3 Resident Evil 4 - Village survival
Despite being a white-knuckle rollercoaster of a game, it's easy to pick out the defining moment of the truly awesome Resident Evil 4. As a sequel to one of the most popular franchises around, RE4 needed to go off with a nuclear-sized bang, pleasing both die-hard fans and newcomers. But surely no one expected it to happen like this.
It's exhilarating - if a little upsetting at first - to find virtually everything you know about the series ditched from the start. But once you've lived through the heart-stopping village survival scene there's no way you can question the brilliance of Resident Evil's new direction.
The harrowing battle starts slow, with youwitnessing a poor skewered cop roasting over a smouldering bonfire while creeping into the village unnoticed. Once you're spotted though, it gets serious; wave after wave of homicidal villagers charge after you throwing blades, stabbing with pitchforks, yelling at each other and shrieking with psychotic intent.
Above: The village scene is a dramatic opener to one of the best videogames ever made, illustrating Resident Evil 4 's substantial gameplay changes to breathtaking effect
You can run, but, by Lucifer, there's no way RE4 will let you hide. Leaping through the closest window in a shower of glass - one of the game's many cool touches - and scrabbling to a first floor refuge brings a momentary lull but soon the murderous mob are crashing through the doors, clambering up ladders or hurling explosives. The ladders can be kicked down but do you dare turn your back in such claustrophobic surroundings?
Escape to a rooftop and you've a clear view and room to flee but, sooner or later, you'll hear the choking sound of a rusty chainsaw buzzing to life and a sack-headed maniac is hunting you down, the whirring device held high. The speed of your enemies, not to mention their sheer number, is terrifying. The relentless attacks force you to retreat again and again, and every reload animation becomes a life-or-death struggle.
Most impressive of all is how Resident Evil 4 successfully retains the eerie atmosphere and flavor of the series, while at the same time welding it to a breathless procession of thrilling and utterly rewarding action experiences, each one as solid and exciting as the last. And kicking it all off with such a shocking introduction is a masterful example of how to give an ailing series a new and inspiring lease of life.
Above: The village scene is a dramatic opener to one of the best videogames ever made, illustrating Resident Evil4 's substantial gameplay changes to breathtaking effect
You can run, but, by Lucifer, there's no way RE4 will let you hide. Leaping through the closest window in a shower of glass - one of the game's many cool touches - and scrabbling to a first floor refuge brings a momentary lull but soon the murderous mob are crashing through the doors, clambering up ladders or hurling explosives. The ladders can be kicked down but do you dare turn your back in such claustrophobic surroundings?
Escape to a rooftop and you've a clear view and room to flee but, sooner or later, you'll hear the choking sound of a rusty chainsaw buzzing to life and a sack-headed maniac is hunting you down, the whirring device held high. The speed of your enemies, not to mention their sheer number, is terrifying. The relentless attacks force you to retreat again and again, and every reload animation becomes a life-or-death struggle.
Most impressive of all is how Resident Evil 4 successfully retains the eerie atmosphere and flavor of the series, while at the same time welding it to a breathless procession of thrilling and utterly rewarding action experiences, each one as solid and exciting as the last. And kicking it all off with such a shocking introduction is a masterful example of how to give an ailing series a new and inspiring lease of life.
