Resident Evil 4 is still the pinnacle of action-adventure

"Resident Evil 4 hit every note it attempted to. The gameplay is intense, the bosses are epic, the characters and writing are charming, and the progression system is so damn addicting." -- Nintendo Enthusiast

[NecrumOddBoy]

You mean survival horror? RE is not the pinnacle of either. But it's still a great game.

[T2X]

It was the Father of them. Lol.

[naruga]

it is a very good action game indeed, really enjoyable....but has NO fing relation with Resident Evil game...this along the 5-6 sequels derailed the series to sht level (aka RE7)

[Bimkoblerutso]

Alone in the Dark pretty much laid the groundwork for the genre, actually, and there were quite a few games prior to RE that played with elements of survival horror (Sweet Home).

RE is the first game that they coined the actual term "survival horror" for, and it was definitely the game that popularized it, though. I don't think anyone is scoffing at the legitimacy of the franchise, but it certainly wasn't historically the "Father of them."

[mcstorm]

I loved Rez 4 for me it's been the best Rez game created 1 to 3 were very good games but I though Parasite Eve games were better. Rez 5 was to bright I found and could not get into 6 which has made me miss 7 but I will give it a go at some point.

[KillBill]

Not even that... RE4 is not even the best of the RE series in many opinions.

[mikeslemonade]

RE4 is the best legacy RE. But the best action game belongs to either Zelda or MGS.

[ThanatosDMC]

Winback: Covert Operations > RE4

[Gatsu]

I think many would disagree with that statement. RE created the genre.

[NecrumOddBoy]

I should have specified RE4. Not the entire series

[Imalwaysright]

No. Original Alone in the Dark created the genre.

[Sirk7x]

I think he meant it created the action-adventure genre. It definitely created and popularized over the shoulder shooting though. That was a first.

[Darth Gamer]

The Resi series to me has always had a special place in my heart. I've been gaming for about 40 years now. Resi 4 though I have mixed feelings about. Even though I consider it to be a fantastic game in its own right, I also consider it to be the beginning and what started Resident Evil's downward slide. It started to become more of an action game and less of a survival horror one. The games following were made to try to attract more of the ever popular Call of Duty player (as did a lot of games of that time) which in my opinion has ruined the series. Resi 7 was a great addition though trying to bring that Resi game back to its beginnings and return to what originally made the series great.

[NapalmSanctuary]

RE4 is not survival horror.

[SuperSonic91]

Look at the article: its from Nintendo Enthusiast a Nintendo centric site being salty because a Ganecube exclusive lost exclusivity and went ti PS2 and sold many many times than the Nintendo version.
I get it now.
Nintendo fanboys' Stockholm Syndrome is really a mental disease.

[Sirk7x]

This is literally the only mention of the PS2 in the article, and it's praising the extra mode it had on it:
"And don’t even get me started on the Ada’s Separate Ways story introduced on PS2, and action-packed Mercenaries mode — both of which are basically full games on their own." There's also a link to a Playstation Enthusiast video, so I doubt the writer has a problem with the platform.
I know you like to troll alot, but at this point, you're actually lying about the content in the article for those who didn't bother to read it. There's nothing salty about this article people; He's giving a glowing review of every version of the game. Also, the Wii version was the best until the recent release.

[Movefasta1993]

Dead Space 1 mops the floor with any resident evil game.

[jivah]

Id say code veronica was easily a better game imo. Id take that a sequel to that over any new re game that comes out

[SuperSonic91]

God of War or Uncharted 4 is

[Prubar]

Only a matter of time before a Sony fan comes to cry lol.

[Ricegum]

Or this is someone's opinion? You know people can have other opinions right?

[SuperSonic91]

No. I am a huge Shinji Mikami fanboy and I love all his games from pS1. Hell Vanquish is more enjoyable action.
You should be happy future games are better than RE4 cos that is a good sign.
Coz if RE4 is the best that means the industry has become stale stagnant.
GoW is better. Better premise, story, writing, action gameplay, etc.
Trumps everything before it.

