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Everything below still applies. Things parents should know: the PC, PS2, and Wii versions have some new bonus content and the Wii version takes full advantage of the Wii's immersive controls. Some people believe this makes the game harder. Some think it makes the game easier. We just think it makes the game better. Not for kids, but also not tasteless or vile in content, RE4 is a true classic, a dramatic reinvention, and one of the best horror movies you've ever seen come to dramatic life.
Because of its intense action, cinematic presentation and clever story, Capcom's action-horror sequel is easily the finest in the series. In case you've never tackled a "Resident Evil" adventure, the games ﾖ as with the two Hollywood movies based on them ﾖ pit weapon-wielding residents of Raccoon City against a horde of undead zombies. But "Resident Evil 4" is somewhat of a departure from its predecessors in that the story and enemies differ from past games. Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie cop who first made his appearance in "Resident Evil 2," is the hero of this new tale. He is now a U.S. secret agent deployed to a remote European village to retrieve the President's kidnapped daughter. Kennedy soon realizes the townsfolk want him out of the picture, and will use knives, pitchforks or chainsaws to keep him away. These villagers often attack in groups and swarm around Kennedy, which adds to the tension. Eventually, enemies will include mutated animals and even supernatural creatures. A tougher "boss" fighter usually stands in Kennedy's way at the end of each of the nine chapters.  Similar to past games, Kennedy has access to a few weapons, such as a knife, handgun, shotgun and hand grenades. Breaking open creates may reveal additional bullets to reload some weapons. When using guns, Kennedy can aim the red laser pointer to different parts of an enemy's body before pulling the trigger; a blast to the leg will cause him to limp, a blow to the torso means he'll likely end up on his back, while a headshot could be the gory end for him. Kennedy is also skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Items, such as different kinds of healing herbs, must also be found and ingested. The game is played from a third-person perspective, so players will see Kennedy's character slowly skulk through the ultra-realistic 3-D environments such as decrepit houses, farms, forests, a cemetery and docks. The locations are very creepy, and like a good horror movie, enemies can pop out of nowhere and grab the player. "Resident Evil 4" may sound like every other "survival horror" title out there but this game creates a wonderfully intense and immersive experience. This is achieved by making Kennedy very easy to maneuver, delivering incredibly rich graphics and movie-like camera angles, and slowly unraveling an interesting story.  Adding to the fun, gamers must also choose the best approach for the situation, such as stealthily entering a barn through its window to surprise bad guys waiting at the door rather than walking up to them all in plain sight. Decisions can also alter the game-play, such as choosing to free a white wolf from a trap in the woods. More so than in past "Resident Evil" games, players will find this lengthy adventure a highly-polished and extremely gratifying tale. It's scary and gory, so take heed to the "Mature" warning in the corner of the box. 
Resident Evil is one of the controversial classics that's appeared in newspapers, op-eds, and the speeches of Senators and even in the official opinions of Judges (where one hilariously referred to the series as "The Resident of Evil Creek"). And admittedly the series has been ground-breaking and frightening enough to generate a 2nd rate movie, a 3rd rate sequel to that movie, and a console game franchise that's actually much longer than the 4 in Resident Evil 4 implies. What parents need to know is that the series focuses on zombies, contagion, evil corporations, and genetic monsters jumping out at the player. Herbs are used for healing and items are gathered for puzzle solving. Resident Evil 4 is no exception, despite the change in local and perspective. Suffice it to say the graphics have never been this gory and the gameplay has never been this intense before.
If your kids watch horror movies without flinching there's no reason to avoid this game. It's an excellent horror story that casts your child as the hero of the story. He, despite his ludicrous haircut and boyband bangs, must rescue the President's daughter from evil Spanish cultists and much, much, worse. Winning is rewarded with new paths, new weapons, and new characters to play. Expect human seeming (but slow and zombie-like) cultists, evil priests, but surprisingly little occult content (the monstrosities aren't really science or religion inspired) also expect a really scary good time and an exhilerating adventure. Kid Factor by Andrew Bub Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Browse Amazon.com's selection of "Resident Evil" themed games Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Resident Evil 4 |
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