Resident Evil 4: Negative Edition!

[Zombie Fred]

If there are a few things I had to pick a bone with Resident Evil 4, it all boils down to simplifying some design choices prior to other Resident Evil titles. For all the tense and purposes the fourth instalment brought to the table back in 2005, it become a shallow experience for me compared to Remake (even 0) for its survival horror experience and plot line.

The game- play back then completely blew my mind with the village and the Ganado’s attacking for the first time. You are honestly having to fight of this intelligent horde which is a first experience given compares to the zombies and other biological weapons from Umbrella in the past, and now you have Bag head (Dr Salvador) coming out to get you with a chainsaw as you block up the house! The design and pacing around this was fantastic, it’s sure given that this was a nice step up, but I think that as the game got further it started to bring a high level of action elements into the game. This caused to make feel more of an arcade experience than a survival horror title compared to the others, when you consider how much 4 had little, and the series history was built and is known for its scares and its mental changes. I think they got knocked on the head a few times on this choice.

Coming to the puzzles we got given (...) I think only literally one could stand up by its own (Leon and Sherry surviving in the castle from many of Salazar’s traps) but the rest fall to only please the capacity off a main stream audience, when you think of the complexity how puzzles worked compared to the others. This element was the start of rubbing salt in the open wounds.
Character development, Ok, I will admit, I did like Leon’s Cocky attitude when I first played the game; His audacity was smooth and calm on how he tackles the situation given to him. But he shouldn’t give up his day job and not be a comedian act with his one line talk during the course of the game, with sayings such as “No thanks Bro” or “your right hand comes off” , it breaks the feeling of isolation and density when you think of him back years ago during the Raccoon City incident; rookie cop to time travelling ninja in a few years alone shows how bad-ass you can be for the president, “Are you bad ass enough to rescue the president’s daughter?!” the main objective of the story can be easily compares to the 80s own penny action games for crying out loud.

Ada Wong however did a nice touch, even getting Sally Cahill back to reprise her role, to the game to blend with Leon’s mission. I was glad that they did separate ways to tell her side of the story bridging on more depth for the whole scenario; las plagas parasite, Wesker, Krauser, biology, all of this helped filled the void what little plot 4 had compared to the others.

I think the game was a magnificent experience, but not the experience it should of been for a Resident Evil title considering its legacy.

[DarkMemories]

I have absolutely no problems with RE4; nothing major, anyway. IMO, the real problem people had with RE4 is that they expected something they didn't get: they fully believed in the resolution of series plotlines within the game, something that precedent should have told them was a no-go. I certainly didn't believe there would be anything of the sort.

The only thing I would change is Chapter 5-2, because that truck section with Ashley is absolutely ridiculous.

[Enrico Marini]

To be honest I dislike the majority of Resident Evil 4 yet it all seems to work well together as some kind of bastardised game. Ashley's voice is annoying, Leon's pity oneliners, Salazar, the Ganados with formentioned walk run cycles. One thing I loved was that I learnt the AI's flaws and abused the majority of the games Enemies with the knife. That was fun.

To be honest I would just replace ashley's voice, remove leon's oneliners and thats about it. I love hacking things with the knife.

I don't dislike RE5 but 4 has somewhat seduced me. 4 must be a succubus.

[Alexia_Ashford]

I dislike the lack of story, lack of Umbrella, and Las Plagas. I didn't really like the enemies either but they sorta worked for the environment.

I loved the gameplay and thoroughly enjoyed the game.

[Wesker_101]

I just disliked babysitting Ashley. However, that could be safely ignored, since they eventually put a dumpster there for her to hide in.

I love Resident Evil 4. The story isn't the best, but since it was different, I had no issue with it.

[Becky's Butt]

The lack of detail on what "The Ritual" did, as well as what function the device Saddler had Ashley in served. People whine about "why didn't he just hand over Ashley in the Church?" but forget that Saddler apparently still had things he wanted to do with Ashley. It's just we don't know exactly what those things entail...

[Sephiroth]

I hate the fact the puzzle's suck and the whole Plagas thing to me it's a jock to the series and the lack of horror in the game as well.

[TheBatMan]

I always assumed he wanted to hang onto Ashley for a while longer so he could bargain a ransom for her release so he could fund his research.

