'Evil' still resides in creepy sequel
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
If "Resident Evil 4" is a taste of what Nintendo GameCube owners can expect in 2005, the console system, which trails the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox in sales, might be poised for a comeback.
Game publisher Capcom's new "Resident Evil" is easily the finest game in this popular franchise thanks to its intense action, cinematic presentation and clever story.
"Resident Evil" adventures -- and the two Hollywood movies based on them -- pit weapon-wielding residents of Raccoon City against a horde of undead zombies.
"Resident Evil 4" departs from its predecessors because the story and enemies are different. For instance, the new "Resident Evil" has a new hero, Leon S. Kennedy, who first appeared in "Resident Evil 2."
He has advanced from rookie cop to secret agent and is dispatched to a remote European village to retrieve the president's kidnapped daughter.
Kennedy soon realizes the townsfolk want him out of the picture, and they use knives, pitchforks or chainsaws to keep him away. The villagers often attack in swarms around Kennedy, which adds to the tension.
Enemies include mutated animals and supernatural creatures. A tougher "boss" fighter usually stands in Kennedy's way at the end of each of the game's nine chapters.
Kennedy has access to a few weapons, such as a knife, handgun, shotgun and hand grenades. Breaking open crates may reveal bullets to reload weapons. When using guns, Kennedy can aim the red laser pointer to different parts of an enemy's body before shooting.
A blast to the leg will cause an enemy to limp, a blow to the torso usually lands an enemy on his or her back, while a shot to the head usually means the enemy's demise. Kennedy is also skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
"Resident Evil 4" is played from a third-person perspective, so you will see Kennedy's character slowly skulk through the ultrarealistic 3-D environments such as decrepit houses, farms, forests, a cemetery and docks.
The locations are creepy, and as in any good horror flick, enemies can appear from anywhere and grab Kennedy.
It might sound like other "survival horror" titles, but "Resident Evil 4" creates a wonderfully intense and immerse experience -- largely because you are in almost total control of Kennedy.
For example, you can have Kennedy surprise bad guys waiting at the front door to a barn by having him stealthily enter through a window instead. Decisions such as these often affect the outcome of game play.
For example, if you free a white wolf from a bear trap in the woods, it will appear later in the game to help you take on enemies.
"Resident Evil 4" is also lengthier than previous adventures in the franchise. It's also polished and the story keeps you engaged, so overall it's one of the most rewarding titles in recent memory.
Remember, however, that it's scary and gory and comes with a "Mature" warning to match.
