Resident Evil 4 (2005)

The PC release of the original RE4 is a carefully updated version of the 2005 one, designed to bring the game in line with modern hardware without fundamentally altering what made it special. Rather than a remake, it’s a technical upgrade that preserves the identity of the original while smoothing out many of the rough edges that plagued earlier PC ports. As a result, it stands as one of the most accessible and complete ways to experience this landmark title today. About the only complaint that I can think of is the controller scheme, which uses the Xbox 360 pattern, instead of the PlayStation 2 one, and this is a me problem since I grew up playing this version instead. It took me quite a while to get used to it, but I figure this is not a major issue for most people.

At its core, it remains a masterclass in game design, the blend of action and horror is expertly balanced, with each encounter crafted to maintain tension while encouraging strategic use of positioning, crowd control, and resource management. I can't stress enough how this game has one of the best, if not the best, pacing of all gaming history, this is one of the reasons why it has an insane level of replay value. And I'm not kidding when I say that I replayed this game more than 10 times in a row when I first tried it. The over-the-shoulder camera, which was revolutionary at the time, still feels surprisingly effective, giving you a strong sense of immersion and control. Even thought today's standards for this mechanic have matured, this first implementation still feels very modern.

Enemy encounters are dynamic and often unpredictable, forcing quick decision-making and rewarding precision rather than brute force. The 2014 version significantly improves the experience on a technical level. The addition of high-definition textures, better lighting, and support for 60 frames per second makes gameplay feel much smoother and more responsive. Though I admit that I played this at 30 fps more often than not, solely due to nostalgia from playing the more limited original version. While the visual upgrade isn’t transformative, it’s enough to make the environments and character models look cleaner and more defined. Importantly, this version fixes many of the issues from earlier PC releases, such as poor controls and limited graphical options, making it far more enjoyable to play with mouse and keyboard.

Another strong point is the amount of content included. This version comes bundled with all previously released extras, such as the “Separate Ways” campaign and “The Mercenaries” mode, both of which add meaningful replay value. These additions expand on the main story and provide additional challenges that keep the gameplay loop engaging even after completing the campaign. Combined with the game’s natural replayability, driven by upgrades and performance-based rewards, there is a substantial amount of content to explore.

That said, the game does show its age in certain aspects. Some textures and pre-rendered cutscenes don’t match the improved in-game visuals, creating occasional inconsistencies in presentation. The control scheme, while improved, can still feel stiff compared to modern third-person shooters, especially due to the inability to move while aiming. For new players accustomed to more fluid mechanics, this may take some time to adjust to.

Despite these limitations, the overall experience remains incredibly strong. The pacing is one of the game’s greatest strengths, constantly introducing new mechanics, enemies, and scenarios to keep the player engaged from start to finish. Memorable set pieces, distinct environments, and iconic characters contribute to a sense of progression that rarely feels repetitive. The game’s tone also strikes a unique balance, mixing horror with moments of camp and action in a way that has become one of its defining traits.

In the end, the 2014 PC version of Resident Evil 4 succeeds by respecting the original while making it more accessible to a modern audience. It may not offer the visual overhaul of a remake, but it doesn’t need to—the underlying design is strong enough to carry the experience even years later. For both newcomers and returning players, it remains an essential title that continues to influence the action genre to this day.

First impressions: "These have got to be the stiffest, clunkiest, most outdated shooter mechanics in a game I've ever seen. No moving while aiming? Might as well castrate my poodle."

Six hours in: "...how the hell has it been six hours?"

Easily some of the most fun I've had with a shooter, especially a "historical" shooter. Did not expect myself to love this as much as I did, but boy am I glad I gave this a shot. First RE game, too. It did not disappoint. High recommend.

I only give it a 4/5 because you gotta know if you're down with these controls. It's not demanding or obtuse - it actually took very little time to get used to the controls - but it does require a different mindset than most modern shooters.

If you're interested in this style, or you're down for an old-school romp, it'll be an easy 5/5. If not, there's always the remake. I'd still recommend checking this one out, though.

Clicking the releases drop-down box on this game is one of the worst things you could ever do, but it's that way for a reason. This is truly an astoundingly impressive game, that still hold up for a first-timer in 2023 to such a shocking degree I honestly couldn't believe it. It's still just an incredible game, and many of the things about it are so impressive that it does make me wonder what were they cooking back then. How did they know? Just so many years ahead of everyone.

I also played this using the "UHD" mod of the game, and not only do I think it's the most impressive fan-made mod of anything I've ever seen, it would also be an incredible remaster if it was an official release. If I have to tell people multiple times that the game they're looking at is the original 2005 game and not the remake, you know the mod has done a pretty good job.

The obvious elephant in the room is that the last act of the game, The Island, sucks. It's pretty bad. Most of the tension and planning and resource management of the game is gone. Most of the interesting thematic parts of the game are gone. It just throws a bunch of cyborgs with gatling guns at you and every 5 steps is a healing item. It doesn't really make any sense and is mostly just annoying, but the game never stops being incredibly funny and I don't think the pacing drags enough to detract from what is just one of the video-game all-timers.

