Our Resident Evil 4 review begins with a simple truth: this game didn’t just reinvent a franchise. It redefined an entire genre. When Capcom launched Resident Evil 4 in 2005, it wasn’t just another survival horror game. It was a shot of adrenaline to the chest of third-person shooters everywhere, and it did it all while staying scary, weird, and unapologetically bold.
From its iconic opening village siege to the grotesque depths of the Los Illuminados cult, RE4 blends action and horror with an energy that’s still unmatched nearly two decades later.
A New Perspective, A New Standard
Gone were the tank controls and fixed camera angles that had defined the series up to that point. Instead, we got an over-the-shoulder perspective that let players aim, shoot, and panic with unprecedented precision. That change? It became the blueprint for countless games that followed.
You play as Leon S. Kennedy, the ex-Raccoon City cop turned government agent sent to rescue the president’s daughter from a remote European village. What should’ve been a straightforward rescue spirals into a nightmare full of infected cultists, hulking monsters, and the occasional flaming, chainsaw-wielding lunatic.
The tone strikes a perfect balance between over-the-top and eerie. One moment, you’re kicking down doors with a suplex. The next, you’re creeping through decaying ruins wondering what fresh horror lurks behind the next corner.
Pacing That Doesn’t Let Up
Resident Evil 4 is masterfully paced. Every chapter introduces new mechanics, enemies, and environments. You’re never doing the same thing for long, and it never overstays its welcome. Whether you’re battling on a speeding minecart, fending off parasites in a castle, or protecting Ashley (with mixed success), the game keeps the adrenaline pumping.
The inventory system—yes, the suitcase—is its own kind of horror-management puzzle. Tetris with guns and herbs. It’s weirdly satisfying.
And then there’s the Merchant. Just when things get too bleak, he shows up with that gravelly voice: “What’re ya buyin’?” Instant classic.
Scares That Still Land
Despite its more action-heavy approach, RE4 doesn’t forget its roots. There’s plenty of dread, especially in its more claustrophobic sections. The Regenerators—those wheezing, shambling freaks—remain one of the series’ most unnerving enemies. And let’s not even get into the sound design in the sewers.
Every boss fight feels unique, with grotesque design and escalating stakes. From lake monsters to mutated priests, you’re constantly forced to adapt—and stay uncomfortable.
The 2023 Remake: Polished, Not Sanitised
Capcom’s remake of Resident Evil 4 honours the original while tightening its screws. The visuals are stunning, the controls modernized, and the horror dialed up without losing that signature flair. Leon still quips. The cult is still bananas. But it feels even more dangerous now.
It’s a testament to how strong the original design was that the remake feels both fresh and familiar. If anything, it makes a near-perfect game just a little more perfect.
Verdict
Resident Evil 4 isn’t just one of the greatest horror games of all time—it’s one of the greatest games, full stop. It’s tense, stylish, endlessly replayable, and packed with moments that live in your head rent-free.
Our Resident Evil 4 review stands by this: no horror-action hybrid has ever done it better, and no game has influenced more. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, the village is waiting.
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