| Resident Evil 4 | |
|---|---|
 North American cover art | |
| Developer | Capcom Production Studio 4[a] |
| Publishers | |
| Director | Shinji Mikami |
| Producer | Hiroyuki Kobayashi |
| Designers |
|
| Programmer | Kiyohiko Sakata |
| Writer | Shinji Mikami |
| Composers | Misao Senbongi Shusaku Uchiyama |
| Series | Resident Evil |
| Platforms | |
| Release | January 11, 2005 |
| Genres | Survival horror,third-person shooter |
| Mode | Single-player |
Resident Evil 4[b] is a 2005survival horror game developed and published byCapcom for theGameCube. Players control the special agentLeon S. Kennedy on a mission to rescue the president of the United States's daughter,Ashley Graham, who has been kidnapped by a religiouscult in rural Spain. Leon fights hordes of enemies infected by a mind-controllingparasite and reunites with the spy and mercenaryAda Wong. In a departure from thefixed camera angles and slower gameplay of previousResident Evil games,Resident Evil 4 features a dynamic camera system andaction-oriented gameplay.
Development onResident Evil 4 began for thePlayStation 2 in 1999. Four proposed versions were discarded; the first was directed byHideki Kamiya, but series creatorShinji Mikami felt it was too great a departure from the previous games, so it was spun off asDevil May Cry (2001). Other versions were scrapped until Mikami took directorial duties for what became the final version. The game was announced as part of theCapcom Five, a collaboration between Capcom andNintendo to create five exclusives for the GameCube.
Resident Evil 4 garnered acclaim for its story, gameplay, graphics, voice acting, and characters, and is cited as one of thebest video games of all time, winning multipleGame of the Year awards in 2005. It was ported to numerous formats, and became amulti-platform hit, selling 14.7 million copies by March 2025. It influenced the evolution of the survival horror and third-person genres, popularizing the "over-the-shoulder"third-person view used in games such asGears of War,Dead Space, andThe Last of Us.Resident Evil 5 was released in 2009 and aremake ofResident Evil 4 was released in 2023.[1]
The player controls the protagonist,Leon S. Kennedy, from athird-person perspective. Departing significantly from the series' previous games, the gameplay focuses on action andshootouts with fewer survival horror elements. The camera is placed behind Leon and zooms in for an over-the-shoulder view when aiming a weapon, or a first-person view when aiming with asniper rifle.[2] There is nocrosshair for firearms; instead, every firearm has alaser sight. Unlike previous games where players can only shoot straight, up, or down, players have more options. For example, shots to the feet can cause enemies to stumble, and shots to the arms can make them drop their weapons. Players can also shoot down projectiles like thrownaxes orscythes.[3]
Resident Evil 4 adds context-sensitive controls. Based on the situation, players can interact with the environment: kicking down a ladder, jumping out of a window, dodging an attack or executing a "finishing move" on weakened enemies. There are alsoquick time events, in which the player must press buttons indicated on-screen to execute actions such as dodging a falling boulder or wrestling an enemy to stay alive. These are often incorporated into the game's manyboss fights, in which the player must avoid instant-kill attacks.[4]
The main enemies are violent villagers referred to as Los Ganados ("The Cattle" in Spanish). They can dodge, wield melee and projectile weapons, and are capable of working collectively and communicating with each other. Once simplefarmers until becoming the product of an infestation of Las Plagas ("ThePlague" in Spanish), Los Ganados can gain the ability to cause mutated parasites to sprout from their heads.[5]
The inventory system features a grid system, represented by anattaché case, that has each item take up a certain number of spaces. The case can be upgraded several times, allowing for more space. Weapons, ammunition, andhealing items are kept in the case, while key items and treasures are kept in a separate menu. Items may be bought from and sold to amerchant that appears in various locations. He sellsfirst aid sprays, weapons, allows for weapons to be upgraded and buys various treasures that Leon finds. The various weapons each have their own advantages and disadvantages.[6][7]
Capcom added content for the PlayStation 2 version, which was later incorporated into thePC andWii releases. The largest addition is "Separate Ways", a side story which focuses onAda Wong's involvement inResident Evil 4 and her connection to the series' villainAlbert Wesker.[8] "Ada's Report", a five-part documentary, analyzes Ada's relationship with Wesker and his role in the plot.[9] Otherunlockable content in all versions includes theminigame "The Mercenaries" and short scenario "Assignment Ada" (using Ada to retrieve Las Plagas samples), new costumes for Leon and Ashley, new weapons, and acutscene browser.[10]
