Resident Evil 4: Difference between revisions
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'''''Resident Evil 4''''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|''Biohazard 4''|バイオハザード4|Baiohazādo Fō}}, is a [[survival horror]] [[third-person shooter]] video game developed by [[Capcom]] Production Studio 4 and published by multiple publishers, including Capcom, [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo Australia]], [[Red Ant Enterprises]] and most recently in Australia, [[THQ|THQ Asia Pacific]]. It is the sixth game in the ''[[Resident Evil]]'' series. The game was originally released on January 11, 2005 in North America, and on January 27 in Japan. |
'''''Resident Evil 4''''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|''Biohazard 4''|バイオハザード4|Baiohazādo Fō}}, is a [[survival horror]] [[third-person shooter]] video game developed by [[Capcom]] Production Studio 4 and published by multiple publishers, including Capcom, [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo Australia]], [[Red Ant Enterprises]] and most recently in Australia, [[THQ|THQ Asia Pacific]]. It is the sixth main game in the ''[[Resident Evil]]'' series. <!-- not counting Dead Aim etc. --> The game was originally released on January 11, 2005 in North America, and on January 27 in Japan. |
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First hinted at in early December 1999, ''Resident Evil 4'' underwent a long development time during which four proposed versions of the game were discarded. Initially developed for the PlayStation 2, the first attempt was [[game director|directed]] by [[Hideki Kamiya]] after producer [[Shinji Mikami]] requested him to create a new entry in the ''Resident Evil'' series. Nevertheless, it was decided to start development over again. The game was intended to be a [[Nintendo GameCube]] exclusive, but a |
First hinted at in early December 1999, ''Resident Evil 4'' underwent a long development time during which four proposed versions of the game were discarded. Initially developed for the [[PlayStation 2]], the first attempt was [[game director|directed]] by [[Hideki Kamiya]] after producer [[Shinji Mikami]] requested him to create a new entry in the ''Resident Evil'' series. Nevertheless, it was decided to start development over again. The game was intended to be a [[Nintendo GameCube]] exclusive, but a PlayStation 2 version was announced before the game was released for the GameCube. ''Resident Evil 4'' was subsequently released in full for PC ([[Microsoft Windows]]) and [[Wii]], and in heavily condensed versions for other platforms, including the [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]], [[Mobile phones]], and [[Zeebo]]. |
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''Resident Evil 4'' has garnered critical acclaim, averaging a score of 96 on [[Metacritic]]. It has received dozens of awards from various organizations and stellar reviews from various video game websites. The game was considered by critics as a top contender for {{vgy|2005}}'s Game of the Year, and was seen as a successful crossover hit; the new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the ''Resident Evil'' series. ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' named it their 2005 Game of the Year, ranked it number one on their list of the "Top 20 Best GameCube Games of All Time" in their 20th anniversary issue, and ranked it second on their list of the best games of the 2000s. ''Resident Evil 4'' was ranked number one on IGN's ''Top 99 Games of All Time'' list. The ''[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]]'' named it the Game of the Year for the PlayStation 2. |
''Resident Evil 4'' has garnered critical acclaim, averaging a score of 96 on [[Metacritic]]. It has received dozens of awards from various organizations and stellar reviews from various video game websites. The game was considered by critics as a top contender for {{vgy|2005}}'s Game of the Year, and was seen as a successful crossover hit; the new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the ''Resident Evil'' series. ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' named it their 2005 Game of the Year, ranked it number one on their list of the "Top 20 Best GameCube Games of All Time" in their 20th anniversary issue, and ranked it second on their list of the best games of the 2000s. ''Resident Evil 4'' was ranked number one on IGN's ''Top 99 Games of All Time'' list. The ''[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]]'' named it the Game of the Year for the PlayStation 2. |
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==Gameplay== |
==Gameplay== |
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The player controls [[Leon S. Kennedy]] from a [[third person shooter|third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective]] during a mission to rescue the daughter of the [[President of the United States]], [[ |
The player controls [[Leon S. Kennedy]] from a [[third person shooter|third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective]] during a mission to rescue the daughter of the [[President of the United States]], [[List of Resident Evil characters#Ashley Graham|Ashley Graham]]. The gameplay focuses on action and shootouts involving crowds of enemies in large open areas. The camera is focused behind Leon, and it zooms in for an over-the-shoulder view when aiming a weapon. The addition of a laser sight adds a new depth to the aiming, allowing the player to aim in various directions and easily change their placement at any time. Bullets now affect the enemies specifically where they are shot: shots to the feet can cause enemies to stumble, while shots to the arms can cause them to drop their weapons. |
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Another new aspect of ''Resident Evil 4'' is the inclusion of context-sensitive controls. Based on the situation, the player can interact with aspects of their environment: kicking down a ladder, jumping out of a window, or dodging an enemy attack. There are also dynamic [[cut scene]]s, in which the player must press buttons indicated on-screen to execute actions such as dodging a falling boulder or wrestling an enemy to stay alive. These are often incorporated into the game's many boss battles, where the player must avoid one-hit kill attacks. The Wii version expanded on this concept slightly by including a quick Wii Remote shake as a possible context sensitive action. |
Another new aspect of ''Resident Evil 4'' is the inclusion of context-sensitive controls. Based on the situation, the player can interact with aspects of their environment: kicking down a ladder, jumping out of a window, or dodging an enemy attack. There are also dynamic [[cut scene]]s, in which the player must press buttons indicated on-screen to execute actions such as dodging a falling boulder or wrestling an enemy to stay alive. These are often incorporated into the game's many boss battles, where the player must avoid one-hit kill attacks. The Wii version expanded on this concept slightly by including a quick Wii Remote shake as a possible context sensitive action. |
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Capcom added new content made specifically for the PlayStation 2, which was later incorporated into the PC and Wii releases. The largest addition is ''Separate Ways'', a minigame which revolves around [[Ada Wong]]'s involvement in ''Resident Evil 4'' and her connection to [[ |
Capcom added new content made specifically for the PlayStation 2, which was later incorporated into the PC and Wii releases. The largest addition is ''Separate Ways'', a minigame which revolves around [[Ada Wong]]'s involvement in ''Resident Evil 4'' and her connection to [[Albert Wesker]], a former member of STARS, who is now attempting to revive Umbrella. ''Ada's Report'', a five-part documentary, analyzes Ada's relationship with Wesker and his role in the plot. Other unlockable content in all versions included ''The Mercenaries'' minigame, new costumes for Leon and Ashley, new unlockable weapons and a Movie Browser. |
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===Enemies=== |
===Enemies=== |
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{{main|List of Resident Evil 4 creatures}} |
{{main|List of Resident Evil 4 creatures}} |
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The main enemies are parasitically-controlled humans referred to as |
The main enemies are parasitically-controlled humans referred to as ''Los Ganados" ("The Cattle" in [[Spanish language|Spanish]]). Significantly smarter and quicker than the zombies from previous games, Ganados are a very different sort of foe. These new enemies dodge, wield melee and projectile weapons, and are capable of working collectively and communicating with each other. Once simple farmers, these Ganados are the product of an infestation of "Las Plagas" ("The Plague" in Spanish). |
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===Inventory=== |
===Inventory=== |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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{{seealso|Characters in Resident Evil 4}} |
{{seealso|Characters in Resident Evil 4}} |
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In 2004, the |
In 2004, the Umbrella Corporation's secret activities within Raccoon City have become a public affair. Following an investigation conducted by the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]], several Umbrella officials are implicated and prosecuted. The government indefinitely suspends Umbrella's business, [[bankruptcy|bankrupting]] the company. |
