The visuals of Resident Evil 4 are proof that we don't even need "next-generation" consoles. Almost every game I've played on the Xbox 360 looks amazing, but the art style doesn't measure up to this game. It is truly a work of art. Gore looks disgustingly real; I just wish that bodies stayed on the ground instead of "dissolving," although this is an acceptable sacrifice for the surreal graphical quality of the game. There is a scene early in the game where it is raining at night, lightning occasionally illuminating everything in the environment. Meanwhile, the rain splashes off Leon's shoulders with such realism that you'll swear you're playing a next-generation video game console. How did Capcom pull this off on the Nintendo Gamecube?
On the audio side of things, you can chalk up another win for Resident Evil 4. Weapon sounds are awesome, music is heart pounding and intense, but I feel the best part of the game is the enemy sounds. The enemies in this game speak authentic Spanish, which makes sense because the game is set in Spain. The delivery of the one-liners that these angry Spaniards throw at you is impressive to say the least. If you've brushed up on your Espanol, you'll catch them arguing or calling out where you are, or you'll hear a few curse words. It's creepy to hear the monks chanting "Mueren, Mueren, Meuren" which literally translates to, "Die, die, die."
There's plenty of value found in Resident Evil 4. If you're like me, you'll replay the game at least five times. After you've beaten it once, you can replay the game again with everything that was in your inventory when you completed the game, whether that be a plethora of first aid sprays or really sweet, upgraded weapons. There is also an addictive mini-game called Mercenaries, which plays out like an arcade-style RE4 on steroids, where your goal is to kill as many enemies as you can in a limited area to gain points. This mini-game is awesome, to say the least, because you can unlock sweet characters from previous RE games, including Wesker and Hunk. Another mini-game is Assignment Ada, which allows you to play one level of the game from Ada's perspective, and to gain more of an understanding of her purpose in the game. This series has always had sweet unlockable content, but Resident Evil 4 is the best example yet.
It's hard to find complaints about one of my favorite video games, but I must do that in an attempt to turn this into an actual review instead of a glowing praise-fest. I was extremely disappointed that the game does not run in native widescreen. True, the game is letterboxed, but widescreen TV users must zoom in if they want to rid the game of the black bars. This means a loss in image quality, which is troubling. Another complaint about the graphics: limited environmental interaction. Some of the game's items can be destroyed, but the environment feels just a bit too static. Your gun doesn't even leave bullet holes!
I also think that Capcom could have added a way of switching between weapons in game, not just in the game's inventory. Why couldn't the D-pad have been used to cycle between your weapons? Or maybe you could map each D-pad direction to a different item--such as a first aid spray or a grenade--just like Zelda on the 64. Sure, the game's current setup isn't all that bad, considering the inventory is quick and responsive, but with Resident Evil 4's highly advanced gameplay, you would think that the game's inventory would have also been given an overhaul.
You know, Resident Evil 4 happens to be my favorite game of this generation of consoles. That may have been surprising prior to this game's release, considering that no one could have expected this game to be as great as it is, but if you�ve played this game, you can see why I would think that. The game is the work of art crafted by highly talented individuals who truly knew what they wanted to do and they knew exactly how to craft it. This game was scrapped and reworked multiple times throughout its long and difficult production; therefore it should not be this good, but somehow it is. If you want a game that is truly ahead of its time and sets a new standard that future games will have to work up to, look no further. The best game of this generation has arrived.