In 2004, U.S. government agentLeon S. Kennedy (Paul Mercier) is on a mission to rescueAshley Graham (Carolyn Lawrence), the U.S. President's daughter, who has been abducted by a mysterious cult.[11] He travels to an unnamed rural village inSpain,[12] where he encounters a group of hostile villagers who pledge their lives to Los Iluminados, the cult that kidnapped Ashley. The villagers were once simple farmers until becoming infected by a mind-controllingparasite known asLas Plagas.[13]
While in the village, Leon is captured by its chief, Bitores Mendez, and injected with Las Plagas.[14] He finds himself held captive withLuis Sera (Rino Romano), a former police officer inMadrid, and former Los Iluminados researcher.[15] The two work together to escape, but soon go their separate ways. Leon finds out Ashley is being held in a church and rescues her.[16] They both escape from the church after Osmund Saddler (Michael Gough), leader of the cult, reveals his plan to use the parasite they injected into Ashley to manipulate her into injecting the president of the United States with a "sample" once she returns home, allowing Saddler to begin his conquest of the world.[17]
After killing Mendez, Leon and Ashley try to take refuge in a castle but are attacked by moreIluminados under the command of Ramon Salazar (Rene Mujica), another of Saddler'shenchmen who owns the castle,[14] and the two become separated by Salazar'straps. Meanwhile, Luis searches forpills that will slow Leon and Ashley's infection, as well as a sample ofLas Plagas. He brings the two items to Leon but is killed by Saddler, who takes the sample, while the pills to suppress the infection remain in Leon's hands.[18] While in the castle, Leon briefly encountersAda Wong (Sally Cahill), a woman from his past who supports him during his mission. He battles his way through the castle before killing Salazar.[19]
Afterward, Leon travels to a nearby island research facility, where he continues the search for Ashley. He discovers that one of his former training comrades, Jack Krauser (Jim Ward), who was believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash two years prior, is responsible for her kidnapping in an attempt to get close enough to Saddler to steal his new Plagas sample.[20] Ada and Krauser are working withAlbert Wesker (Richard Waugh), for whom both intend to secure a Plagas sample, though Krauser is suspicious of Ada.[21] Suspicious of the mercenary's intentions, Saddler orders Krauser to kill Leon, believing that no matter which one dies, he will benefit.[22] After Krauser's defeat, Leon rescues Ashley, and they remove the Plagas from their bodies using a specializedradiotherapeutic device. Leon confronts Saddler, and with Ada's help, manages to kill him. However, Ada takes the sample from Leon at gunpoint before escaping in a helicopter,[23] leaving Leon and Ashley to escape via herJet Ski as the island explodes.[24]
In 1999, producerShinji Mikami said aResident Evil sequel was in development forPlayStation 2.[25]Resident Evil 4 underwent a lengthy development, during which at least four versions of the game were discarded.[26] The first version was directed byHideki Kamiya.[27] Around the turn of the millennium,[28]Resident Evil 2 writerNoboru Sugimura created a story for the game,[29] based on Kamiya's idea to make a "cool" and "stylish"action game.[30] The story was based on unraveling the mystery surrounding the body of the protagonist, Tony,[31] an invincible man with skills and anintellect exceeding that of normal people, with hissuperhuman abilities explained withbiotechnology.[28] As Kamiya felt the playable character did not look brave and heroic enough in battles from a fixed angle, he decided to drop the prerendered backgrounds from previous installments and use adynamic camera system.[27] The team spent 11 days in the United Kingdom and Spain, photographing objects such asGothic statues, bricks, and stone pavements for use intextures.[32][33]
Though the developers tried to make the "coolness" theme fit into the world ofResident Evil,[34] Mikami felt it strayed too far from the series'survival horror roots and gradually convinced the staff to make an independent game. This became a new Capcom franchise,Devil May Cry, released for the PlayStation 2 in August 2001.[35]