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Leon S. Kennedy was recruited by the U.S. Secret Service after they learned of his actions in Raccoon City. Leon is sent on a mission to rescue Ashley Graham, the President's daughter, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult. Leon travels to a rural village in Europe, where he encounters a horde of violent villagers who pledge their lives to "Los Illuminados" ("The Enlightened Ones" in Spanish), the cult that has kidnapped Ashley. |
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During the course of the mission, Leon is injected with a mind-controlling [[parasite]] known as Las Plagas. He is also reunited with |
During the course of the mission, Leon is injected with a mind-controlling [[parasite]] known as Las Plagas. He is also reunited with Ada Wong, a woman from his past, and [[List of Resident Evil characters#Jack Krauser|Jack Krauser]], one of Leon's former comrades from his years of training, who was thought to be dead. He also meets [[List of Resident Evil characters#Luis Sera|Luis Sera]], a former Los Illuminados researcher who aids Leon on his mission, but is later murdered by [[List of Resident Evil characters#Osmund Saddler|Osmund Saddler]], the leader of the Los Illuminados cult. By examining Sera's notes, Leon discovers that Los Illuminados gained control of their subjects with the Las Plagas. Their plan is to inject Ashley with a parasite, and then allow her to return to the U.S., where she can infect government officials. |
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After Saddler discovers that Leon has rescued Ashley, he commands his subjects to use any means to recover her. Meanwhile, after defeating the village chief, Bitores Mendez, Leon and Ashley take refuge inside the castle of [[castellan]], |
After Saddler discovers that Leon has rescued Ashley, he commands his subjects to use any means to recover her. Meanwhile, after defeating the village chief, Bitores Mendez, Leon and Ashley take refuge inside the castle of [[castellan]], Ramon Salazar. Ashley begins to cough up blood, indicating the slow maturation of the Las Plagas egg in her bloodstream. Distressed by this, she runs off. Leon eventually finds her, but she is later captured again. Leon then battles his way through the castle to find Salazar, only to learn that Ashley has been taken to a nearby island research facility. After numerous altercations with Saddler's forces, Leon is able to rescue Ashley, remove the Las Plagas from both of their bodies and defeat Saddler with Ada's assistance. Leon recovers a vial containing a Plagas sample from Saddler's body, but Ada forces him to give it to her at gunpoint. She then escapes from the complex in a helicopter, leaving Leon and Ashley to escape via her jet-ski. |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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First hinted at in early December 1999,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/072/072895p1.html |title=Resident Evil Series to Haunt PlayStation 2 |author=Douglass C. Perry |date=3 December 1999 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> ''Resident Evil 4'' underwent a long development time during which four proposed versions of the game were discarded.<ref name="egm2005">{{cite journal |author=Kevin Gifford, Mark MacDonald |date=April 2005 |title=Afterthoughts: Resident Evil 4 |journal=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis Media Inc. |issue=190 |pages=51–52}}</ref> Initially developed for the PlayStation 2, the first attempt was [[game director|directed]] by [[Hideki Kamiya]] after producer [[Shinji Mikami]] requested him to create a new entry in the ''Resident Evil'' series.<ref name="dmcbegin">{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol002.html |title=新しいバイオ |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> Around the turn of the millennium,<ref name="dmcscenario">{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol010.html |title=The Story of the Scenario |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> regular series writer Noboru Sugimura<ref>{{cite web |url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20010411/capcom.htm |title=カプコン、深作欣二監督を招き「クロックタワー3」を制作 |author=Minoru Funatsu |date=11 April 2001 |work=GAME Watch |publisher=Impress Watch Corporation |accessdate=8 July 2010}}</ref> created a scenario for the title, based on Kamiya's idea to make a very cool and stylized [[action game]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Devil May Cry Graphic Edition |date=December 2001 |publisher=Kadokawa Shoten |isbn=9784047070714}}</ref> The story was based on unraveling the mystery surrounding the protagonist's body, an invincible man with skills and an intellect exceeding that of normal people, his superhuman abilities explained with biotechnology.<ref name="dmcscenario" /> As Kamiya felt the playable character did not look brave and heroic enough in battles from a fixed angle, he decided to drop the prerendered backgrounds from previous installments and instead opted for a [[Camera system#Interactive|dynamic camera system]].<ref name="dmcbegin" /> This new direction required the team to make a trip to Europe where they spent eleven days in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Spain]] photographing things like [[Gothic art|Gothic]] statues, bricks, and stone pavements for use in [[Texture mapping|textures]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol009.html |title=背景 |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3152913 |title=Retro/Active: Hideki Kamiya -- The Okami Family Tree |author=James Mielke |work=1UP.com |publisher=UGO Entertainment, Inc. |date=18 August 2006 |accessdate=20 July 2008}}</ref> Though the developers tried to make the "coolness" theme fit into the world of ''Resident Evil'', Mikami felt it strayed too far from the series' survival horror roots and gradually convinced all of the staff members to make the game independent from it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/094/094860p1.html |title=E3 2001: Interview with Shinji Mikami |author=Douglass C. Perry |date=17 May 2001 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=20 July 2008}}</ref> Kamiya eventually rewrote the story to be set in a world full of demons and christened the hero [[Dante (Devil May Cry)|Dante]].<ref name="dmcscenario" /> The game's new title was revealed as ''[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]'' in November 2000,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/087/087835p1.html |title=New From Capcom: Devil May Cry |date=15 November 2000 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> and development on ''Resident Evil 4'' started over at the end of 2001.<ref name="fogbegin">{{cite journal |date=December 2004 |title=Resident Evil 4 Entwickler-Tagebuch – Teil 1: Die Entstehung |journal=N-Zone |publisher=Computec Media AG |issue=12/2004 |pages=76–77 |language=German |quote=Die ersten Arbeiten an ''Resident Evil 4'' haben bereits Ende 2001 begonnen. Die Teamgröße fluktuiert je nach Entwicklungsstand, derzeit arbeiten etwa 60 Mann an dem Titel. [...] '''Hiroyuki Kobayashi:''' Es war nicht einfach, das Team bei Laune zu halten, nachdem wir die Richtung des Spiels so radikal verändert hatten. Als die Entscheidung getroffen wurde, das Spiel actionlastiger zu gestalten, war die Stimmung im Team schon sehr gedrückt. / The first work on ''Resident Evil 4'' already begun at the end of 2001. The size of team varies depending on the stage of development, about 60 people are working on the title at the moment. [...] '''Hiroyuki Kobayashi:''' It was not easy to keep the team going after we changed the direction of the game so radically. When it was decided to make the game more action-oriented, the team felt really depressed.}}</ref> |
First hinted at in early December 1999,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/072/072895p1.html |title=Resident Evil Series to Haunt PlayStation 2 |author=Douglass C. Perry |date=3 December 1999 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> ''Resident Evil 4'' underwent a long development time during which four proposed versions of the game were discarded.<ref name="egm2005">{{cite journal |author=Kevin Gifford, Mark MacDonald |date=April 2005 |title=Afterthoughts: Resident Evil 4 |journal=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis Media Inc. |issue=190 |pages=51–52}}</ref> Initially developed for the PlayStation 2, the first attempt was [[game director|directed]] by [[Hideki Kamiya]] after producer [[Shinji Mikami]] requested him to create a new entry in the ''Resident Evil'' series.<ref name="dmcbegin">{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol002.html |title=新しいバイオ |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> Around the turn of the millennium,<ref name="dmcscenario">{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol010.html |title=The Story of the Scenario |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> regular series writer [[Noboru Sugimura]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20010411/capcom.htm |title=カプコン、深作欣二監督を招き「クロックタワー3」を制作 |author=Minoru Funatsu |date=11 April 2001 |work=GAME Watch |publisher=Impress Watch Corporation |accessdate=8 July 2010}}</ref> created a scenario for the title, based on Kamiya's idea to make a very cool and stylized [[action game]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Devil May Cry Graphic Edition |date=December 2001 |publisher=Kadokawa Shoten |isbn=9784047070714}}</ref> The story was based on unraveling the mystery surrounding the protagonist's body, an invincible man with skills and an intellect exceeding that of normal people, his superhuman abilities explained with biotechnology.