Just like the infected villagers it depicts, “Resident Evil 4” has returned once more — this time in high style and high definition. The same lauded game from the PlayStation 2 and GameCube has leapt into today’s generation without losing what made the game special. Still present is the dark, ominous environment of a secluded Spanish village filled with virus-plagued residents.
The strongest thing about “RE:4” is its fundamentals. It’s a great overall game, with every element coming together perfectly. There’s a reason that so many other titles have imitated its over-the-shoulder, third-person combat system. The design choices, including a zoomed-in combat mode which allows for extra-precise shooting, continue to stand the test of time. And the game’s limited supply of ammo adds to the terror without slowing the game down. The soundtrack and the voices of the villagers and protagonist Leon are preserved well — each scream from the Spanish villagers will give you chills.
Even so, what should have been the main selling point of “RE 4:HD” — the bump to high-definition graphics — actually drags the overall package down. Rather than re-mastering the graphics, the developers simply upscaled the game’s visuals, giving it a more pixelated and jagged look.
Despite the somewhat disappointing visual aspects, “RE:4” is still an amazing game. Long-time fans of the series have little reason to download the remake if they’ve played this entry before. However, if you’ve never enjoyed the game’s mechanics and ambiance before, the HD remake, while not the most well-done upgrade, is a must-buy at just $20.
“Resident Evil: Code Veronica X”
Unfortunately, while the aesthetics and mechanics of “Resident Evil 4” have stood the test of time, “Resident Evil: Code Veronica X” has begun to show signs of age. The important entry in the series will be remembered for expanding the scope of the “Resident Evil” series with larger environments, once-impressive cutscenes and lighting and a haunting musical score. For these reasons alone, completionist fans of the series who weren’t able to play the game when it was first released should try it out.
The one downside, though, is the game’s counter-intuitive tank controls. Your character can only move forward and backward, only moving in other directions after being spun in place and then pushed forward. This goes completely against a modern gamer’s instincts. It’s a shame the developers couldn’t alter character movement to reflect changes in the series, but in terms of preserving the original experience, the original game is still evident.
If you have the patience to adapt to “Code Veronica’s” old-fashioned shooting and moving mechanics, then this update is worth a purchase. Even if the HD highlights rather than hides the game’s aging graphics, “Code Veronica” is still a tense, important shooter that has redefined the “Resident Evil” series. It’s still hard to recommend “Code Veronica” over “Resident Evil 4,” though. The games were released only half a decade apart, but when it comes to shooters, those five years can make all the difference.