Development onResident Evil 4 restarted at the end of 2001.[36] The first announcement was made in November 2002, as one of five games developed exclusively for theGameCube byCapcom Production Studio 4, theCapcom Five.[37][38] This revision, commonly dubbed the "fog version", was directed by Hiroshi Shibata[39] and was 40 percent finished at that time.[40] The game saw Leon S. Kennedy struggling to survive[39] after having infiltrated Umbrella's castle-like main headquarters located in Europe and featured traditionalResident Evil monsters such aszombies.[26][41][42] During the course of the new story which was again written by Sugimura's scenario creation companyFlagship,[43] Leon became infected with the Progenitor Virus and possessed a hidden power in his left hand.[26][44][45] The producer of the final version also pointed out that Ashley did not appear back then, though there was a different girl who was never revealed to the public.[26] The game was to feature somefirst-person elements.[46]
AtE3 2003, Capcom showcased a version widely known as the "hook man version".[47] It was later titledMaboroshi no Biohazard 4 (幻の「バイオハザード4」; lit. "The Phantom Biohazard 4") on theBiohazard 4 Secret DVD. During Mikami's introduction of thetrailer, he assured that development was proceeding smoothly and claimed the game was scarier than ever before.[47] The story was set in a haunted building where Leon contracted a bizarre disease and foughtparanormal enemies, such as animatedsuits of armor, living dolls, and a ghostlike man armed with a large hook.[41][47] The game had an otherworldly feel to it, containing elements likeflashback andhallucinations that were marked by a bluish tint and a shaking camera.[26] It also displayed various gameplay mechanics that carried over to the final release, like the over-the-shoulder camera, a laser sight for aiming in battles and quick time events.[47] Other features, such asdialogue choices, were removed later.[26] Five minutes of gameplay footage were released on theBiohazard 4 Secret DVD, a Japanesepre-order bonus given out in January 2005.[48]
The Hallucination version had only a basic story concept, having dropped the previous scenario penned by Noboru Sugimura of Flagship. In 2012,Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) scenario writer Yasuhisa Kawamura said he was responsible for this version, as he wanted to makeBiohazard 4 scarier "and suggested using a particular scene from the American filmLost Souls (2000), where the main character [...] suddenly finds herself in a derelict building with a killer on the loose. An arranged version of this idea eventually turned into Hook Man. The idea went through several iterations as Mr. Sugimura and I carefully refined this world (which, I have to say, was very romantic). Leon infiltrates the castle of Spencer seeking the truth, while inside alaboratory located deep within, a young girl wakes up. Accompanied by a B.O.W. [an abbreviation for "Bio Organic Weapon" in the series' lore] dog, the two start to make their way up the castle. Unfortunately, there were many obstacles that needed to be overcome and the cost of development was deemed too expensive." Kawamura added he was very sorry and "even ashamed" that Mikami had to step in and scrap this version.[49] After this attempt, the last cancelled revision featured classic zombies again. However, it was discontinued after a few months, and before it was ever shown to the public, as the developers felt it was too formulaic.[26]
The story of the Progenitor Virus was eventually covered inResident Evil 5 (2009) and the Spencer Estate became the setting forResident Evil 5'sdownloadable content (DLC) pack "Lost in Nightmares" (featuringChris Redfield andJill Valentine).[50]
It was decided to reinvent the series.[41] Mikami took over directorial duties from Shibata and began working on the version that was released.[51] In an interview withGame Informer, Mikami explained his decision to shift to a new gameplay system is due to the feeling that the older system is "more of the same" after playingResident Evil Zero. He says that he only felt nervous once more when playing with the newer system.[52] Speaking for the team, game producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi[51] mentioned how the staff was "tired of the same thing"[53] and how some got bored and moved on to other projects.[54] In addition to that, the producer also felt that the older format was "stuck in a cookie cutter mold" and described it as "shackles holding us down".[55]
However, some of the staff members disagreed about changing the gameplay system. These members felt depressed and were hard to motivate after the game's focus shifted to be more action-oriented.[36] Although Mikami demanded the camera system be revised, the team had reservations about making big changes to the series he had created.[56] Eventually, he intervened, explained his proposed changes, and wrote a new story that, unlike previous installments, was not centered on the company Umbrella.[56][57][58] Mikami wrote the entire story in just three weeks due to time constraints.[59] Inspired byOnimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004), a game Mikami had enjoyed playing but felt could have been better with a different view, he decided to place the camera behind the playable character.[60] To go along with the new gameplay and story, a new type of enemy called "Ganado" was created, as opposed to using the undead creatures from previousResident Evil games.[58] Furthermore, producers expended additional detail to modify and update characters that had previously appeared in the series. In a documentary explaining the conception of the characters, Kamiya stated he intended to make Leon Kennedy "look tougher, but also cool".[61]