[OffRoadKing]

Says the crying xbox fanboy.

[InMyOpinion]

God of War is the best adventure game ever made.

[thexmanone]

No it is not

[SuperSonic91]

Yes and I played RE4 to death on PS2 as a huge Shinji Mikami fanboy myself.
God of War is untouchable.

[theshredded]

You mean cinematic games with simple filler gameplay? I own a PS4 and only rent those types of games. The gameplay is nowhere near the presentation it's too simple and generic but the adventure part is definitely there.

[SuperSonic91]

Id rather play a $60 PS4 father and son story or brotherly love game than $60 jumping game whos plot is the same tired and old stuck in the past "rescue the girl" from a huge gorilla or spiked turtle.

[salmonade]

You're a complete liar. God Of War's gameplay is not simple or generic in any way, shape or form.

[TheKingKratos]

God of war/uncharted4 is movie game with filler gameplay ??
Yep you never played either

[GamesMaster1982]

I am a massive Sony fan , but even I would not rate GOW or Unchrted 4 over the memory’s the classics ie Resi and 2 Silent Hill and 2 etc have me . Don’t get me wrong they are 2 of the best games this gen . But they just don’t hold a candle to the menorys them classics gave .

[The Wood]

Try playing them now. . . Nostalgia is a progress blocker. .

Res 4 was a very very good and enjoyable experience. . But games age as will God of war leaving our nostalgia to fill the voids in gameplay, story. Graphics and so on. Some of my old favourites have been surpassed. I'll never forget the first time I played metal gear solid 2. . . Switching pad ports or watching my pad move via vibration. . Problem is the gameplay doesn't meet today's standards. . As the industry has grown older, so have my tastes and expectations. Indie games are my guilty pleasures and you could argue that they are the games that used to be full price level games. . . . . .could you imagine a game like gow being an indie level game in 20 years. . . . Mad

[Concertoine]

DMC 3 and Bayonetta are better action games than GoW

[yellowgerbil]

That or bioshock all easily stand above any re game

[Number-Nine]

U2>U4

[PhantomTommy]

I was certainly thrilled by the endless waking in Uncharted 4. Who needs bombastic action when you can have two characters talk to each other while walking?

New GOW has really fantastic combat but some pretty poor pacing in some areas. Load up Resi 4 and count the seconds until you're in full control of Leon and taking out Las Plagas like a badass. Load up GOW and watch Kratos cut down a tree, row a boat, cremate his wife, go hunt with his son....... action adventure.

[P_Bomb]

Not everything needs to pander to the Michael Bay crowd either. Action for the sake of it gets boring too. That’s why Chris in RE6 turned out the way he did. Gotta top that bombastic boulder punch. Fast forward: Umbrella corps. Pure shooter. Pure suck.

[SquareBurgers]

Neither reinvented anything like RE4 did the entire genre.

[MetroidFREAK21]

RE4 is still really fun to play. The Wii version still stands as the best version due to the excellent pointer controls. (In my opinion of course)

[Deep-throat]

I've played almost every version (GC, PS2, Wii, PS3, and PC UE).

The PC version is my fav. Almost no loading, 60fps, truly epic fan made high res textures.

[Braindeadninja]

Why are people giving this guy dislike? Was the pc version bad?

[shinoff2183]

Motion control is what made me hate the Wii. I mean I still play mario on it only the side scrolling one. I also feel that's when Mario party started to suck

[MetroidFREAK21]

Some games used the motion controls very well. Like RE4 for instance. Metroid Prime 3 (and the trilogy collection in 2009) made great use out of the Wii Remote. The Call of Duty games on Wii also had some great pointer controls and you could be super accurate with them too. Was a lot of fun back in the day :)

[Gatsu]

I think I have to agree with this. I'm replaying it currently for the 1000th time and it's every time so much fun. There is a few bit creepy moments, even though it shifted away from the survival horror. I love RE4, but I'm so glad that RE2 Remake will take us back to that which the series is most known and loved for.

