Resident Evil 4 HD Review

I know some nice European vacation stops. Just ask!

It goes without saying that Resident Evil 4 is an extremely important game. It introduced concepts that are still paramount to many popular modern franchises like Gears of War and Dead Space. There's also no need to mention that Capcom likes to re-release their games. Over and over again.

Resident Evil 4 HD is the latest re-release of the 2005 classic and it's exactly how you remember it: tense, chaotic, and a lot of fun. On the other hand, if you didn't like Resident Evil 4 back then, this version won't change your mind. For me, though, every time I hear that chainsaw revving up in the background and the "Detrás de ti!" yells, little hairs stand up on the back of my neck and that "What the heck do I do?" panic takes over.

Regardless of the lack of new features in this re-release, Resident Evil 4 is still a fantastic game. This is still one of the most dramatic third-person shooters ever, even though in comparison to newer games, it feels a little stiff due to awkward control options. Unlike the Wii release of Leon's (un-)merry quest in Spain, this PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 port does not feature any sort of motion control support and the supported control options are a little on the confusing side. The initial controller setting is basically the input style from the early Resident Evil games, while the second option somewhat attempts to mimic the controls from Resident Evil 5, in which the shooting is mapped to the trigger shoulder buttons.

Even though this is called Resident Evil 4 HD, it's far from being a remake. All the textures are the same from past versions of the game and the only visual upgrade that we get is an upscale to the resolution. Things do look muddy here and there, especially if you stop and look (and die because that's what happens when you do that). You're also still greeted by the absurd story that features incredibly cheesy Spanish one-liners by the enemy villagers and the absolute indifference in delivery by the hero Leon Kennedy. Heck, do yourself a favor and be sure to say hello to our old pal, the shopkeeper, along the way too. He still has the best deals around on just about everything, stranger.

Trophy/Achievement hunters, beware—this HD release does feature your beloved awards, but unlike Resident Evil 5, none of these challenges are particularly original or well-thought-out. You'll earn most of your virtual bling by simply playing through Resident Evil 4, with a couple of exceptions. Granted, there is a lot of replay value once you complete the game for the first time in the form of Mercenaries mode, which recently spun-off to its own unique game and both of the mini-games that feature femme fatale Ada Wong and her dealings with the "Oh, no, they're not zombies", the Ganados. Also, just like Resident Evil 5, you're free to carry over your inventory and replay through the game in round two or start over and torture your soul in professional mode.

If you're a Resident Evil 4 veteran that has played through its many reissues over the years, there's not really much to be impressed by this release on the current-gen consoles. Even so, Resident Evil 4 is still a terrifying ride, especially if you missed it the first time around and would like to experience one of the most influential games from the past decade.