Kobayashi was responsible for the design of some of the final game's enemies, such as the Regenerators.[62] Kobayashi described the creatures' origins within universe lore as byproducts of Los Iluminados' research intobioorganic weapons, malformed creations implanted with multiplePlaga parasites during the experimentation process.[63] Regenerators are designed to take distinct heavy breaths before they are seen, which alerts the player to their presence. When encountered, often in small confined spaces, they would walk slowly towards the player character. The Regenerator is capable of continuously regenerating itself and cannot easily be dispatched unless the player is able to find thePlaga parasites within its body, which can only be seen with theinfrared scope, and specifically target them first.[64][65][66][67] During an interview withFamitsu, Mikami explained that elements like the Regenerators help maintain the survival horror aspect ofResident Evil 4 as a balance between a "scary kind of gameplay and the challenge of overcoming that fear", with the goal of giving players a sense of achievement when they manage to overcome the monster.[68]
The English voice actors recorded their parts in four sessions, over three to four months.[69] Capcom assigned Shinsaku Ohara as script translator and voice over coordinator.[70]Carolyn Lawrence, who provided the voice for Ashley Graham, described her character as "vulnerable, because Leon has to come to her rescue all the time".[69] She also described Kennedy's character as "more brawn, perhaps, than brain".[69] In addition to the voice acting, the game's designer detailed each cinematic sequence so that each character's facial expressions matched the tone of their voice actor.[61]
Along withResident Evil: Dead Aim andResident Evil Outbreak (both 2003), two side story games that did not fall under the exclusive policy, it was announced on October 31, 2004 thatResident Evil 4 would come to the PlayStation 2 in 2005, citing increased profit, changing market conditions, and increased consumer satisfaction as the key reasons. The PlayStation 2 version included new features, primarily a new sub-game featuring Ada Wong. On February 1, 2006,Ubisoft announced that they would be publishing the game on the PC forWindows.[71] On April 4, 2007, aWii version was announced and was launched later in the year. The game features all of the extras in the PS2 version, along with other additions, including a trailer forResident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.[72][73]
The original version for the GameCube featured two different collector's editions. The first was available as a pre-order that included the game, thePrologue art book, and a T-shirt.GameStop offered another limited edition that was packaged in a tin box with the art book, acel of Leon, and a soundtrackCD.[74] Australia received an exclusive collector's edition that came with the game and a bonus disc with interviews and creator's footage.[75]Nintendo handled marketing sales and distribution of the title in Europe and Australia.[76]
Resident Evil 4 was ported to the PlayStation 2 after Capcom stated that it did not fall under the exclusivity deal withNintendo. It was released in North America on October 25, 2005. The largest addition is "Separate Ways", a new scenario for Ada written by Haruo Murata.[70] According to producer Masachika Kawata, the Separate Ways campaign was something thought up by the PS2 porting team and was added after getting approval from Shinji Mikami.[77] The PlayStation 2 version featured two standard and collector's bundles from pre-orders. The standard package included the game and a T-shirt, while the collector's bundle also included afigurine of Leon, and the soundtrackBiohazard Sound Chronicle Best Track Box. This quickly sold out, and a second pressing was released that included an Ada figurine. Another, called theResident Evil 4: Premium Edition, was packaged in aSteelBook media case, along with the art book, a documentaryDVD, and a cel art of Ada.[78]
A PC port ofResident Evil 4 developed by Sourcenext was released in Hong Kong on February 1, 2007, published byTyphoon Games. It was released in Europe, North America, and Australia in March 2007 and was published byUbisoft. The port contains the bonus features from the PS2 version, such as "Separate Ways", the P.R.L. 412 laser cannon and a second set of unlockable costumes for Leon and Ashley, as well as an Easy difficulty level. It also supports multiple widescreen resolutions.[79] The shadow and lighting problems were fixed in the only patch, Version 1.10.[80]