RE4 had such a huge influence on many popular games along the years.

[paintedgamer1984]

The thing that people forget is theres a reason why re 0, 1, 2, 3, and cvx qre so different than 4567 is because graphics and hardware have evolved a metric ton. These people bitching about how shit re 4 is (which i agree about 5 but mainly 6) 5 and esp 7 are still decent games in their own right. You want to play re survival horror... play 0- cvx and stfu and let us re fans enjoy the different even if its not a traditional sh game. While re4 did so many things different as the games mechanics were getting really stale and old... re4 is regarded by GAMERS... Not you diehard re elists from back in the day... GAMERS as an amazing game and 1 of the best if not the best in the series.

[babadivad]

6 was better than 5 IMO. I guess mainly because I was able to play this one co-op with my bro on PC. But I licked how each character played and felt unique. All of their stories were unique but also over lapped. It was great. You could't get the whole picture until you beat the game.

I can't understand why RE6 gets shit on so much.

[Gatsu]

You're right, games do often change during the years when more advanced hardware comes. I'm glad they have tried different approaches with their games. I love how the new engine and graphics make RE2 Remake look like, they can really push the horror to the limit with the lighting etc. One thing I kinda hope, is that Capcom will come up with some amazing new villain again if they decide to do RE8 or more. I miss Wesker :3...

[GamesMaster1982]

So because graphics evolve you have to turn your game to a COD shoot fest ?. They could of easily made 4,5, 6 more survival horror . They simple chose not too. Simple limit ammo add save only points etc job done . But no they had to please all the bang bang kids.

[TheCommentator]

If Capcom rejected DMC as the template for RE4, why did they agree to changing every aspect of the RE franchise with the crap-tastic RE4? Great that you like it, but it's the gaming equivalent of swapping out a banana split for a taco. Who cares that you like the taco that Capcom turned your banana split into when we all deserved another dessert?

Let's put it this way: Naughty Dog didn't make The Last of Us into another Uncharted game, did they? If Capcom didn't want to make RE anymore, all they had to do was make it a new IP instead of cashing in on the RE name.

Leon's quest to save the President's daughter from a space parasite... sorry, but it's a crap RE game.

[shinoff2183]

Not even close young guy. The older ones were better by miles in fact without those older ones there'd be no resident evil. Also the old style was not getting old and stale it was perfectly fine. Re4 I may have taken to a little better but the story was completely whack. Like the story really just sucked and why the hell was sub zero trying to sell me stuff

[SuperSonic91]

Yes the PS2 version influenced many

[TallonIV]

The PS2 version was the worst version lol

[shinoff2183]

I bet it sold better then the gamecube version though

[firelogic]

The entire castle section is a slog.

[Nintentional]

How?? The progression opens up so much more, the castle is amazing to explore and so much collectibles to find. New enemies, bosses,weapons and set peices make it amazing to explore and it reminds me of Castlevania and Bloodborne. RE4 is a 10/10 game with excellent progression, pacing, graphics, and gameplay.

[paintedgamer1984]

Well said, the magnum fully upgraded in the later levels is a must. I really just wanted re5 to be more of the same as re4 but changed way too much. Like how 0-cvx were all very similiar with different storys and characters

[Gatsu]

I love to kick ass in the castle. So many maniacs.

[GamesMaster1982]

Agree

[paintedgamer1984]

The bang bang kids? My 1st re was 2 and then played the remastered of 1 and all the others on gcn and 4567... and i loved 4. Im so glad it wasnt like 0-cvx. It was getting stale. Not the story but the god awful camera, graphics... mainly the camera. The puzzles were amazing and not so over abundance of ammo (survival horror) was great too but it needed an overhaul and thats what 4 did. Just look at the damned improvements...

