Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition

Posted June 5, 2012 by Speed - 0 comments

Admitted, I’m a big fan of Resident Evil 4. Even more, I think it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played. Capcom really overdid themselves 2,5 years ago with this awesome action-adventure and now they’ve come with a remake for the Wii. The question is how can they manage to make this masterpiece even better? Simple, add motion-sensitive controls et voilà

The controls is therefore also the only meaningful difference with the Gamecube and PS2 versions. Except for the widescreen support the graphics haven’t changed and eventhough Cube-owners can now enjoy the Ada Wong missions (“Seperate Ways”) that were already present in the PS2 version, you don’t have to hope for extra content. The lack of new elements is too bad but the game still stands its ground. And with the implemented Wii-controls some additional fundations have been added.

With the analog stick you navigate your main character Leon S. Kennedy again through the Spanish woods or the beautiful rooms of a medieval castle. But the party only really starts when you push the B-button of the Wiimote. A “crosshair” appears and with the necessary easy you shoot the dead heads of many upper bodies. Although it needs some getting used to, you quickly notice these controls are a lot more precise than in the previous versions. The aiming isn’t only easier – just try one of the shooting range missions – but also a lot more fun. The intuitive controls make for even more immersion and really puts you right into the action. It’s a true pleasure to put some additional bullet holes in a peasant with your Wii-mote in hand…

During the game you also give some commands by swaying the fancy remote around. You reload by shaking while holding the B-button. If you do the same without holding the button you’ll be chopping around with your knife. Also the interactive cut-scenes make use of this. Whether you run away from a rock that’s coming your way or want to dodge the knife stabbing from Krauser, swaying the controller is the message. As such this isn’t a big addition that makes a richer gameplay experience, but the controls an sich do make things better. From now on I’m playing Resident Evil 4 on my Wii.

With some pretency, I dare call myself a true RE4-hunk. I’ve finished the game about five times already and for some reason I keep finding the violence intrigueing. The remote Spanish village has no more secrets for me, I can fin hidden treasures blindfolded, and the enemies are killed blisteringly fast. And despite the repetition excercise I was still at the edge of my seat from the first opening scene until the end credits and enjoyed every second I was in the body of Leon.

The game still plays like a rollercoaster ride where you rarely get a moment of peace and a bad feeling creeps up to you. Actually it’s sad that this 2,5 year old survival-horror masterpiece is about the best the Wii can offer us (not counting Zelda:TP). Don’t let the age of the game scare you off though, Resident Evil 4 is still the max!

If you already have the game on Cube or PS2, this version will probably not offer enough new to justify spending €40 euro on it. For all those other people who own a Wii, this game is an absolute must! It’s the best version of one of the best action games ever.

Wario: Master of Disguise The Darkness