<ref name="dmcscenario" /> As Kamiya felt the playable character did not look brave and heroic enough in battles from a fixed angle, he decided to drop the prerendered backgrounds from previous installments and instead opted for a [[Camera system#Interactive|dynamic camera system]].<ref name="dmcbegin" /> This new direction required the team to make a trip to Europe where they spent eleven days in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Spain]] photographing things like [[Gothic art|Gothic]] statues, bricks, and stone pavements for use in [[Texture mapping|textures]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/devil/column/vol009.html |title=背景 |author=Hideki Kamiya |date=July 2001 |work=Devil May Cry Column |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3152913 |title=Retro/Active: Hideki Kamiya -- The Okami Family Tree |author=James Mielke |work=1UP.com |publisher=UGO Entertainment, Inc. |date=18 August 2006 |accessdate=20 July 2008}}</ref> Though the developers tried to make the "coolness" theme fit into the world of ''Resident Evil'', Mikami felt it strayed too far from the series' survival horror roots and gradually convinced all of the staff members to make the game independent from it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/094/094860p1.html |title=E3 2001: Interview with Shinji Mikami |author=Douglass C. Perry |date=17 May 2001 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=20 July 2008}}</ref> Kamiya eventually rewrote the story to be set in a world full of demons and christened the hero [[Dante (Devil May Cry)|Dante]].<ref name="dmcscenario" /> The game's new title was revealed as ''[[Devil May Cry (video game)|Devil May Cry]]'' in November 2000,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/087/087835p1.html |title=New From Capcom: Devil May Cry |date=15 November 2000 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> and development on ''Resident Evil 4'' started over at the end of 2001.<ref name="fogbegin">{{cite journal |date=December 2004 |title=Resident Evil 4 Entwickler-Tagebuch – Teil 1: Die Entstehung |journal=N-Zone |publisher=Computec Media AG |issue=12/2004 |pages=76–77 |language=German |quote=Die ersten Arbeiten an ''Resident Evil 4'' haben bereits Ende 2001 begonnen. Die Teamgröße fluktuiert je nach Entwicklungsstand, derzeit arbeiten etwa 60 Mann an dem Titel. [...] '''Hiroyuki Kobayashi:''' Es war nicht einfach, das Team bei Laune zu halten, nachdem wir die Richtung des Spiels so radikal verändert hatten. Als die Entscheidung getroffen wurde, das Spiel actionlastiger zu gestalten, war die Stimmung im Team schon sehr gedrückt. / The first work on ''Resident Evil 4'' already begun at the end of 2001. The size of team varies depending on the stage of development, about 60 people are working on the title at the moment. [...] '''Hiroyuki Kobayashi:''' It was not easy to keep the team going after we changed the direction of the game so radically. When it was decided to make the game more action-oriented, the team felt really depressed.}}</ref> |
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The first official announcement of the game was made in November 2002, as one of [[Capcom Five|five games]] exclusively developed for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] by Capcom's Production Studio 4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/377/377330p1.html |title=Capcom's Fantastic Five |date=13 November 2002 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> This revision, commonly dubbed the "fog version", was directed by Hiroshi Shibata<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021116211311/http://www.capcom.co.jp/gamecube/english.html |title=Director's comment: biohazard 4 |date=14 November 2002 |work=Production Studio 4 Announcements |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. (via [[Internet Archive]]) |quote=The game the whole world has been waiting for will finally be unveiled. The story takes place deep inside the very heart of Umbrella, the evil company responsible for the progenitor virus. The main character of Resident Evil 2, Leon S. Kennedy, is back in the game. What will Umbrella have in store for him this time? That "surprise" will push Leon to the very limits of his being for one purpose...the STRUGGLE to survive. Director / Hiroshi Shibata |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> and was 40 percent finished at that time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040505074110/www.gfdata.de/archiv11-2002/november03.html |title=Neue Infos zu Biohazard 4 |date=20 November 2002 |work=GAMEFRONT Online |publisher=GAMEFRONT Verlagsges. (via [[Internet Archive]]) |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> The game saw [[Leon S. Kennedy]] infiltrating the Umbrella headquarters in Europe and featured traditional ''Resident Evil'' monsters such as zombies.<ref name="egm2005" /><ref name="gamespykobayashi" /><ref>{{cite video game|title=Resident Evil 2 |developer=Capcom Co., Ltd. |publisher=Capcom USA, Inc. |date=21 January 1998 |platform=PlayStation |quote='''Chris's Diary:''' We talked it over, and have decided to fly to the main Umbrella HQ in Europe.}}</ref> During the course of the new story which was again written by [[Flagship (company)|Flagship]],<ref>{{cite journal |year=2001 |month=May |title=Im Gespräch mit Shinji Mikami |journal=play |publisher=CyPress GmbH |issue=05/2001 |page=27 |language=German |quote='''Mikami:''' Ja, Flagship hat die Story dazu geschrieben. Mehr über Teil 4 werde ich aber nicht verraten (lacht). / Yes, Flagship wrote the story for it. But I won't reveal anything more about part 4 (laughs).}}</ref> Leon became infected with the Progenitor Virus and possessed a hidden power in his left hand.<ref name="egm2005" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/524/524138p9.html |title=Resident Evil Series Profile |date=25 June 2004 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://un-wiredtv.com/index.php/headlines/game_info/paul_mercier/ |title=Interview with Paul Mercier |date=21 September 2009 |publisher=unWIRED TV |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> The producer of the final version also pointed out that Ashley did not appear back then, though there was a different girl who was never revealed to the public.<ref name="egm2005" /> |
The first official announcement of the game was made in November 2002, as one of [[Capcom Five|five games]] exclusively developed for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] by Capcom's Production Studio 4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/377/377330p1.html |title=Capcom's Fantastic Five |date=13 November 2002 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> This revision, commonly dubbed the "fog version", was directed by Hiroshi Shibata<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021116211311/http://www.capcom.co.jp/gamecube/english.html |title=Director's comment: biohazard 4 |date=14 November 2002 |work=Production Studio 4 Announcements |publisher=Capcom Co., Ltd. (via [[Internet Archive]]) |quote=The game the whole world has been waiting for will finally be unveiled. The story takes place deep inside the very heart of Umbrella, the evil company responsible for the progenitor virus. The main character of Resident Evil 2, Leon S. Kennedy, is back in the game. What will Umbrella have in store for him this time? That "surprise" will push Leon to the very limits of his being for one purpose...the STRUGGLE to survive. Director / Hiroshi Shibata |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> and was 40 percent finished at that time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040505074110/www.gfdata.de/archiv11-2002/november03.html |title=Neue Infos zu Biohazard 4 |date=20 November 2002 |work=GAMEFRONT Online |publisher=GAMEFRONT Verlagsges. (via [[Internet Archive]]) |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> The game saw [[Leon S. Kennedy]] infiltrating the Umbrella headquarters in Europe and featured traditional ''Resident Evil'' monsters such as zombies.<ref name="egm2005" /><ref name="gamespykobayashi" /><ref>{{cite video game|title=Resident Evil 2 |developer=Capcom Co., Ltd. |publisher=Capcom USA, Inc. |date=21 January 1998 |platform=PlayStation |quote='''Chris's Diary:''' We talked it over, and have decided to fly to the main Umbrella HQ in Europe.}}</ref> During the course of the new story which was again written by [[Flagship (company)|Flagship]],<ref>{{cite journal |year=2001 |month=May |title=Im Gespräch mit Shinji Mikami |journal=play |publisher=CyPress GmbH |issue=05/2001 |page=27 |language=German |quote='''Mikami:''' Ja, Flagship hat die Story dazu geschrieben. Mehr über Teil 4 werde ich aber nicht verraten (lacht). / Yes, Flagship wrote the story for it. But I won't reveal anything more about part 4 (laughs).}}</ref> Leon became infected with the Progenitor Virus and possessed a hidden power in his left hand.<ref name="egm2005" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/524/524138p9.html |title=Resident Evil Series Profile |date=25 June 2004 |work=IGN.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://un-wiredtv.com/index.php/headlines/game_info/paul_mercier/ |title=Interview with Paul Mercier |date=21 September 2009 |publisher=unWIRED TV |accessdate=17 July 2010}}</ref> The producer of the final version also pointed out that Ashley did not appear back then, though there was a different girl who was never revealed to the public.<ref name="egm2005" /> |
