Honestly, I never thought I would ever enjoy a Resident Evil game, let alone enjoy it as much as I did. I can understand why so many people love this game and now it sits at the top of my list of favorite video games of all time. This game is so much more than a stereotypical horror game.


TL;DR: The atmosphere and charm that this games gives off is worth every penny you pay for it. A perfect mixture of suspense, action and horror lead to a game with an awesome protagonist, setting and pace. Don't let a single negative review discourage you from experiencing this game!


+ The atmosphere of this game is delightful and horrifying all at the same time. So many little details are scattered throughout the world and the scenery feels believable and immersive. From the creepy and arid village, the beautiful French castle and the cramped research island, this game crams so much detail into the scenery that nearly every part of the game feels memorable. For most of the game, you are alone and way outnumbered, and something about that feeling keeps you on edge the whole game but with little pauses in between. A big breath in, a big breath out.


+ I have never played a game with pacing that was as perfect as RE4. When you complete the game for the first time, you will look at the amount of time you've played on steam and think "Only -- hours? I could've sworn I played this a lot longer!" Every part of the map feels significant and the game has a rhythm to it that feels just right. You might mow through countless enemies in one room and move to the next to be greeted by the familiar merchant and a save station, devoid of any enemies. It feels like going on a roller coaster where there are ups and downs, but never too long of an up or too long of a down. The action is constant and the game does an excellent job at making you feel suspense. I would say that the game really is half an action shooter and half a horror survival. RE4 Certainly puts action and pacing at the top of the priority list and it pays off. You won't find yourself getting stuck too often because the games tweaks the difficulty ever so slightly to accommodate the player's level of skill. Puzzles never feel too complicated and nothing gets in the way. Whatever they did to get such perfect pacing worked brilliantly.


+ While only a handful of themes are memorable, the background noises and ambiance really add a whole level to the atmosphere of the game. The music score is used more as a smart guideline to indicate when enemies are near, when you are in danger or when you should keep your guard up. There are points in the game where everything completely goes silent to alert the player and this is somehow even spookier than the eerie background music. I absolutely love that safe places like save spots are backed with a more pleasant soundtrack to make the player aware that you finally have some time to take a deep breath.


+ Sound effects are excellent, the ticking through the menus sounds satisfying, the constant chanting of the cultists and the terrifying breathing of some of the games creepier enemies all leave a good impression on you. Again, the sound designers did a really good job integrating the sounds along with the game play. A good example is when there are enemies in a room but you cannot see them, you can still hear their chains from their weapons rattle, notifying you to keep your guard up.


+ This specific port sometimes gets heat for its controls, but I think they are very intuitive and MILES ahead of the franchise's previous installments. I certainly think the controls are something you will feel mildly uncomfortable with at first, but as you get better weapons and the enemies get harder to dispatch, your control over Leon S. Kennedy also evolves. I personally got used to them quickly and I fell in love with the aiming, reloading and the inventory system. DO NOT let complaints about crappy controls deter you from this game. It's just like any other game, you pick it up not knowing what you're doing and eventually get smoother and snappier.


+ I love the settings, dialogue and feel of the characters and villains. It's almost like a time capsule from the early 2000's and something feels mildly nostalgic about it. Leon Kennedy is the dopest American action hero written into a horror story and man, you really feel the awesomeness the whole way. in contrast to a lot of other horror games where you are a helpless chicken running from a threat, the president straight up sent you in to rescue his daughter from a cult of terrible monsters and conniving terrorists... alone. The dialogue is absolutely the cheesiest thing you will hear for a long time, but instead of being an annoyance, it actually has a charm to it. The bad guy is always one step ahead of Leon, making the moment when you catch up feel like you've done something substantial. I would say that you only get this kind of charming goofy dialogue from a Japanese studio.


+ Props to Capcom for managing to include a follower AI that didn't suck. Ashley ducks down when you are aiming, stays in place when you tell her to and alerts you when she is being harmed. She is just complex enough to do what you need her to do but simple enough to where she doesn't become a multitasking nightmare.



+ Inventory system felt buttery smooth and let you customize where you wanted your items to be. Switching guns require you to pause and get it out of your inventory. Eventually, you get so fast at this that you no longer think about it. It allows you to pause the action to select the right weapon and come up with a strategy to defeat your enemies. Do you pull out a sub-machine gun to mow down the horde, or a grenade? A rifle to get a precise shot or a shotgun to blow the enemy out of your way?


+ Upgrade system was a such a fun part of the game. The feeling of getting stronger as you move on is only met with more terrifying enemies, so getting that new shiny shotgun feels like a breath of fresh air.


+ Bosses were memorable and unique


+ Replayability is excellent, as playing through the story once will leave you with a strong desire to play more. Good news, extra unlocks and difficulty are available after you beat the game for the first time. Extra game modes are included where you play as a variety of other characters from the game.