Just finished it again and yeah, it's still incredible. I remember watching my older brother play this back in 2005 and being absolutely blown away by the graphics, the gameplay, and the incredible atmosphere, and a lot of that same awe is still alive and well in the game today. The combat loop is so satisfying and so fucking fun, and the amount of different tactics you can pull off during each playthrough is insane. Has some of the best item management in the entire survival-horror genre and is easily one of the most intense shooters you'll ever play.

Only complaints is that the final act isn't nearly as high quality as the village and castle sections, and some of the boss fights are pretty lame, but the core experience isn't hurt by these minor gripes, and you'd be hard pressed to really find anything truly wrong with RE4 (unless you hate fun). Still can quote all of Leon's stupid quips throughout the runtime and still can't get enough of the soundtrack.

Deserves all the praise it gets and then some.

Replayed the OG Gamecube release when the remake came out. This game has aged incredibly well. So well, in fact, that everything corny or outdated about it just made it feel better to replay. This is a balls to the wall action movie and it really only has a couple hiccups towards the end of the game. The village and castle are totally iconic. It's hard to imagine that Capcom will ever do better than those areas.

Sound design, controls, level design, AI, graphics; every one of these is nearly incomparable for when this game came out. I had never seen anything like it, and to me it has hardly aged at all. The people complaining about the controls are the same ones who complain about tank controls in other horror games. There is nothing inherently bad about them. You just have to adjust and use different techniques to move efficiently. Not every game has to emulate Call of Duty shooting controls.

Ok, so, a friend of mine is just retarded about this game. Every single conversation I had with him about videogames he brought up Resident Evil 4. Hell, even when I arrived at a party he'd say "Welcome", like the fucking merchant. So, for the sole purpose of he stopped bothering me to play this and to understand all the hype with this game, I picked it up. And dude, why haven't I played this before?

I started out the RE saga with RE2 Remake. At the end of the game, I was speechless. And with a serious degree of lovesick because of Ada. Then I started playing this.

To start it out, Leon is a chad. This guy got to be the only based cop in existence. "Your right hand comes off?" "No, thanks bro" "Hmpf... Women" bro are u SERIOUS. Unfortunately, nowadays this peculiar piece of media don't make you shit your pants like it was back in 2005 but you are gonna blast off laughing. It's just unbeliavable. I really hope they preserve this in the remake, because of what I've seen, it's way darker.

Talking about gameplay, the best thing they did to this series was let Shinji Mikami do his damn job. One of the best shifts ever crafted into videogame media. You still don't have free camera and you gotta stop to aim and shoot. Mindblows me how they managed to do this and literally revolutionize the entire industry back then. This guy is a genius. I wonder where he is in this troubled AAA recicling bullshit times. Please, let him do God Hand 2. Is all I ask.

The story of RE4 can't be taken seriously. I just can't, man. How am I supposed to do that while the guy I control is LEON. AN EMO COP. I just can't, this game get me every time I remember it. From nowhere this guy Wesker appears and he's fucking Deus Ex. Shinji Mikami, I just love you, man. Japanese games are something else. The laser scene. Oh boy, now I understand all of you. This is timeless. This is majestic. This is one of the most unique pieces of media of all time.

Resident Evil 4 is basically Rush Hour with zombies. And I loved it. You guys got me.

Fun fact 1: Me and my WEELCOME friend have one friend in common that is named Salazar. He sometimes says hi to him with "Hello, Mr. Kennedy". Now I understand and will honour this tradition.

Fun fact 2: Did you know that Shinji Mikami is responsible for Snes Aladdin? Dude's a hero.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this VR port but it has been hands down the most fun VR experience I've had yet.

The VR controls work really well. The shooting is accurate and engaging, and the reloading.... the RELOADING IS FANTASTIC. The simple act of trying out different weapons and figuring out where do you grab the bullets from, where do they go, and how do you reload the weapon is one of the most satisfying and yey nerve-wracking things to do while you're looking around in 360 and running from chasing zombies and many other creatures.

This game does a good job of mixing action and inventory management with exploration and puzzle solving. A must have for Oculus owners.

God, what a fun game. If you start this one up and find the combat mechanics a little strange and clunky, please push through. Once you get used to this style of movement and combat, the game really does feel incredible. The story is also outstanding as you begin moving through stranger and stranger territories while the plot starts unraveling into another Resident Evil-style conspiracy. The weapons upgrade and purchasing system is wonderfully executed and it makes me want to replay the game already to try out a new loadout. Even all these years later, you can feel why this game was so immensely influential, and it does what it does better than so many games that came later.

4.75/5.00

Full Review: https://watchreadgame.com/resident-evil-4-review/

Use the US agent Leon Kenndy as he is stranded in an isolated and creepy Spanish village, infested with a cult of parasitic zombie people.

This is one of my favorite games, it has great pacing, ambiance, weapons, story, and enemies.

The game has a number of different regions the player plays thru, with each region having a very unique feel, with new enemies and challenges. Between a decrepit village, a ornate castle, and a military compound there are a lot of different challenges that keep the game interesting and fun.

There is a really nice variety of weapons to use during the game, that can give greatly varied play depending which you gravitate towards.

Perhaps the best part of the game is the variety in the enemies. Each boss ends up being a very different fight, making each one feel very rewarding once you beat them.

Well worth a try for any fans of horror.

If I had one complaint about the game it is that the final boss is probably the least interesting in the entire game.