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition was released for theWii on May 31, 2007 in Japan and on June 19, 2007 in the United States. It features updated controls that utilize thepointing andmotion-sensing abilities of theWii Remote andNunchuk, though both the GameCube controller and theClassic Controller are also supported.[73] The Wii Remote is able to aim and shoot anywhere on the screen with areticle that replaces the laser sight found in the other versions, and motion-based gestures are used to perform some context-sensitive actions, such as dodging or slashing. TheWii Edition also includes the extra content from the PS2 and PC versions, and a trailer forResident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.[72] TheWii Edition became available fordownload from theWii U'sNintendo eShop in Europe on October 29, 2015.[81][82]
Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition was released in Japan forau's BREW 4.0 on February 1, 2008. It was announced by Capcom at TGS 2007.[83] Differences from the original include changing the flow of the story from being continuous to being divided into sections such as "Village", "Ravine", "Fortress" and "Subterranean Tunnel". There is also a more challenging Mercenary Mode.[84][85] The game uses the MascotCapsule eruption engine[86] and was adapted to theZeebo andiOS platforms.[87][88] On July 13, 2009, without any formal announcement,Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition was released by Capcom for the iOS platform via theApp Store in Japan, but was quickly removed,[89][90] though some players were able to purchase and download it. The game has since been released in Japan and North America.[88] Later, Capcom made an update that had different difficulty levels and high scores. Capcom released a new separate version calledResident Evil 4 for Beginners, which offers the first two levels (three counting a training level) of both Story Mode and Mercenary Mode. However, the rest of the levels are available for purchase in-game as downloadable content. Due to the release of theiPad, Capcom recreated the iPhone version ofResident Evil 4: Mobile Edition and updated it to HD graphics asResident Evil 4: iPad Edition.[91]
On March 23, 2011, Capcom announcedhigh-definition (HD) remastered versions ofResident Evil – Code: Veronica andResident Evil 4 for theXbox 360 andPlayStation 3, as part of theResident Evil: Revival Selection series.[92] The ports feature all the bonus content from the previous releases, including "Separate Ways". On July 23, 2011, Capcom announced atSan Diego Comic-Con 2011 thatResident Evil 4 would be released on September 20[93] for thePlayStation Network andXbox Live Games on Demand.[94] In Japan,Resident Evil 4 andResident Evil – Code: Veronica were released on a single disc asBiohazard Revival Selection on September 8, 2011.[95] In North America and Europe, the games were only released as downloads on Xbox Live Games on Demand and PlayStation Network.[96] On February 27, 2014, Capcom releasedResident Evil 4 Ultimate HD Edition forWindows. The port features improved graphics and enhancements included inResident Evil 4 HD.Resident Evil 4 was rereleased onPlayStation 4 andXbox One on August 30, 2016.[citation needed] In April 2013,Resident Evil 4 was released onAndroid. Outside of Japan, it is exclusive toSamsung through theirGalaxy Store.[97] Capcom announced in October 2018 thatResident Evil 4 would be published for theNintendo Switch in 2019, along with releases ofResident Evil andResident Evil Zero (both 2002).[98]
In October 2021, Capcom released avirtual reality (VR) version ofResident Evil 4 for theOculus Quest 2. Developed by the AmericanArmature Studio,[99] many elements of gameplay like combat and inventory management were changed to accommodate VR.[100] This version, which runs onUnreal Engine 4, also includes redesigned textures with increased resolution.[100] The developers and executive producer Tom Ivey stated that there were changes made to "update the game for a modern audience", and a number of in-game animations (such as the animation triggered when players attempted to look up Ashley'sskirt), dialogue and flirtatious banter between characters were removed.[101][102][103]