+better camera
+better controls
+better/more guns
+more ways to attack enemies
+great story
+upgraded weapons
+much improved graphics
+different paths
+more enemies types
+upgraded stuff in general (health/ect)
+improved ways to use health
+improved head shot skill
+gun upgrades (armrest)
+addition of the red beam sight
+much bigger inventory (upgrades too)
+ what are you selling/what are you buying STRANNNGERR... The merchant hands down was also an amazing addition...

Now please... add all your non bang bang kids negatives to re4 and i bet these things off the top of my head outweigh yours... ohh 2 more

+reason to really seach the world because of sockets for items that garner more $$$ and well hidden weapons
+the addition of mercerneries and adas missions that let you get the type writter annd hand cannon. BOOM

[shinoff2183]

It was horrible the story sucked, and I completely stopped playing re games. Even 7 to me sucks. I hated the fps view. I'll say it's a helluva experience in psvr though. It's fun as hell playing in vr

[paintedgamer1984]

Ok even if the story sucked in re4... so many things sucked about previous games. Like all the improvements i stated above were seriously lacking in previous games. Hopefully the remake of 2 will fix most of these issues.

Still its your opinion... which doesnt stack up to most of critics and gamers alike. Re4 has also prob been bought and played more than all re games

[neutralgamer1992]

Don't say that Capcom will port it to the systems which aren't even out yet

[Nintentional]

I’ve bought RE4 pretty much on every platform it’s ever been released on. I even checked it out on the iPhone (bad port). A port to the Switch would be a dream come true.

[neutralgamer1992]

I think port switch will happen its Capcom

[paintedgamer1984]

Did you buy it on ps4? I always wondered how that version held up. Im guessing its basically the same game from the gc

[neutralgamer1992]

I have it on ps4 it's the best version I guess it's the best console version since it's a port of pc game I think

[oasdada]

No it isnt

[PhantomTommy]

It is though, come on now.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

The controls are awful tho

[Bathyj]

I've tried to play this game 3 times. Couldn't bring my self to keep playing past the opening section because of the controls.

[GamesMaster1982]

Was not the controls that bothered me, was that not long after the amazing village it became another shoot feast.

[TallonIV]

Play the Wii version then - best controls ;)

[oasdada]

Exactly! No one realises this game has aged horribly!

[Gatsu]

No they're really not imo, but maybe for some kids these days it might be hard to get used to them, because many games work differently these days.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I’ve been playing games a long time and they suck

[PhantomTommy]

The controls in Resident Evil 4 are absolutely perfect for Resident Evil 4. The PS4 and steam versions even have a modern control scheme which accommodates players who are used to right stick aiming. What the hell is so hard about R1, left stick and square? You can't move the camera around Leon, get over it -- take your right thumb off the right analog stick and leave it off, you don't need it.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Absolutely perfect is hyperbole. The game needs a modern day dual analog setup. It has aged poorly.

[lellkay]

It was great for it's time but it's really not the pinnacle. It's aged like milk rather than wine.

[oasdada]

Agreed 100% .. I was a pc boy from the start so when i got my hands on the pc version the game was unplayable for me.. No strafing? Shooting knee caps to punch some one? Hordes over hordes of enemies? This wasnt the RE i wanted.. Hell this wasnt even a shooter that i wanted.. Cold fear did the third person shooting better than this game

[DialgaMarine]

TLoU exceeded RE4 and then some. Uncharted is the king of action adventure

[Linktothepast]

I'd like to see what the arguments to the contrary are really. There are some phantom disagrees to all these comments but little explanation so far.

[DialgaMarine]

Realistically, it is an opinion. God of War and Horizon definitely come to mind as well. Zelda too, maybe, but I’m don’t really see how that classified as action adventure.

Oh well, it’s N4G. Most people just slap on disagrees without explaining why. Must be fanboy ego or something lol

[babadivad]

TLoU of Uncharted All day IMHO.

[SuperSonic91]

Wait till we play TLOU2 and GoW 2 with a jump button!
That will be glorious.

[goldwyncq]

TLOU and Uncharted can't touch RE4 when it comes to gameplay, which is what matters the most.