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==Audio== |
==Audio== |
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===Voice actors=== |
===Voice actors=== |
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The game's English voice actors recorded their parts in four sessions, over three to four months.<ref name="cary">{{cite news |first=Chris|last=Carle|title=Babe Interview: Carolyn Lawrence|date=2005-08-02|publisher=IGN|url=http://stars.ign.com/articles/663/663669p1.html|pages=2–3|accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref> Capcom hired Shinsaku Ohara as the game's script translator and voice over coordinator.<ref name="credits">{{cite video game |title=Resident Evil 4 |date=25 October 2005 |developer=[[Capcom Co., Ltd.]] |publisher=[[Capcom Entertainment, Inc.]] |platform=[[PlayStation 2]] |scene=staff credits of main game and ''Separate Ways''}}</ref> In an interview with |
The game's English voice actors recorded their parts in four sessions, over three to four months.<ref name="cary">{{cite news |first=Chris|last=Carle|title=Babe Interview: Carolyn Lawrence|date=2005-08-02|publisher=IGN|url=http://stars.ign.com/articles/663/663669p1.html|pages=2–3|accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref> Capcom hired Shinsaku Ohara as the game's script translator and voice over coordinator.<ref name="credits">{{cite video game |title=Resident Evil 4 |date=25 October 2005 |developer=[[Capcom Co., Ltd.]] |publisher=[[Capcom Entertainment, Inc.]] |platform=[[PlayStation 2]] |scene=staff credits of main game and ''Separate Ways''}}</ref> In an interview with IGN, [[Carolyn Lawrence]], who provided the voice for Ashley Graham, described her character as "vulnerable, because Leon has to come to her rescue all the time".<ref name="cary"/> She also described Kennedy's character as "more brawn, perhaps than brain".<ref name="cary"/> In addition to the voice acting, the game's designer detailed each cinematic sequence so that each character's facial expressions matched the tone of their voice actor.<ref name="dvd"/> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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''Resident Evil 4'' has garnered critical acclaim, averaging a score of 96 on [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MC"/> It has received dozens of awards from various organizations and stellar reviews from various video game websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/search/process?sort=relevance&termType=all&ts=Resident+Evil+4&ty=3&x=0&y=0|title=Search Results: "Resident Evil 4"|publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=2007-07-22}}</ref> The game was considered by critics as a top contender for {{vgy|2005}}'s Game of the Year, and was seen as a successful crossover hit; the new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the ''Resident Evil'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/toppers/?id=9087|title=Capcom's RE4 Reinvigorates the Franchise|last=Brightman|first=James|publisher=GameDaily BIZ|date=2005-03-02|accessdate=2007-01-28 }}</ref> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' named it their 2005 Game of the Year, ranked it number 1 on their list of the "Top 20 Best GameCube Games of All Time" in their 20th anniversary issue<ref name=nintendopower>{{cite journal|title=Resident Evil 4|journal=Nintendo Power|month=March|year=2005 |page=105}}</ref> and ranked it second on their list of the best games of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite journal |title= The Best of the Decade |journal=Nintendo Power |issue=252 |page=76 |month=March |year=2010}}</ref> ''Resident Evil 4'' was ranked number 1 on IGN's ''Top 99 Games of All Time'' list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://microsites.ign.com/kfc/top99games/10.html|title=TOP 99 GAMES OF ALL TIME|accessdate=2008-09-11|publisher=IGN}}</ref> The ''[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]]'' named it the Game of the Year for the PlayStation 2. ''[[Game Informer]]'' gave both editions of ''Resident Evil 4'' a perfect score, and along ranking number one on their list of "Best GameCube Games of All Time" they named it their 2005 Game of the Year.<ref name=gameinformer>{{cite journal|title=Resident Evil 4|journal=Game Informer|month=March|year=2005 |page=134}}</ref> It tied with ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' as ''[[Famitsu]]'s'' Game of the Year 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/04/21/103,1145605197,52094,0,0.html|title="FAMITSU AWARDS 2005"大賞は『キングダム ハーツII』と『バイオハザード4』!!|publisher=[[Famitsu]] |accessdate=2007-01-28|language=Japanese}}</ref> Subsequently, ''Resident Evil 4'' was named "Game of the Year" at the 2005 ''[[Spike TV Video Game Awards]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/residentevil4/news.html?sid=6140144 |title=RE4 named Game of Year at Spike Awards|last=Sinclair|first=Brendan|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date=2005-11-19 |accessdate=2007-01-28}}</ref> Also, the [[G4 (TV channel)|G4]] TV show ''[[X-Play]]'' named it the greatest game since the beginning of the series in April 2003.<ref name="xplaywii"/> |
''Resident Evil 4'' has garnered critical acclaim, averaging a score of 96 on [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MC"/> It has received dozens of awards from various organizations and stellar reviews from various video game websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/search/process?sort=relevance&termType=all&ts=Resident+Evil+4&ty=3&x=0&y=0|title=Search Results: "Resident Evil 4"|publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=2007-07-22}}</ref> The game was considered by critics as a top contender for {{vgy|2005}}'s Game of the Year, and was seen as a successful crossover hit; the new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the ''Resident Evil'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/toppers/?id=9087|title=Capcom's RE4 Reinvigorates the Franchise|last=Brightman|first=James|publisher=GameDaily BIZ|date=2005-03-02|accessdate=2007-01-28 }}</ref> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' named it their 2005 Game of the Year, ranked it number 1 on their list of the "Top 20 Best GameCube Games of All Time" in their 20th anniversary issue<ref name=nintendopower>{{cite journal|title=Resident Evil 4|journal=Nintendo Power|month=March|year=2005 |page=105}}</ref> and ranked it second on their list of the best games of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite journal |title= The Best of the Decade |journal=Nintendo Power |issue=252 |page=76 |month=March |year=2010}}</ref> ''Resident Evil 4'' was ranked number 1 on [[IGN]]'s ''Top 99 Games of All Time'' list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://microsites.ign.com/kfc/top99games/10.html|title=TOP 99 GAMES OF ALL TIME|accessdate=2008-09-11|publisher=IGN}}</ref> The ''[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]]'' named it the Game of the Year for the PlayStation 2. ''[[Game Informer]]'' gave both editions of ''Resident Evil 4'' a perfect score, and along ranking number one on their list of "Best GameCube Games of All Time" they named it their 2005 Game of the Year.<ref name=gameinformer>{{cite journal|title=Resident Evil 4|journal=Game Informer|month=March|year=2005 |page=134}}</ref> It tied with ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' as ''[[Famitsu]]'s'' Game of the Year 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/04/21/103,1145605197,52094,0,0.html|title="FAMITSU AWARDS 2005"大賞は『キングダム ハーツII』と『バイオハザード4』!!|publisher=[[Famitsu]] |accessdate=2007-01-28|language=Japanese}}</ref> Subsequently, ''Resident Evil 4'' was named "Game of the Year" at the 2005 ''[[Spike TV Video Game Awards]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/residentevil4/news.html?sid=6140144 |title=RE4 named Game of Year at Spike Awards|last=Sinclair|first=Brendan|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date=2005-11-19 |accessdate=2007-01-28}}</ref> Also, the [[G4 (TV channel)|G4]] TV show ''[[X-Play]]'' named it the greatest game since the beginning of the series in April 2003.<ref name="xplaywii"/> |
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The Nintendo GameCube version sold over 320,000 copies in North America during the first twenty days. The European release sold its entire 200,000 units during the first month. By January 2006, over 3,000,000 copies of the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions had been shipped worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/news/html/e060208a.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061208145426/http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/news/html/e060208a.html|archivedate=2006-12-08|title=The Latest Installment in Capcom's Hit Resident Evil Series "Resident Evil 4" Ships 3 Million!|publisher=[[Capcom]]|accessdate=2007-01-28}}</ref> According to January 17, 2007 sales figures provided by Capcom, the GameCube version of ''Resident Evil 4'' has sold a total of 1.6 million units worldwide, while the PS2 version has sold over 2 million units.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/data/million.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070621040246/http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/data/million.html |archivedate=2007-06-21|title=Platinum Titles|publisher=[[Capcom]]|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> |
