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Forget what you know, or think you know, about Resident Evil. RE4 not only brings the series out of its creative rut, it also packs the most refined graphics and gameplay in survival-horror since...well, ever. Let's face it: The cumbersome controls and disconnected camera have always been a huge obstacle to fully enjoying the RE series. RE4's over-the-shoulder view changes everything. You still push Up to move forward and still sadly lack the ability to strafe, but combat is a snap—you can move and aim as easily as in a first-person shooter, with the added perspective helping you avoid obstacles. More important, a wide assortment of brilliantly designed enemies takes full advantage of this new viewpoint. A single well-aimed shot can disarm (literally or figuratively) knife- and ax-wielding foes or blow dynamite-tossing enemies to bits, along with anyone unlucky enough to be near them. Aim for the head of walking suits of armor to remove the helmet and expose the flailing tentacles inside; blast a giant bell to distract the blind maniac stalking you by sound; use a thermal scope to target the parasites keeping nasty experimental mutants alive. You never get bored of the gun-play. The game also allows for terrific freedom in how you choose to attack (or should I say survive) the gigantic, wide-open environments it drops you into. Will you plow through run-and-gun style, stopping only to blast groups of enemies point blank? Or will you make your stand on the rooftops, tossing grenades and sniping long range? Whatever you choose, environments cleverly designed with plenty of ways in and out of any situation and tenacious enemy A.I. make for unbelievably intense gameplay. Enemies set up ladders, carry shields, brandish chain saws and axes, sprint, sidestep, block their heads, shout to each other—these aren't stupid, predictable zombies, there are tons of them (I once counted nine onscreen), and they are hunting you. Backed by amazingly realistic graphics and an outstanding soundtrack, it's one of the most frightening and exciting experiences you'll ever have. I don't care how sky-high your expectations are, RE4 will blow them away again and again. 2005's Game of the Year might have come out just 11 days into it.
8/10
