➤ Amarcord the horror 🎮

Version tested: Xbox 360

In the Resident Evil series the fourth chapter plays a role of primary importance. Seminal, perhaps, as much as the mythical progenitor, capable of leaving an indelible mark on all those who have had the opportunity to play it thoroughly, as well as to overturn the concept of classic survival horror. It was 2005 when Resident Evil 4 arrived on Gamecube, after an interminable wait during which Capcom decided to radically change its appearance several times, showing increasingly promising demos even if with a discordant aspect in the E3 that unfolded between 2000 and 2004, up to risk everything for all about total innovation in game mechanics and aesthetics.

After the apotheosis and the consecration of the first chapter carried out with Rebirth, the Zero had shown that the classical setting had probably reached its limit, a playful structure by now stretched for the hair that seemed to creak dangerously under the burden of traditional mechanics. Resident Evil 4 it then boldly presented itself as a third-person shooter, displacing the public and splitting it between enthusiastic supporters and traditionalist detractors. In any case, thrilling everyone, in one way or another, even pushing the purchase of exotic Japanese magazines just to have the opportunity to try the demo ahead of time and somehow deceive the wait before the release. If the recent flourishing of high definition reissues is to be a way to make the masterpieces of the early 2000s appreciated, rather than simple marketing operations that leverage nostalgia, then Resident Evil 4 has the full right to be part of this array of titles, giving the opportunity to enjoy a game that is still valid and fun despite the past years. Already this, in the early obsolescence that characterizes the world of video games, is no small feat, although it was legitimate to expect something more from Capcom than a simple resolution increase on a basis that has remained unchanged and sold, after almost seven years, well 20 euro.

A revolution

The digression represented by Resident Evil 4 in terms of gameplay it is also confirmed by history, probably the most unmarked from the classic mythology of the series. Leon S. Kennedy is sent to an area of the European hinterland (unspecified, although the beings he encounters speak with a bizarre Hispanic accent) to recover Ashley, the daughter of the US President kidnapped by a mysterious organization, behind to which the offshoots of Umbrella will obviously be discovered. The game illustrates Leon's long journey through various settings, focusing mainly on the exteriors and encountering large-scale battles, as opposed to the usually single encounters that characterized the mansions of the previous chapters.

The game mechanics are completely different from the first Resident Evil: the fourth chapter is in effect a shooter with a third-person view and dynamic shot from "over the shoulder" that follows the movements of the protagonist (another epochal revolution for the series) , in which you find yourself fighting against large amounts of enemies using various types of weapons. The puzzles of the first chapters are found here less frequent and generally more elementary but it is possible to interact with various elements of the scenario in a contextual way, which triggers different situations and breaks the monotony of the action. What amazed and what still strikes Resident Evil 4 is the harmony of its parts and the validity of the overall playful package: despite the experimental character of the game, completely freed from a structure that - despite all its flaws - could guarantee success at least with fans, Capcom has managed to put together a cohesive and exciting title, long and - which is not to be taken for granted, considering the classic mechanics of survival horror - fun. The settings, mostly open, follow one another, imposing an ever-pressing pace while the new aiming system makes for the first time really fun the firefights with enemies, divided into various types and each characterized by its own specific weaknesses. Other introductions characteristic of this chapter, able to introduce strategic elements, is the management of the inventory based on the "flat surface" occupied by the objects and the possibility of buying, selling and upgrading weapons, armor and various equipment thanks to the introduction of the mythical omnipresent merchant.

Xbox 360 achievements

One of the few innovations introduced by the high definition version to the original Resident Evil 4 structure are obviously the unlockable achievements. Only 12 achievements share the loot of 1000 gamerpoints, so each of these is quite substantial in terms of points. Considering that most of the objectives are related to progression in the story, a first conclusion of the game already allows you to collect a good part of the 1000 total points.

The Chronicles of Leon

The siege inside the small house in the village, with the improvised barricades moving cabinets in front of the doors and the anguish of the enemies that penetrate through the windows, the meeting with El Gigante, the storm that catches us in the woods just after the clash with Del Lago and again the arrival between rain and thunder at the isolated church, the entrance to the huge monastery, the numerous clashes with the bosses, there are so many topical moments in Resident Evil 4 to make it one of the most memorable experiences of the last decade of gaming. These are the merits of the title dated 2005, to which, however, this remastering adds absolutely nothing, with the increase in resolution that is not enough to compensate for the inevitable aging of the game and even less to justify the imposed price of 20 euros, really. too high considering that this is basically a slight re-adaptation of the PC version released at the time.

Furthermore, high definition does not forgive the maintenance of old textures, enhancing their imperfections and coarseness. Fortunately, the solidity of the original graphic system made it possible to withstand the onslaught of time in an excellent way, but the fact remains that more could have been done, if not a real remake at least a more accurate reworking. The same problem arises from the content point of view, given that no extras, new portions of the game or additional modes have been added: the package has remained exactly the same as at the time including the control system that already did not shine for convenience (also if compared to the previous chapters it was a bolt of war), but since this has remained unchanged even in Resident Evil 5 we can now consider it a stylistic figure of the series.

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Capcom got away with little this time, relying on the solid foundations of the original masterpiece, and did its homework by increasing the resolution of the textures and refining some lighting effects. The great advantages of the game are those of the time, as well as the few defects, but with the addition of the obvious old age problem of the technical sector, now dated. To all this we must add a decidedly high price for a game in digital delivery and the total lack of content additions for an overall picture that could discourage those who have already played Resident Evil 4 in its time. However, the strong elements of the original title are still all there and Leon's adventure still has that incisiveness, that vivacity and that same playability that have made it one of the best gaming experiences of the last generation. Those who didn't play it at the time, of course, have a "moral duty" to make up for it now.