The Nintendo GameCube version sold over 320,000 copies in North America during the first twenty days. The European release sold its entire 200,000 units during the first month. By January 2006, over 3,000,000 copies of the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions had been shipped worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/news/html/e060208a.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061208145426/http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/news/html/e060208a.html|archivedate=2006-12-08|title=The Latest Installment in Capcom's Hit Resident Evil Series "Resident Evil 4" Ships 3 Million!|publisher=[[Capcom]]|accessdate=2007-01-28}}</ref> According to January 17, 2007 sales figures provided by Capcom, the GameCube version of ''Resident Evil 4'' has sold a total of 1.6 million units worldwide, while the PS2 version has sold over 2 million units.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/data/million.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070621040246/http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/data/million.html |archivedate=2007-06-21|title=Platinum Titles|publisher=[[Capcom]]|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.capcom.com/re4/ Official American site] |
* [http://www.capcom.com/re4/ Official American site] |
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* [http://www.res-evil.com/re4/ Official European site] |
* [http://www.res-evil.com/re4/ Official European site] |
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* {{moby game|id=/resident-evil-4}} |
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* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/gamecube/535840-resident-evil-4 ''Resident Evil 4''] at [[GameFAQs]] |
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* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397042/ ''Resident Evil 4''] at the [[Internet Movie Database]] |
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* {{StrategyWiki}} |
* {{StrategyWiki}} |
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* [http://residentevil.wikia.com/Resident_Evil_4 Resident Evil 4 - The Resident Evil Wiki] |
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* [http://capcomdatabase.wikia.com/wiki/Resident_Evil_4 Resident Evil 4 - Capcom Database Wiki] |
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{{Resident Evil series}} |
{{Resident Evil series}} |
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Revision as of 14:22, 16 October 2010
Resident Evil 4 | |
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Developer(s) | Capcom Production Studio 4 |
Publisher(s) | Capcom Ubisoft (PC) Nintendo Australia (GameCube and Wii) Red Ant Enterprises (Wii) THQ Asia Pacific |
Director(s) | Shinji Mikami |
Producer(s) | Hiroyuki Kobayashi |
Writer(s) | Shinji Mikami[1] Satoshi Yoshimatsu Haruo Murata |
Composer(s) | Shusaku Uchiyama Misao Senbongi |
Series | Resident Evil |
Platform(s) | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Wii, iOS, Mobile phones, Zeebo, iPad |
Release | January 11, 2005
|
Genre(s) | Survival horror, third-person shooter |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Resident Evil 4, known in Japan as Biohazard 4 (バイオハザード4, Baiohazādo Fō), is a survival horror third-person shooter video game developed by Capcom Production Studio 4 and published by multiple publishers, including Capcom, Ubisoft, Nintendo Australia, Red Ant Enterprises and most recently in Australia, THQ Asia Pacific. It is the sixth main game in the Resident Evil series. The game was originally released on January 11, 2005 in North America, and on January 27 in Japan.
First hinted at in early December 1999, Resident Evil 4 underwent a long development time during which four proposed versions of the game were discarded. Initially developed for the PlayStation 2, the first attempt was directed by Hideki Kamiya after producer Shinji Mikami requested him to create a new entry in the Resident Evil series. Nevertheless, it was decided to start development over again. The game was intended to be a Nintendo GameCube exclusive, but a PlayStation 2 version was announced before the game was released for the GameCube. Resident Evil 4 was subsequently released in full for PC (Microsoft Windows) and Wii, and in heavily condensed versions for other platforms, including the iOS, Mobile phones, and Zeebo.
Resident Evil 4 has garnered critical acclaim, averaging a score of 96 on Metacritic. It has received dozens of awards from various organizations and stellar reviews from various video game websites. The game was considered by critics as a top contender for Template:Vgy's Game of the Year, and was seen as a successful crossover hit; the new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the Resident Evil series. Nintendo Power named it their 2005 Game of the Year, ranked it number one on their list of the "Top 20 Best GameCube Games of All Time" in their 20th anniversary issue, and ranked it second on their list of the best games of the 2000s. Resident Evil 4 was ranked number one on IGN's Top 99 Games of All Time list. The Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine named it the Game of the Year for the PlayStation 2.
Gameplay
The player controls Leon S. Kennedy from a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective during a mission to rescue the daughter of the President of the United States, Ashley Graham. The gameplay focuses on action and shootouts involving crowds of enemies in large open areas. The camera is focused behind Leon, and it zooms in for an over-the-shoulder view when aiming a weapon. The addition of a laser sight adds a new depth to the aiming, allowing the player to aim in various directions and easily change their placement at any time. Bullets now affect the enemies specifically where they are shot: shots to the feet can cause enemies to stumble, while shots to the arms can cause them to drop their weapons.
Another new aspect of Resident Evil 4 is the inclusion of context-sensitive controls. Based on the situation, the player can interact with aspects of their environment: kicking down a ladder, jumping out of a window, or dodging an enemy attack. There are also dynamic cut scenes, in which the player must press buttons indicated on-screen to execute actions such as dodging a falling boulder or wrestling an enemy to stay alive. These are often incorporated into the game's many boss battles, where the player must avoid one-hit kill attacks. The Wii version expanded on this concept slightly by including a quick Wii Remote shake as a possible context sensitive action.
Capcom added new content made specifically for the PlayStation 2, which was later incorporated into the PC and Wii releases. The largest addition is Separate Ways, a minigame which revolves around Ada Wong's involvement in Resident Evil 4 and her connection to Albert Wesker, a former member of STARS, who is now attempting to revive Umbrella. Ada's Report, a five-part documentary, analyzes Ada's relationship with Wesker and his role in the plot. Other unlockable content in all versions included The Mercenaries minigame, new costumes for Leon and Ashley, new unlockable weapons and a Movie Browser.
Enemies
The main enemies are parasitically-controlled humans referred to as Los Ganados" ("The Cattle" in Spanish). Significantly smarter and quicker than the zombies from previous games, Ganados are a very different sort of foe. These new enemies dodge, wield melee and projectile weapons, and are capable of working collectively and communicating with each other. Once simple farmers, these Ganados are the product of an infestation of "Las Plagas" ("The Plague" in Spanish).
Inventory
The inventory system of the game features a grid system, represented by an attache case, that has each item take up a certain number of spaces. The case can be upgraded several times, allowing for more space. Weapons, ammunition and healing items are kept in the case, while key items are kept in a separate menu. Items may be bought from and sold to a wandering merchant that appears in various locations throughout the game. He sells first aid sprays, weapons, allows for weapons to be upgraded and buys various treasures that Leon finds. The various weapons each have their own advantages and disadvantages.[3][4] One major goal for the game design was to increase weapon diversity to improve player freedom and gameplay depth.[5]
Plot
In 2004, the Umbrella Corporation's secret activities within Raccoon City have become a public affair. Following an investigation conducted by the U.S. government, several Umbrella officials are implicated and prosecuted. The government indefinitely suspends Umbrella's business, bankrupting the company.
Leon S. Kennedy was recruited by the U.S. Secret Service after they learned of his actions in Raccoon City. Leon is sent on a mission to rescue Ashley Graham, the President's daughter, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult. Leon travels to a rural village in Europe, where he encounters a horde of violent villagers who pledge their lives to "Los Illuminados" ("The Enlightened Ones" in Spanish), the cult that has kidnapped Ashley.
During the course of the mission, Leon is injected with a mind-controlling parasite known as Las Plagas. He is also reunited with Ada Wong, a woman from his past, and Jack Krauser, one of Leon's former comrades from his years of training, who was thought to be dead. He also meets Luis Sera, a former Los Illuminados researcher who aids Leon on his mission, but is later murdered by Osmund Saddler, the leader of the Los Illuminados cult. By examining Sera's notes, Leon discovers that Los Illuminados gained control of their subjects with the Las Plagas. Their plan is to inject Ashley with a parasite, and then allow her to return to the U.S., where she can infect government officials.