Biohazard 4 Original Soundtrack was released in Japan on December 22, 2005. It contains 62 compositions from the game and the 48-pageVisual Booklet with liner notes from composers Shusaku Uchiyama and Misao Senbongi.[104] Other merchandise included figures byMcFarlane Toys,[105][106]NECA[107] andHot Toys.[108]Agatsuma Entertainment has also created various miniature collectibles based on several main characters and enemies fromResident Evil 4.[109] Two special controllers designed to resemble chainsaws were designed by NubyTech for use with the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions.[110]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | NGC: 96/100[111] PC: 76/100[112] PC (Ultimate HD Edition): 79/100[113] PS2: 96/100[114] PS3: 84/100[115] Wii: 91/100[116] X360: 84/100[117] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| 1Up.com | NGC: A[118] PC: A[119] Wii: B+[120] |
| Edge | NGC: 9/10[121] |
| Famitsu | Wii: 38/40[122] |
| GameSpot | NGC: 9.6/10[123] PC: 7.8/10[124] PS2: 9.3/10[125] Wii: 9.1/10[126] |
| GameSpy | NGC: 5/5[127] PC: 3.5/5[128] PS2: 5/5[129] Wii: 5/5[130] |
| IGN | NGC: 9.8/10[131] PC: 7.7/10[132] PS2: 9.5/10[133] PS3: 8.5/10[134] Wii: 9/10[135] |
| Nintendo Power | NGC: 10/10[136] |
| Official Xbox Magazine (US) | X360: 9/10[137] |
| PC Gamer (US) | PC: 85/100[138] |
The GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions ofResident Evil 4 have a score of 96/100 onMetacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".[111][114] These versions havethe top ranking on Metacritic's list of the Best Video Games for 2005.[139] In addition to the gameplay, the characters and story received positive commentary, leading to the finished product being deemed asone of the best video games ever made.GameSpot'sGreg Kasavin praised the voice acting, but claimed that it was betrayed by "some uncharacteristically goofy dialogue".[123]Yahoo! Games' Adam Pavlacka andGameSpot's Kevin VanOrd acclaimed Capcom for adding great amounts of detail to the characters.[126][140]IGN'sMatt Casamassina went into further detail in his review forResident Evil 4, praising not only the detailed character design but also thefight choreography and three-dimensional modeling within cinematic sequences.[131] Casamassina also complimented the voice actors, especiallyPaul Mercier (Leon), commenting, "For once, the characters are believable because Capcom has hired competent actors to supply their voices. Leon in particular is very well produced".[131]IGN andNintendo Power specifically recognizedResident Evil 4's character design and voice acting. The increased variety of weapons has been praised by gaming publications such asGamePro[141] andGame Over Online.[142]G4 television programX-Play gave it a 5 out of 5, for introducing a new style of gameplay for the series as well as incorporating moments where the player would have to interact with the cut scenes. Not long after, it was awarded as the best game ever reviewed on the show.[143] The makers ofResident Evil 4 worked on various innovations associated with the use and inventory of weapons.[144]Game Over stated that players can use the vast array of weapons to "go for headshots now".[142]Game Informer stated that ammunition is more plentiful inResident Evil 4 than in other games in the series, making it more action-oriented.[145]
The ratings of the PC port, along with theUltimate HD Edition release, were not as high as for the other versions. The original PC port was criticized for nomouse support and frustrating keyboard controls, low-qualityFMVcutscenes, and choppy lightning graphics rendering. Despite these problems, it received generally positive reviews from critics,[112] includingIGN andGameSpot, which praised the gameplay, character models and environments, and sound design.[124][132]GameRevolution referred to the game'sUltimate HD Edition as "a bare-bones port of a nonetheless spectacular game", noting "minor superficial alterations" similar to the 2007 PC port and asserting that the true "Ultimate Edition" ofResident Evil 4 is the Wii version.[146] Japanese game magazineFamitsu reviewed the Wii version, with two editors giving it a perfect 10 score, and the remaining pair giving it a 9, resulting in a score of 38 out of 40. The reviewers felt that the new controls offer something fresh. Multiple reviewers agreed that even those who own the original will find something fun and enjoyable in this version.[122] British magazineNGamer gave theWii Edition a score of 96%,[116] slightly lower than the 97% given to the GameCube version. They praised the visuals, controls, and features and commented on the fact that such an "exceptional package" was on sale for a low price; however, when writing about the Wii controls, they said, "if you've played the GC version this won't be as special".Official Nintendo Magazine gave the Wii version 94%, 3% less than the original due to it simply not having the same impact it did back then.[147] In 2009, they went on to place the game 9th on a list of the greatest Nintendo games of all time.[148]IGN praised the Wii version, stating it is the superior edition, but does not push the Wii like it did with GameCube and PS2.[135]GameSpot praised the new controls of theWii Edition but commented on the lack of exclusive Wii features.[126]Hyper's Jonti Davies commendedResident Evil 4: Wii Edition for its "visual improvements" but criticized it for having "no new content".[149] The PS3 version ofResident Evil 4 HD received a score of 9.0 fromDestructoid, which called it "a hallmark of excellence".[150] In their October 2013 issue,Edge retroactively awarded it ten out of ten.[151]
