 minutes of play. I disliked it very much). From the little bit that I've played, it's obvious that the game moves a lot quicker, which is cool. And it's much easier to control your character. I haven't played far enough to find out exactly what kind of enemy encounters there are in the game (I hear the boss fights are terrific), but zombies are what make RE so special!! 
Where are my zombie Dobermans leaping through boarded up windows and scores of crimsonheads scaring the bejebus out of me and chasing me down a hallway because I didn't feel like burning the zombie the first time I killed it? Ah, memories.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a cool game, and I know there are a lot of people who absolutely love it (my neighbor has been playing it for 2 days straight... I think he just beat it, actually). But after playing through the RE several times I've really learned to appreciate every little thing the game uses to scare / intimidate the player. I think I'm just stuck in a "zombie mansion" rut - who knows... And, personally, the main reason I play RE is for the scare – not the action. I miss my zombies, doors, and tank controls.
I was really sad that RE 4 deviated so far from classic RE
(It reminds me of a better Outbreak - which I had to cut off after about 15 minutes of play. I disliked it very much). From the little bit that I've played, it's obvious that the game moves a lot quicker, which is cool. And it's much easier to control your character. I haven't played far enough to find out exactly what kind of enemy encounters there are in the game (I hear the boss fights are terrific), but zombies are what make RE so special!! Where are my zombie Dobermans leaping through boarded up windows and scores of crimsonheads scaring the bejebus out of me and chasing me down a hallway because I didn't feel like burning the zombie the first time I killed it? Ah, memories. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a cool game, and I know there are a lot of people who absolutely love it (my neighbor has been playing it for 2 days straight... I think he just beat it, actually). But after playing through the RE several times I've really learned to appreciate every little thing the game uses to scare / intimidate the player. I think I'm just stuck in a "zombie mansion" rut - who knows... And, personally, the main reason I play RE is for the scare – not the action. I miss my zombies, doors, and tank controls.
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Jarochai Alabaster
- The Original Crayola Cleric
- Posts: 2380
- Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 3:52 pm
- Location: Behind you
"Tank" controls?
Anyway, yeah the lack of zombies is somewhat dissapointing, but what we're given to replace them is essentially the same thing. You heard right about the bosses - they're incredible.
I loved REmake. RE0 I didn't like so much, though I can't recall exactly why. I know it was fun to play, but I think there were plot holes that dissapointed me a great deal. What was the deal with that leech dude again? Wasn't he murdered, then his corpse somehow infected with the T- Virus? Why wasn't he just a zombie? RECV's story was wierd enough...it really pushed my buttons in how silly it got sometimes, and I swear CV and 0's stories contradicted not only that of the original 3 REs but each other as well.
Aw hell now I'm gonna have to go buy them again so I can play through and figure it all out.
Anyway, RE4 plays more like a shooter than any previous RE. I do miss the cinematic camera angles and the claustrophobic feeling that the corridors of the mansion and police station gave me. Even RE3, out in the open city streets, felt closed in. RE4 doesn't have that nearly as much. There's a lot of outdoor areas with abundant space to run around. It still has scare. Not so much the jump-out-at-you scare that the older games had, but there's still the feeling of impending doom around every corner like the old games, only it seems more intense to me. And not just boss fights, but many of the scripted battles with hordes of villagers attacking and closing in from every side are spectacular. The best approach to combat is a healthy mix of brute force and strategy. Brute force alone will get you by, but you'll be hurting for ammo and healing items later on.
Overall, I do miss some of the things left out from the old RE games. Item boxes would have been a Godsend (Speaking of which, I hated dropping crap all over in RE0). But for everything they left out, I've seen something to more than make up for it. The mini-games are awesome, for example. You can play a variety of combat styles, and in many cases have to. There's greater depth to RE4, IMO. And I'm quite sure the zombies will be back in some future game or games.
Anyway, yeah the lack of zombies is somewhat dissapointing, but what we're given to replace them is essentially the same thing. You heard right about the bosses - they're incredible.
I loved REmake. RE0 I didn't like so much, though I can't recall exactly why. I know it was fun to play, but I think there were plot holes that dissapointed me a great deal. What was the deal with that leech dude again? Wasn't he murdered, then his corpse somehow infected with the T- Virus? Why wasn't he just a zombie? RECV's story was wierd enough...it really pushed my buttons in how silly it got sometimes, and I swear CV and 0's stories contradicted not only that of the original 3 REs but each other as well.
Aw hell now I'm gonna have to go buy them again so I can play through and figure it all out.
Anyway, RE4 plays more like a shooter than any previous RE. I do miss the cinematic camera angles and the claustrophobic feeling that the corridors of the mansion and police station gave me. Even RE3, out in the open city streets, felt closed in. RE4 doesn't have that nearly as much. There's a lot of outdoor areas with abundant space to run around. It still has scare. Not so much the jump-out-at-you scare that the older games had, but there's still the feeling of impending doom around every corner like the old games, only it seems more intense to me. And not just boss fights, but many of the scripted battles with hordes of villagers attacking and closing in from every side are spectacular. The best approach to combat is a healthy mix of brute force and strategy. Brute force alone will get you by, but you'll be hurting for ammo and healing items later on.
Overall, I do miss some of the things left out from the old RE games. Item boxes would have been a Godsend (Speaking of which, I hated dropping crap all over in RE0). But for everything they left out, I've seen something to more than make up for it. The mini-games are awesome, for example. You can play a variety of combat styles, and in many cases have to. There's greater depth to RE4, IMO. And I'm quite sure the zombies will be back in some future game or games.
"I find it elevating and exhilarating to discover that we live in a universe which permits the evolution of molecular machines as intricate and subtle as we."
-Carl Sagan
-Carl Sagan
-
Iloll the Bard
- Mastah Elect of 9
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 8:57 pm
BTW - by "tank" controls I mean the way that the original RE plays: pushing forward on the control stick causes your character to walk forward - not walk forward relative to where the camera is. Most people really don't appreciate it since it takes a while to learn how to effectively walk / run from zombies.
Personally,when I first started playing RE and I was freaked out by a zombie running after me, the controls actually made it more fun since it would often hinder me from escaping - it was kinda' like being frozen in stark terror.
However, I eventually got pretty good at the tank controls, and let me tell you... you can't fully appreciate them until you are in the "loading - door screen" phase fully knowing there is a crimson head on the other side of the door and already knowing which way you want to have the control stick aimed so you can make a quick escape 
Hah... good memories.
Gosh, I love that game.
I'll probably end up giving RE4 a try soon. May as well appreciate each game for the good things it does have
since they can't have them all.
-Dymerius
-Elite Zombie Evader
Personally,when I first started playing RE and I was freaked out by a zombie running after me, the controls actually made it more fun since it would often hinder me from escaping - it was kinda' like being frozen in stark terror.
However, I eventually got pretty good at the tank controls, and let me tell you... you can't fully appreciate them until you are in the "loading - door screen" phase fully knowing there is a crimson head on the other side of the door and already knowing which way you want to have the control stick aimed so you can make a quick escape Hah... good memories.Gosh, I love that game.
I'll probably end up giving RE4 a try soon. May as well appreciate each game for the good things it does have
since they can't have them all.-Dymerius
-Elite Zombie Evader