After Saddler discovers that Leon has rescued Ashley, he commands his subjects to use any means to recover her. Meanwhile, after defeating the village chief, Bitores Mendez, Leon and Ashley take refuge inside the castle of castellan, Ramon Salazar. Ashley begins to cough up blood, indicating the slow maturation of the Las Plagas egg in her bloodstream. Distressed by this, she runs off. Leon eventually finds her, but she is later captured again. Leon then battles his way through the castle to find Salazar, only to learn that Ashley has been taken to a nearby island research facility. After numerous altercations with Saddler's forces, Leon is able to rescue Ashley, remove the Las Plagas from both of their bodies and defeat Saddler with Ada's assistance. Leon recovers a vial containing a Plagas sample from Saddler's body, but Ada forces him to give it to her at gunpoint. She then escapes from the complex in a helicopter, leaving Leon and Ashley to escape via her jet-ski.
Development
First hinted at in early December 1999,[6] Resident Evil 4 underwent a long development time during which four proposed versions of the game were discarded.[7] Initially developed for the PlayStation 2, the first attempt was directed by Hideki Kamiya after producer Shinji Mikami requested him to create a new entry in the Resident Evil series.[8] Around the turn of the millennium,[9] regular series writer Noboru Sugimura[10] created a scenario for the title, based on Kamiya's idea to make a very cool and stylized action game.[11] The story was based on unraveling the mystery surrounding the protagonist's body, an invincible man with skills and an intellect exceeding that of normal people, his superhuman abilities explained with biotechnology.[9] As Kamiya felt the playable character did not look brave and heroic enough in battles from a fixed angle, he decided to drop the prerendered backgrounds from previous installments and instead opted for a dynamic camera system.[8] This new direction required the team to make a trip to Europe where they spent eleven days in the United Kingdom and Spain photographing things like Gothic statues, bricks, and stone pavements for use in textures.[12][13] Though the developers tried to make the "coolness" theme fit into the world of Resident Evil, Mikami felt it strayed too far from the series' survival horror roots and gradually convinced all of the staff members to make the game independent from it.[14] Kamiya eventually rewrote the story to be set in a world full of demons and christened the hero Dante.[9] The game's new title was revealed as Devil May Cry in November 2000,[15] and development on Resident Evil 4 started over at the end of 2001.[16]
The first official announcement of the game was made in November 2002, as one of five games exclusively developed for the Nintendo GameCube by Capcom's Production Studio 4.[17] This revision, commonly dubbed the "fog version", was directed by Hiroshi Shibata[18] and was 40 percent finished at that time.[19] The game saw Leon S. Kennedy infiltrating the Umbrella headquarters in Europe and featured traditional Resident Evil monsters such as zombies.[7][20][21] During the course of the new story which was again written by Flagship,[22] Leon became infected with the Progenitor Virus and possessed a hidden power in his left hand.[7][23][24] The producer of the final version also pointed out that Ashley did not appear back then, though there was a different girl who was never revealed to the public.[7]
Nevertheless, it was decided to start development over again.[7] At E3 2003, another revision was revealed that is widely known as the "hook man version" now, though officially titled Maboroshi no Biohazard 4 (幻の「バイオハザード4」, lit. "Hallucination Biohazard 4") on the Biohazard 4 Secret DVD.[25] During Mikami's introduction of the trailer, he assured that development was proceeding very smoothly and claimed the game to be the scarier than ever before, warning gamers with the quote "Don't pee your pants!"[25] The story was set in a haunted building where Leon contracted a bizarre disease and fought paranormal enemies, such as medieval suits of armor, living dolls, and a ghostlike man armed with a large hook.[20][25] The game had an otherworldly feel to it, containing elements like flashbacks and hallucinations that were marked by a bluish tint and a shaking camera.[7] It also displayed various gameplay mechanics that carried over to the final release, like the over-the-shoulder camera for aiming in battles.[25] Other features, such as dialogue choices, were removed later.[7] Though ultimately scrapped, five minutes of gameplay footage for this version were released on the Biohazard 4 Secret DVD, a Japanese preorder bonus given out in January 2005.[26] After this attempt, the last canceled revision featured zombies again, but was discontinued before it was shown to the public as the developers felt it was too formulaic.[7]
Following that, it was decided to change the game's genre to reinvent the series.[20] Mikami took over directorial duties from Shibata and began working on the version that was released.[27] In a later interview, he mentioned that he was put under enormous pressure by Capcom, threatened with the series' cancellation if the game did not sell well.[28] According to newly-assigned producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi,[27] the development team felt depressed and was hard to motivate after the focus of the game shifted from horror to action.[16] Although Mikami demanded the camera system to be completely revised, the staff members had reservations about making big changes to the series he had created.[29] Eventually, Mikami intervened, explained his proposed changes, and wrote a new story for the title that, unlike previous installments, was not centered on the Umbrella Corporation or its exploits.[1][29][30] The communication script was provided by Satoshi Yoshimatsu.[31] To go along with the new gameplay and story, a new type of enemy called "Ganado" was created, as opposed to using the undead creatures from previous Resident Evil games.[30] Furthermore, producers expended additional detail to modify and update characters that had previously appeared in the series. In a documentary explaining the conception of the game's characters, a game designer stated he intended to make Leon Kennedy "look tougher, but also cool".[32]
Along with Resident Evil: Dead Aim and Resident Evil Outbreak, two side story titles that did not fall under the exclusive policy, it was announced on October 31, 2004 that Resident Evil 4 would come to the PlayStation 2 in 2005, citing increased profit, changing market conditions, and increased consumer satisfaction as the key reasons. The PS2 version included new features, primarily a new subgame featuring Ada Wong. On February 1, 2006, Ubisoft announced that they would be publishing the game on the PC for Microsoft Windows.[33] On April 4, 2007, a Wii version was announced, and was launched later in the year. The game features all of the extras in the PS2 version, along with other additions, including a trailer for Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.