[DialgaMarine]

Ever played either? RE4 was great, but it hasn’t aged well.

[Derceto]

Protip to some below. Just because something is the "creator" of a genre, doesn't mean it's the pinnacle. Unless of course, you don't the meaning of the word pinnacle I suppose.

If the first entry and creation of a genre is the pinnacle? Then, wow, that's pretty embarrassing that it would never get better than that.

In short, no, RE 4 is not the pinnacle of anything. Founder? Absolutely. Other games have come along that have greatly improved on what RE 4 started though. Even Mikami is well aware of that, but, I guess he's not a fanboy with nostalgia goggles on either.

[SuperSonic91]

Nintendo Stockholm Syndrome

[Majin-vegeta]

I know I'll get flamed for this but I hated RE4 it's what started the downfall of RE.
*Flame suit on*

[Bathyj]

RE2 is the pinnacle of the series for me

[babadivad]

I probably beat this game more than any other RE game. But i LOVED Code Veronica on Dreamcast.

[Gatsu]

Same for me :).

[Last_Boss]

Thank You!!

[_FantasmA_]

It's a great game. I just didn't like the last chapter because it was just to much action. But the guns and upgrades were cool. It was a hard game. I beat it on Gamecube when it first came out and then after that I really struggled to beat it even with improved Dualshock controllers.

[Linktothepast]

Father of the survival-horror* genre? Sure.
Pinnacle? Debatable.

[GamesMaster1982]

But it’s far from a survival horror . Action horror sure

[Evilryusam]

lol i couldn't even consider it a horror, only part that felt truly tense are the regenerator's. which are few and far between. action adventure seems to fit the bill more imho.

[Linktothepast]

You might not think so, but regardless - that is what it is considered

"Resident Evil 4, known in Japan as Biohazard 4 is a third-person shooter survival horror video game"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

[Nacho_Z]

Does anyone else feel like because it shifted the control style and as a result was a bit more action oriented it doesn't get the recognition it deserves as a survival horror game? My recollection from playing it the first time is being on edge the whole time and never having quite enough ammo but it seems that the general consensus is that it's an action game and completely separate to its predecessors.

I see it as a continuation and minor evolution of the early games rather than a totally different style of game just because it's a bit more comfortable with handling action.

[AK91]

RE4 is survival horror and it's more a perfect way to reinvent a series than a pinnacle of a genre.

[MADGameR]

Resident Evil 2 (original) is the KING of survival horror.

[FloydianAndroid]

I know I’ll get crucified for this but to me silent hill 2 is the pinnacle of survival horror.

[Spurg]

Word it is...but re4's gameplay shook the entire industry, copycats followed in no time.

[TheColbertinator]

Resident Evil 4 was awesome. Best played on the GC controller

[salmonade]

Yeah... um Nintendo doesn't have much to choose from. RES4 was still awesome though, when it came out

[babadivad]

No it isn't.

[RedDeadLB]

What the hell are you talking about

[theshredded]

Zelda BOTW and MGSV have exceeded it though... I can also see Spider-Man and Kingdom Hearts 3 doing the same hopefully.

[GamesMaster1982]

Action adventure I fully agree . It was an amazing game but ,classic Resi survival horror it was not . I liking it to Metal gear rising . An amazing spin off but not the best for veterans of the originals . Still though both are amazing games in their own. But as cheesy as Resi code Veronica was , it’s still more classic and memorable than Resi 4 to me.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

This was the most fun for me on the Wii! The motion controllers made it real fun to play.

[paintedgamer1984]

"Well if it isnt the bitch in the red dress"...

Best Resident Evil cutscene and writing...

I literally had the biggest smile on my face the 1st time i seen/heard that. 😁

[PurpHerbison]

First 75% of RE4 is great!

[Venoxn4g]

I would mind RE4 Switch port with Gamecube lightning and upgraded visuals like on consoles

[yomfweeee]

A game that isn't action-adventure is the pinnacle of action-adventure?