[Ghostface]

When I played Resident 4 I was like HOLY SH@@@$$$$ how the hell do I kill craploads of spanish ****tards with just a handgun (first area of game) then after that I found the drift and went with the flow. but in the original RES I was like yawn whenever a zombie came out of the top hat (random direction) because to me rotting stinking corpses are SO not scary. Re4 actually made me piss my pants cause one part when those sexy chainsaw ladies came after me.

[Branden_Lucero]

it wasn't hard enough, there should of been something harder than Professional.

there should have been a ranking system like the old games, and be penalized for dying and using first aid sprays, kill so many enemies, and complete the part of the chapter in so much time.

but i'm glad that it didn't have level select, it would of made the game too easy.

[Skunky]

I don't really have any negative things to say about RE4. I love it and it's one of my favorite games of all time (and I do also love all the early RE games).

I don't think there's been a game before or since RE4, that's such good value. The main game is EPIC, Assignment Ada is a fun bonus game (assignment), the Mercenaries is a frantic arcade style game better than a lot of full priced titles and Separate Ways is virtually another full length game. Add to that bonus weapons and costumes.

I quite like the story. I don't really understand all the hate for it. It IS more like a side story but I don't have a problem with that. I guess the problem is more that 1) they should have finished up the previous storyline first and 2) maybe it shouldn't have been called '4' but instead been titled "Resident Evil: there's something evil in Spain" (or something). But the events in RE5 have made RE4's story a lot more relevant to the 'main storyline'.

IMO RE4 has a lot of Horror and tension. I played it again just last week and still found it scary in places.

I don't mind Ashley. She's not supposed to be a helpful co-op partner. She's a fragile package you have to protect. It's the exact same game mechanic used with Sherry in RE2. She's not with you all that often and I think it helps mix things up. IMO RE4 would be less of a game without her and at least you can tell her to "Wait", "Follow me" and "Hide".

I find the puzzles complaint is also a bit odd. It's a l-o-n-g game and there's actually a number of puzzles if you add them all up. I've played the old games a LOT and there's really never been LOADS of mind bending, head scratching puzzles.

I could continue but that'll do for now... (just MY opinions)

[DarkMemories]

I don't really have any negative things to say about RE4. I love it and it's one of my favorite games of all time (and I do also love all the early RE games).

I don't think there's been a game before or since RE4, that's such good value. The main game is EPIC, Assignment Ada is a fun bonus game (assignment), the Mercenaries is a frantic arcade style game better than a lot of full priced titles and Separate Ways is virtually another full length game. Add to that bonus weapons and costumes.

I quite like the story. I don't really understand all the hate for it. It IS more like a side story but I don't have a problem with that. I guess the problem is more that 1) they should have finished up the previous storyline first and 2) maybe it shouldn't have been called '4' but instead been titled "Resident Evil: there's something evil in Spain" (or something). But the events in RE5 have made RE4's story a lot more relevant to the 'main storyline'.

IMO RE4 has a lot of Horror and tension. I played it again just last week and still found it scary in places.

I don't mind Ashley. She's not supposed to be a helpful co-op partner. She's a fragile package you have to protect. It's the exact same game mechanic used with Sherry in RE2. She's not with you all that often and I think it helps mix things up. IMO RE4 would be less of a game without her and at least you can tell her to "Wait", "Follow me" and "Hide".

I find the puzzles complaint is also a bit odd. It's a l-o-n-g game and there's actually a number of puzzles if you add them all up. I've played the old games a LOT and there's really never been LOADS of mind bending, head scratching puzzles.

I could continue but that'll do for now... (just MY opinions)

QFMFT

Seriously, this sums up my feelings about the game to a tee.

[Canas Renvall]

I find the puzzles complaint is also a bit odd. It's a l-o-n-g game and there's actually a number of puzzles if you add them all up. I've played the old games a LOT and there's really never been LOADS of mind bending, head scratching puzzles.

I don't think it's that there aren't a lot of puzzles, it's that most of them involve "Point A to point B, shoot anything that decides to move in-between".

[Stars1356]

I didn't like the fact that Umbrella was written off in a cutscene, Leon was to cocky and over the top and the game was too linear.

[Det. Beauregard]

maybe it shouldn't have been called '4' but instead been titled "Resident Evil: there's something evil in Spain" (or something).

I agree completely. I still think that Code: Veronica should have been the fourth sequential game in the series, while the RE4 we got would be a side story. CV had a lot more relevance to the main story than RE4 did.

I didn't like the fact that the game was too linear.

It was, but I found RE5 to be 10x as linear. At least you can return to many previous areas in RE4, even if you don't advance forward in the game by doing so.