Audio
Voice actors
The game's English voice actors recorded their parts in four sessions, over three to four months.[34] Capcom hired Shinsaku Ohara as the game's script translator and voice over coordinator.[31] In an interview with IGN, Carolyn Lawrence, who provided the voice for Ashley Graham, described her character as "vulnerable, because Leon has to come to her rescue all the time".[34] She also described Kennedy's character as "more brawn, perhaps than brain".[34] In addition to the voice acting, the game's designer detailed each cinematic sequence so that each character's facial expressions matched the tone of their voice actor.[32]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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Metacritic | GC: 96% (82 reviews)[35] PS2: 96% (38 reviews) [36] |
Publication | Score |
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1Up.com | GC: A[39] Wii: B+[42] |
Game Informer | GC: 10 out of 10[46] Wii: 9.5 out of 10[47] |
GamePro | GC & PS2: [43][44] Wii: 4.8 out of 5[45] |
GameSpot | GC: 9.6 out of 10[48] PS2: 9.3 out of 10[49] PC: 7.8 out of 10[50] Wii: 9.1 out of 10[51] |
GameSpy | GC, PS2 & Wii: [52][53][54] PC: [55] |
GameTrailers | GC: 9.6 out of 10[56] Wii: 9.3 out of 10[57] |
IGN | GC: 9.8 out of 10[58] PS2: 9.5 out of 10[59] PC: 7.7 out of 10[60] Wii: 9 out of 10[61] |
Nintendo Power | GC: 10 out of 10[62] |
Official Nintendo Magazine | Wii: 94%[63] |
Play | GC & PS2: 9 out of 10[64] Wii: 9.5 out of 10[65] |
X-Play | GC & PS2: [66][67] Wii: [68] |
Publication | Award |
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Golden Joystick Awards )People's Gaming Awards) | GameCube Game of the Year |
Resident Evil 4 has garnered critical acclaim, averaging a score of 96 on Metacritic.[35] It has received dozens of awards from various organizations and stellar reviews from various video game websites.[69] The game was considered by critics as a top contender for Template:Vgy's Game of the Year, and was seen as a successful crossover hit; the new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the Resident Evil series.[70] Nintendo Power named it their 2005 Game of the Year, ranked it number 1 on their list of the "Top 20 Best GameCube Games of All Time" in their 20th anniversary issue[62] and ranked it second on their list of the best games of the 2000s.[71] Resident Evil 4 was ranked number 1 on IGN's Top 99 Games of All Time list.[72] The Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine named it the Game of the Year for the PlayStation 2. Game Informer gave both editions of Resident Evil 4 a perfect score, and along ranking number one on their list of "Best GameCube Games of All Time" they named it their 2005 Game of the Year.[46] It tied with Kingdom Hearts II as Famitsu's Game of the Year 2005.[73] Subsequently, Resident Evil 4 was named "Game of the Year" at the 2005 Spike TV Video Game Awards.[74] Also, the G4 TV show X-Play named it the greatest game since the beginning of the series in April 2003.[68]
The Nintendo GameCube version sold over 320,000 copies in North America during the first twenty days. The European release sold its entire 200,000 units during the first month. By January 2006, over 3,000,000 copies of the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions had been shipped worldwide.[75] According to January 17, 2007 sales figures provided by Capcom, the GameCube version of Resident Evil 4 has sold a total of 1.6 million units worldwide, while the PS2 version has sold over 2 million units.[76]
The characters and story generally received positive commentary. GameSpot's Greg Kasavin praised the game's voice acting, but claimed that it was betrayed by "some uncharacteristically goofy dialogue".[48] Yahoo! Games' Adam Pavlacka and GameSpot's Kevin VanOrd acclaimed Capcom for adding great amounts of detail to the game's characters.[51][77] IGN's Matt Casamassina went into further detail in his review for Resident Evil 4, praising not only the detailed character design, but also the fight choreography and three-dimensional modeling within cinematic sequences.[58] Casamassina also complimented the game's voice actors, especially Paul Mercier, commenting, "For once, the characters are believable because Capcom has hired competent actors to supply their voices. Leon in particular is very well produced".[58] IGN and Nintendo Power specifically recognized Resident Evil 4's character design and voice acting. Nintendo Power acknowledged the title's voice acting in its 2005 Power Awards,[78] while IGN awarded the game the "artistic design" award in its the "Best of 2005" segment.[79] The International Game Developers Association nominated Resident Evil 4 for their best "visual arts" award,[80] but lost the award to Sony's Shadow of the Colossus.[81] Hyper's Jonti Davies commended Resident Evil 4: Wii edition for its "visual improvements" and criticised it for having "no new content".[82]
The increased variety of weapons has been praised by gaming publications such as GamePro[83] and Game Over Online Magazine.[84] The makers of Resident Evil 4 worked on various innovations associated with the use and inventory of weapons.[85] Thomas Wilde explains that players can use the vast array of weapons to "go for headshots now".[84] Game Informer explains that ammunition is more plentiful in Resident Evil 4 than in other games in the series, making the game more action-oriented.[86] Game Informer ranked Resident Evil 4 #1 on their list of Top 25 GameCube games.[87] Game Informer also ranked Resident Evil 4 #3 on their list of Top 25 PlayStation 2 games.[88]
Influence
Resident Evil 4 is regarded as one of the most influential games of the 2000s decade, due to its influence in redefining at least two video game genres: the survival horror and the third-person shooter.[89] It helped redefine the third-person shooter genre by introducing a "reliance on offset camera angles that fail to obscure the action." A number of third-person shooters were inspired by it, most notably Gears of War.[90] The "over the shoulder" viewpoint introduced in Resident Evil 4 has now become standard in third-person shooters, including titles ranging from Gears of War to Batman: Arkham Asylum.[89]
Resident Evil 4 also attempted to redefine the survival horror genre by emphasizing reflexes and precision aiming,[91] thus broadening the gameplay of the series with elements from the wider action genre.[92] However, this also led some reviewers to suggest that the Resident Evil series had abandoned the survival horror genre,[93][94] by demolishing the genre conventions that it had established.[95] Other major survival horror series followed suit, by developing their combat systems to feature more action, such as Silent Hill Homecoming,[93] and the 2008 version of Alone in the Dark.[96] These changes represent an overall trend among console games shifting towards visceral action gameplay.[97]
Versions
Special editions
The GameCube version featured two different collector's versions of the game. The first was available as a pre-order from the official website that included the game, Prologue Art book, and a white t-shirt with a black logo of game's title on the front and the website address on the back. GameStop offered another limited edition that was packaged in a tin box with an artwork book about the story of the series, a cel of Leon, and a soundtrack CD.[98] Australia received an exclusive collector's edition that comes with the game, and a bonus disc with interviews and creator's footage for both the game and previous Resident Evil installments.
The PlayStation 2 version featured two standard and collector's bundles from pre-orders on the official website. The standard package included the game and a dark blue t-shirt that featured a small Capcom logo on the front, and the game cover and website on the back. The collector's bundle included the game, t-shirt, a Leon S. Kennedy figurine, sculpted by NECA, and a black Biohazard Sound Chronicle Best Track Box, that contains six discs in solid black cases and a CD booklet with information on lists of selected songs. This quickly sold out, and a second pressing was released that included an Ada Wong figurine. Another, called the Resident Evil 4: Premium Edition, was packaged in a Steelbook media case, along with the artwork book, a documentary DVD, and a cel art of Ada.[99]
PlayStation 2 version
Resident Evil 4 was ported to the PlayStation 2 after Capcom stated that it did not fall under the exclusivity deal with Nintendo. It was released in America on October 25, 2005. Critics said that the PlayStation 2 version's graphics were inferior to the graphics in the GameCube version. However, some felt that the large number of exclusive features made up for these shortcomings.[100] The largest addition to the game is "Separate Ways", a new scenario for Ada written by Haruo Murata.[31] The port was later included with Resident Evil Code: Veronica X and Resident Evil Outbreak as part of the compilation Resident Evil: The Essentials.
PC version
Resident Evil 4 was developed for PCs by SourceNext. It was first released in Hong Kong on February 1, 2007, published by Typhoon Games, and it was later released in Europe and Australia on March 1, 2007.[101] The port contains the bonus features from the PlayStation 2 version, such as "Separate Ways", the P.R.L. 412 laser cannon and a second set of unlockable costumes for Leon and Ashley, as well as an Easy difficulty level. It also supports multiple widescreen resolutions.
The ratings of the PC port were not as high as for the other versions. It was heavily criticized for no mouse support and frustrating keyboard controls, low-quality FMV cut scenes, choppy graphics rendering (lacks shadows and proper lighting) and requiring a gamepad controller for better aiming and gameplay. The shadow and lighting issues were fixed in Version 1.10 patch of the game. The mouse support however, was added in by an unofficial patch. Despite the frustrating control scheme, the game still got positive reviews that praised the gameplay. GameSpot has given the game a 7.8 out of ten,[50] while IGN gave it a 7.7 out of 10.[60]
Wii edition
Resident Evil 4: Wii edition was released for the Wii on May 31, 2007 in Japan and on June 19, 2007 in the US. It features new controls involving the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, along with the ability to use the GameCube controller or Classic Controller instead.[102] The Wii Remote is able to aim and shoot anywhere on the screen with a reticle that replaces the laser sight found in the other versions. It can also be flicked to use the knife. The Wii edition also includes the extra content from the PlayStation 2 and PC versions, and a trailer for Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.[103]
The Japanese magazine Famitsu reviewed the game, with two editors giving the game a perfect 10 score, and the remaining pair giving it a 9, resulting in a score of 38 out of 40. The reviewers noted that the game's improved controls offer something fresh and different. One reviewer said that the game offers the feeling of being closer to the action as well as upping the tension. Multiple reviewers agreed that even those who own the original will find something fun and enjoyable in this version.[104]
British magazine NGamer gave the Wii edition a score of 96%,[38] slightly lower than the 97% given to the GameCube version. They praised the visuals, controls and features and commented on the fact that such an "exceptional package" was on sale for a low price; however, when writing about the Wii controls, they said "if you've played the GC version this won't be as special". Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 94%, 3% less than the original due to it simply not having the same impact it did back then.[63] IGN gave the game a 9.0 out of 10, stating it is the superior edition, but does not push the Wii like it did with GameCube and PS2.[61] The Wiire gave the version an A-,[105] and an "Editor's Choice" award.
