Very LTTP: Resident Evil 4. A perfectly paced and designed video game.

[Sabercrusader]

I think the later sections of the game aren't necessarily as great, but it's a beloved game for a reason. Glad you enjoyed it so much! I only played it for the first time when it got the HD rerelease on 360, and I loved it.

I think the only other RE game that has matched it has been RE2make. (Haven't played through REmake yet). I think part of that just might be how much it's clearly a labor of love to re-imagining RE2.

 

[NoalleGospell]

I recently started playing through all the RE games for the first time and I absolutely loved RE4.

 

[Astral]

I don't agree. Archaic controls, horrible camera, babysitting segments.

Click to shrink...

You don't ever have to babysit Ashley. This game has the best escort levels ever. You just put her in a dumpster and kill everyone before calling her out again. It's like she's not even there. This game is truly a masterpiece.

 

[Zaro]

I remember that toward the ends i was waiting it to end (i little like BioShock).
Great games that lack some diversity in gameplay toward the end.
But it's still one of the best.

 

[Window]

I never understand why this game is considered to have perfect pacing. It peaks very early with the village start and then starts to drag real hard about half way through the castle segment and becomes a straight parody (if it wasn't already by the castle section) at the end at the zombie military island.

 

[Juryvicious]

Thread #268 and I couldn't agree more. The island portion of the game is NOT boring to me whatsoever and is gameplay king. It's a fun playground and I look forward to it every single time I play the game. I am not a speed runner either.

 

[Couscous]

The pacing is nowhere near perfect. The first half of the game has excellent pacing, but after that the castle starts to drag and the island part is also too long. Its pacing is nowhere near Uncharted 2 levels which is just a rollercoaster.

 

[Lobster Roll]

I don't agree. Archaic controls, horrible camera, babysitting segments.

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Archaic controls that were intentionally built around the set pieces, enemy layout and enemy aggression.

Also if you're babysitting at any point, you played the game wrong. Let's say there are five enemies after you. If they are ganados, you strategically place Ashley in a spot for her to get picked up. Your enemy count is now four. You kneecap the ganado who picked up Ashley so he takes forever to get back up. Manage the crowd in the meantime. Ashley is a chess piece. Draw enemies in with her and use her to your advantage.

 

[Nature's finest mango]

Just beat it again a couple of days ago on PS4, along with Separate ways.
There seem to be a few issues here and there (lighting for sure, as well as those horrible cutscenes in Separate ways)... hope it get fixed someday, or to get a remake that stays faithful to the original.

Replaying now on professional. Somehow dying less than on normal mode.

edit: to the person who mentioned the minethrower. I've beaten the game seven or eight times (NGC, WII, 360, PS4).
Never bought that weapon, not even once.
I usually go Red9 - Striker - BButterfly - TMP - Auto-rifle.

 

[Santar]

I just have to say I agree with the others about the escort part in the game being great. It has the best escort missions in any game imo.
Ashley is constantly positioned right behind you, so you know where she is. And every time you get to a big fight there's a dumpster or box to stash here in, where she is 100% safe and you don't have to worry about her. And I usually loathe escort missions in games.

 

[beelzebozo]

this game should be studied by anyone who wants to make action games. it is the T2 of action video games, front to back heart-pounding thrills. infinitely replayable in a way few other games can claim to be.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

I'm a weirdo who likes the island better than the castle.

 

[snausages]

Yeah it does a thing with its pacing where every action scenario it introduces feels fresh and is rarely redundant. Until you find out how broken the melee is it's great at making a fairly long game justify its length.

But the island section is pretty bad. There are cool moments in it, but every boss fight on the Island sucks so hard. Take that out and it's an 11/10 game.

 

[badcrumble]

The mine thrower is definitely a lot of fun, especially once you get the homing version. Straight up neutralizes a couple of the trickier parts of the game, though - I consider it best to treat it as a postgame/NG+ weapon akin to the handcannon because the homing projectiles can clip through walls to tag enemies, which makes a bunch of otherwise tough setpieces like the water room an utter joke.

 

[Archduke Kong]

The game has a few bad pacing sections (the island drags a bit, ESPECIALLY the Krauser fight and... uh... "It", as Sadler calls it), but I agree, it introduces new level gimmicks at a great pace.

The poorly paced sections immediately become more bearable on a New Game+ however, thanks to the Chicago Typewriter, baby.

 

[Deleted member 1003]

Also gave it a try with Game Pass, but couldn't get past the first encounter with multiple villagers, kept dying all the time and gave up.

Click to shrink...

The section is timed so you can just run around.

 

[Miamiwesker]

Yes, greatest action game ever made.

 

[Tyaren]

Please be remade next.

That game on PS5, omg...so good.

 

[Mexen]

You should watch the gdq from a few days ago now that you've played the game OP

 

[Undeniablybiased]

After finally getting a chance to properly play it, I don't really understand the complaints about the castle or the island. The game is still introducing new ideas, new enemies, and fun scenarios up until the end.

 

[Deleted member 8860]

The very beginning in the town square? If you feel like going back to it, you're supposed to grab the shotgun on the second floor of that house, then camp on the first floor with it. It's extremely easy, but maybe the method isn't so obvious.

Click to shrink...

I disagree that that's what you're supposed to do. The encounter has a lot of viable (and fun) options, and it's absolutely worth trying at least a few alternatives. I will agree that getting the shotgun and defending the first floor of that building is one of the easier/simpler ways of surviving.

 

[rusty chrome]

Every time I have to stop to shoot it kills the pace for me. Give me a Remake.

 

[KTroopA]

Having recently played this for the first time, can feel the wubs this game has. Can I get a group hug? Yes, this game is Boss. A masterpiece, fuck yes.

 

[DiK4]

I really don't get the complaints regarding the island. Just like the village and castle, its filled with memorable parts; "It", Regenerators, Krauser, fuckin minigun bastards, burning man... Just off the top of my head.

Yeah the Ganado Militia is not as creepy to fight as the monks or villagers, but its the last act of the game and the difficulty rightfully ramps up.

It is one of the best paced games ever. It's like water man. It's like they took Bruce Lee's pathos and fuckin made a game that flowed with that energy. Roundhouse kicks and all.

 

[Spazgadget]

Oddly I just played the remaster through again on PS4, and was amazed at how well this very old game holds up as a classic. The camera and controls are definitely dated, but there really is nearly nothing to dislike about this game. The arc is largely perfect, the combat is fun, varied, and satisfying, it manages a great balance of discovery, exploration, combat, and excitement, and ends just before outstaying it's welcome. I never felt bored, and this is a game I've played in its entirely about 5 times by now.

Deserves all the praise it gets.

 

[Empyrean Cocytus]

My favorite game ever made. Tremendous pacing, scary without being overt (it's more atmosphere), and the combat IS FUN. I loved getting in skirmishes with multiple enemies and figuring out how to take them out.

Also, THE BEST SUPLEX IN GAMING.

 

[Grimsey]

I prefer exploration over combat and horror over camp, so as you can imagine I really don't care for it.