[Smokehouse]

I bought it again just a few days ago because of my hype and it’s rough getting back into but it’s still great lol. It’s still one of my favorite games, I remember how it felt back then and being amazed.

I think controls have evolved a lot since their first iteration. RE2 took RE4’s one flaw that faded in the test of time and then nailed it. RE2 will be on the level of RE4.

[Imalwaysright]

RE4 is easily one of the best games ever made.

[jznrpg]

I didn’t really care for RE4 as a Resident Evil game

[Firebird360]

I know I'll be attacked for this but I never could understand the praise this game got. I bought it day 1 for gc and just couldn't get into it.
I know it's a good game but not the masterpiece it's made out to be imo.

[Gatsu]

Not everyone likes the same games. For examply even with all the praise GoW get, I couldn't finish it when I lost interest.

[jbrock11]

It started the downfall of the series in my opinion. They got away from pretty much everything that made the originals so great. When you hear the back story of this game, that Capcom basically made Mikami rename another game he had planned into RE4 because they were struggling financially at the time, you realize why it was such a departure from the rest of the series. RE4 was basically a money grab from Capcom. Unrelated but I believe something similar happened with 7 ( it's trash imo ). The RE2 remake looks like the series is going back to it's roots though which I'm super excited for. I'm hoping to see more of this direction in future games.

[Hylian10]

I'm sorry but RE4 is so overrated.

[Ruegrong]

This game is action/horror and is linear. in now way is it an adventure. i would say morrowind is pinnacle of action/adventure

[shinoff2183]

It did real well in that area just sucks cause it didn't seem like a resident evil game and the story really sucked. It also was the exact moment the series went down hill with most of us re orginals

[Spike20XX]

Vanquish says hi

[gammaray13]

bwahahahahahahahahahahaah, i need what this joker is smokin

[Artemidorus]

It's meant to provide action and horror.

[TargusX]

Totally agree. One of the best.

[Kosic]

Re4 is an over hyped game.

[SR38813]

RE4 Wii edition best version

[pinkystinkinc]

stranger stranger now thats a weapon

[Orionsangel]

The first over the shoulder third person game I ever played. One of my favorite games of all time!

[Platformgamer]

resident evil 4 is also the best resident evil game

[ibrake4naps]

Resident evil 7 in VR was my personal favorite

[LoveSpuds]

Rose tinted glasses in my opinion. If you remove nostalgia from the equation most older games don't hold up, which is inevitable as game design continuously evolves.

I really liked RE4 back in the day, it was great then and it is important to recognise it's achievements and place in videogame history now, but it just doesn't compare to today's best titles in my opinion.

[Prince-Ali]

I'm not even trolling... but i think you're getting Resident Evil 4 confused with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves... But it's ok, I have corrected your mistake now :-)

[T2X]

WHat I mean by the "father" of them was, that the term "Survival Horror" was indeed coined for the RE games. People can disagree all they want, it's still the fact.

[CrimsonWing69]

...have you played a game since RE4, like hey, it ushered in a new era of action games and innovated third person shooters with first person aiming but let’s not kid ourselves here, it’s definitely been improved upon.

[nucky64]

i don't think RE4 is the best RE game - let alone the "pinnacle of action-adventure"

[bujasem_89]

وديني المطاااار

[P_Bomb]

The first level remains my favorite level in the game. Loved it! Replayed it more than any other chapter bar none. Game lost a bit of steam for me at the castle and at more shootery parts with chaingun enemies etc. RE5 too.

But yeah, I remember the atmospheric build up through the forest. Letting the dog outta the trap, looking around creepy houses where no one’s home. Then that dread music kicks in, and I’m in a town hall fight for my life!

Just the driving tension in that village. I’m moving dressers to block windows, shooting through doors, jumping outta windows with a chainsaw revving behind me amidst a flurry of spanish I didn’t understand. Felt like even the music was out to kill me! Then, everyone went to bingo lol.

Still have my PS2 steelbook ed. Progressive scan baby! Heh, Good times. Writing about it makes me wanna go play it.