Review: Resident Evil 4 Ultimate HD Edition (PC)

The position held by Resident Evil 4 in the annals of video games is unassailable at this point. Originally launched way back in 2005, the game has been re-purposed, refined, and re-released across multiple platforms so in 2014 it feels somewhat unfair to be reviewing it now in light of the all the games of a similar play style that has been released in the intervening years, especially when a lot of those games have done it better.

Though there's an option for "Modern" control, controlling Leon as he explores a very brown part of Spain hunting for the President's daughter amongst non-zombies, is very much clunky, particularly with a mouse and keyboard. Further, there's still the quirk of having to aim a gun prior to reloading that is simply maddening. It's 2014, why not just press a button? What about switching guns or grenades with the flick of a mouse wheel? Why should the player have to switch to inventory and equip the weapon I want?

These are all questions that have been answered by other games in the last ten years.

As a dose of nostalgia, Resident Evil 4 delivers. The look and feel of the game is likely the best it has ever been. Moments forgotten like the lead-up to the appearance of Dr. Salvador or all those bear traps or the El Gigante, jog memories from the first experience with the game, rendered all the more intense and meaningful because one can't remember the last time the game was saved at a typewriter.

Then the game smacks a quick time event in your face and not having the same reaction time as one did 10 years ago, it's setup for repeated instant-death scenarios. Something cool is happening in the background while all the attention is focused on the next button prompt. Even as recently as Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 presents the option to turn-off these events so the player can watch something spectacular rather than repeat an action over and over trying to anticipate when to waggle the sticks.

Resident Evil 4 was a landmark game when it originally released and it's influence is felt to this day but it doesn't hold up very well compared to modern games when it comes to gameplay. The moody, bleak atmosphere has never looked and sounded better -- though it's not a complete reworking of the graphics, etc. -- and the nostalgia hit is strong but the game is more of an historical curio than it is a must play title.

- Aaron Simmer
Follow @EmpireArmchair

The Good:
- Has never looked so good
- A landmark title
- Wacky story

The Bad:
- Clunky tank controls, even with a "Modern" control setting
- So many other games have improved on Resident Evil 4's core

Score: 7.5 / 10