GameSpot gave the Wii edition a score of 9.1 out of 10, praised the new controls, but commented on the lack of exclusive Wii features.[51] The Next Level awarded the game a 5 out of 5, citing the Wii version of Resident Evil 4 as "the pinnacle of its existence".[106]
Mobile edition
Biohazard 4 Mobile Edition was released in Japan for au's BREW 4.0 on February 1, 2008. It was first announced by Capcom at TGS 2007.[107] Differences from the original include changing the flow of the story from being continuous to being divided into sections such as "Village", "Ravene", "Fortress" and "Subterranian Tunnel". There is also a more challenging Mercenary Mode.[108][109] The game uses the MascotCapsule eruption engine[110] and was adapted to the Zeebo and iOS platforms.
iOS version
On July 13, 2009, without any formal announcement, Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition was released by Capcom for the iOS platform via the App Store in Japan, but was quickly removed.[111][112] Despite the quickness of removal, some players were able to purchase and download the game. The game has since been officially released in Japan and North America.[113] Later, Capcom made an update that had different difficulty levels and highscores.
Recently, Capcom released a new separate version called "Resident Evil 4 for Beginners", which offers the first two levels (three counting a training level) of both Story Mode and Mercenary Mode. However, the rest of the levels are available for purchase in-game as downloadable content. This version goes for 99 cents.
Due to the release of the iPad, Capcom recreated the iPhone version of "Resident Evil 4: Mobile edition" and updated it to HD graphics thus creating "Resident Evil 4: iPad edition".[114]
Merchandise
In addition to BradyGames's Signature Series strategy guide for the PlayStation 2 version, various figurines based on the characters and enemies were created. Two were based on the likenesses of Leon Kennedy and Jack Krauser.[115][116] Agatsuma Entertainment has also created various miniature collectibles based on several main characters and enemies from Resident Evil 4.[117]
Two special controllers designed to resemble chainsaws were designed by NubyTech for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions.[118]
Musical score
Untitled | |
---|---|
An album titled Biohazard 4 Original Soundtrack, bearing the catalog number CPCA-10126~7, was released in Japan on December 22, 2005, for the retail price of ¥2,500. It contains 62 compositions from the game and the 48-page Visual Booklet with liner notes from composers Shusaku Uchiyama and Misao Senbongi.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "End of Umbrella" | 1:13 |
2. | "The Drive ~ First Contact" | 2:11 |
3. | "Ganado I" | 2:06 |
4. | "A Strange Pasture" | 2:03 |
5. | "A Ruined Village" | 3:55 |
6. | "Ganado II" | 1:27 |
7. | "Serenity" | 1:21 |
8. | "Ganado III" | 2:32 |
9. | "Del Lago" | 1:19 |
10. | "Noche" | 2:00 |
11. | "El Gigante" | 1:37 |
12. | "Echo in the Night" | 2:30 |
13. | "Bitores Mendez" | 2:31 |
14. | "Hard Road to the Castle" | 1:20 |
15. | "Game Over" | 0:10 |
16. | "Catapult" | 2:37 |
17. | "Garrador" | 2:09 |
18. | "Ganado IV" | 2:30 |
19. | "Cold Sweat" | 1:53 |
20. | "Target Practice" | 2:21 |
21. | "Novistadors" | 1:58 |
22. | "Central Hall" | 3:52 |
23. | "Agony" | 1:54 |
24. | "Evil Malaise" | 3:22 |
25. | "Death From Above" | 0:53 |
26. | "Crazy Cultist Drivers" | 0:49 |
27. | "Bad Vibes" | 1:15 |
28. | "Verdugo" | 1:31 |
29. | "Robo-Salazar" | 0:44 |
30. | "Tower of Death" | 1:43 |
31. | "Salazar" | 2:39 |
32. | "Save Theme" | 1:55 |
Total length: | 62:20 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Infiltration" | 2:54 |
2. | "Ganado V" | 2:55 |
3. | "Regenerador" | 1:01 |
4. | "U-3" | 1:19 |
5. | "Path to Closure" | 3:26 |
6. | "Krauser" | 2:15 |
7. | "Back-Up" | 2:04 |
8. | "Final Battle" | 2:54 |
9. | "The Escape" | 2:37 |
10. | "Horizon" | 0:53 |
11. | "Sorrow (Ending Credits)" | 3:36 |
12. | "Result" | 1:28 |
13. | "The Mercenaries" | 2:02 |
14. | "The Mercenaries~Leon" | 2:47 |
15. | "The Mercenaries~Ada" | 3:55 |
16. | "The Mercenaries~Krauser" | 3:12 |
17. | "The Mercenaries~Hunk" | 2:46 |
18. | "The Mercenaries~Wesker" | 3:34 |
19. | "Assignment Ada" | 3:00 |
20. | "Assignment Ada End Roll ~tarde" | 1:24 |
21. | "Assignment Ada End Roll ~noche" | 1:31 |
22. | "the other order" | 3:33 |
23. | "Ganado VI" | 2:25 |
24. | "Interlude" | 1:11 |
25. | "Intention" | 4:09 |
26. | "Shipyard" | 2:08 |
27. | "End and Aim" | 2:51 |
28. | "The Enemy" | 3:29 |
29. | "Time Limit" | 3:13 |
30. | "The Other End" | 1:53 |
Total length: | 76:25 |
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Die ersten Arbeiten an Resident Evil 4 haben bereits Ende 2001 begonnen. Die Teamgröße fluktuiert je nach Entwicklungsstand, derzeit arbeiten etwa 60 Mann an dem Titel. [...] Hiroyuki Kobayashi: Es war nicht einfach, das Team bei Laune zu halten, nachdem wir die Richtung des Spiels so radikal verändert hatten. Als die Entscheidung getroffen wurde, das Spiel actionlastiger zu gestalten, war die Stimmung im Team schon sehr gedrückt. / The first work on Resident Evil 4 already begun at the end of 2001. The size of team varies depending on the stage of development, about 60 people are working on the title at the moment. [...] Hiroyuki Kobayashi: It was not easy to keep the team going after we changed the direction of the game so radically. When it was decided to make the game more action-oriented, the team felt really depressed.
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The game the whole world has been waiting for will finally be unveiled. The story takes place deep inside the very heart of Umbrella, the evil company responsible for the progenitor virus. The main character of Resident Evil 2, Leon S. Kennedy, is back in the game. What will Umbrella have in store for him this time? That "surprise" will push Leon to the very limits of his being for one purpose...the STRUGGLE to survive. Director / Hiroshi Shibata
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Shinji Mikami: Dieses Mal ist es einfacher, da ich die ganze Verantwortung nicht alleine trage. Bei Resident Evil 4 zum Beispiel war das ganz anders. Ich stand durch Capcom unter einem enormen Druck. Hätte sich das Spiel nicht gut verkauft, wäre Schluss gewesen und die Serie eingestellt worden. / This time, it is easier because I am not the only one responsible. With Resident Evil 4, for example, it was completely different. I was under enormous pressure by Capcom. If the game had not sold well, it would have been the end, and the series would have been discontinued.
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The Umbrella Corporation is no more. "It's the only thing that makes sense, if you think about it," explains Resident Evil 4 producer Hiroyuki Kobayshi. "Why would the U.S. government allow a company that developed the T-virus, and in the end forced them to destroy an entire city, to continue to exist? They wouldn't. Hence the rationale for Umbrella going away after RE3." [...] "Right from the start, we wanted to do something new and innovative for the series, so Mikami issued an order to the team: 'I want to totally re-create how the polygons, the camera, everything looks.' But, every time the staff tried to do it without his direction, they only came out with little minor changes. Nothing major. Perhaps they were too afraid to take this series that he created and totally change it. But anyway, he stepped in and showed what he wanted."
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