A timeless classic, Resident Evil 4 redefined a franchise, the survival horror genre, which it birthed, and third-person shooting mechanics in ways still felt throughout the industry today.
Resident Evil 4 was initially released way back in 2004 as a GameCube exclusive to an explosive reception. Instantly, the title became a game-changer for the genre and gaming as a whole. The revolutionary, hyper-realistic over-the-shoulder aiming coupled with the laser sight reticle, the introduction of action-based quick time events, over-the-top story, and horror setting all created a truly unique experience and one that went on to influence the entire industry.
Not only did the title drastically change how the industry thought about shooting mechanics, but it also fundamentally changed the format for Resident Evil titles going forward. For the first time since the series’ inception, Resident Evil 4 moved the story away from the Umbrella Corporation and the events in Raccoon City. Instead, the game moves the setting to a rural village in Eastern Europe where you being your search for the president’s kidnapped daughter. Granted, the series does lean on some elements from past entries, as Leon S. Kennedy is the main character, Ada makes a return, and we get a small cameo from series antagonist Albert Wesker, but, aside from all that, Resident Evil 4 is really its own story, and it proved that the franchise was capable of moving away from its roots and still push the series forward.
Resident Evil 4 is one of my favorite games of all time and is single-handedly the game that I have beaten the most. I must have beaten it around 12 times on the Gamecube, at least twice on the Playstation 2, then another handful of times when it relaunched in HD on the 360 to unlock all of the achievements. Here we are in 2022, and I am still having a blast playing through the story, this time on the Switch. Working my way through the classic story to eventually beat it and gain access to all the sweet, sweet post-game content is just as fun now as it was when the game released on the Playstation 2 with a plethora of additional modes to unlock and enjoy.
Wrapping up
Resident Evil 4 has been one of my go-to, feel-good games for over a decade now. Each playthrough is like seeing an old friend again. Visually and mechanically, the title still holds up to modern standards, which only goes to show just how influential it has been.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop playing Resident Evil 4; it holds a special place in my heart.
So, what did you think of our Resident Evil 4 Re:View? I love revisiting classic titles, and I tend to play and enjoy them more than a lot of modern games. Nostalgia is a curious thing. What are some of your favorite titles to jump back into time and again? Let us know over @dayonegames or down in the comments below!
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