Resident Evil 4 was namedGame of the Year by multiple publications, includingEdge,[152]Electronic Gaming Monthly,[153]GameTrailers,[154]Game Informer,[155]GamePro,GameRevolution, theChicago Tribune, and thePittsburgh Post-Gazette. The game was also included in lists of the best games of 2005 by various media outlets, includingPlay, theAssociated Press,Universal Press Syndicate,The Mercury News,Maxim,Sound & Vision,The News Tribune, theHartford Courant, andThe Oregonian.[156]GameSpy labeled it the GameCube Game of the Year,[157] the second PlayStation 2 Game of the Year (behindGod of War)[158] and the second Game of the Year (behindCivilization IV).[159]PlayStation Magazine also labeled it the second Game of the Year, in addition to Best Graphics and Most Improved Sequel.[160] At theGameSpot's Best of 2005 Awards,Resident Evil 4 was chosen Game of the Year,[161] Best GameCube Game,[162] Best Action Adventure Game,[163] and Most Improved Sequel.[164] It won Game of the Year, Best Action Game, Best Graphics Technology, Best Artistic Design, Best Original Score, and Best Use of Sound in the GameCube division ofIGN's The Best of 2005 Awards,[165] where it also won Overall – Best Graphics Technology award,[166] as well as being a runner-up in the Overall – Game of the Year and Overall – Best Action Game categories.[167][168] The game was1UP Awards' Game of the Year and Best Action Game winner.[169] It went on to win Game of the Year 2005,[170] Best Horror Game of the Year 2005,[171] GameCube Game of the Year 2005,[172] and GameCube Action Game of the Year 2005 awards,[173] and was a runner-up in PlayStation 2 Game of the Year 2005[174] and PlayStation 2 Action Game of the Year 2005 classifications[175] atGameZone's Game of the Year Awards.Nintendo Power awardedResident Evil 4 Game of the Year, Best Adventure Game, Game of the Year – GameCube, Best Graphics – GameCube, Best Sound / Voice Acting at its awards show.[176] During theNintendojo's Best of 2005 Awards, the game received recognition as the runner-up for Best Gameplay Innovation[177] and Most Engrossing Game.[178] Additionally, it emerged victorious in the categories of Best Game, Period.,[179] Best GameCube Visuals, Best GameCube Gameplay, and Best GameCube Overall.[180] At thePALGN Awards, the game achieved success by securing the titles of Action Game of the Year for 2005 and GameCube Game of the Year for 2005, while also attaining the title of Overall Game of the Year for 2005. In the category of PlayStation 2 Game of the Year for 2005, the game earned the recognition of a runner-up position.[181]
Thevirtual reality port ofResident Evil 4 was named VR/AR Game of the Year atThe Game Awards 2021,[182] and was also named XR Game of the Year at theSXSW Gaming Awards.[183] At the11th New York Game Awards, the game won Best AR/VR Game and Best Remake.[184]Resident Evil 4 VR was nominated forImmersive Reality Game of the Year andImmersive Reality Technical Achievement at the25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.[185]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | CESA Game Awards | Future Award for Excellence | Won | [186] |
| Game Critics Awards | Best Console Game | Nominated | [187] | |
| Best Action/Adventure Game | Nominated | |||
| Golden Joystick Awards | Most Wanted Game for 2005 | Runner-up | [188] | |
| 2005 | CESA Game Awards | Award for Excellence | Won | [189] |
| Golden Joystick Awards | GameCube Game of the Year | Won | [190][191] | |
| Editor's Game of the Year | Won | |||
| Best Film-Based Game of 2005 | Won | |||
| Spike Video Game Awards | Game of the Year | Won | [192] | |
| Action Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Best Graphics | Won | |||
| 2006 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Video Game | Nominated | [193][194] |
| Famitsu Awards | Grand Prize | Won[c] | [195] | |
| Game Developers Choice Awards | Visual Arts | Nominated | [196][197][198] | |
| Golden Joystick Awards | Playstation Game of the Year | Won | [199][200] | |
| Ultimate Game of 2006 | Nominated | |||
| Saturn Awards | Best Video Game Release: Horror | Won | [201][202] |
The GameCube version sold over 320,000 copies in North America during the first twenty days. The European release sold its entire 200,000 copies during the first month. By December 2005, 3 million copies of the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions had been shipped worldwide.[203][204] According to January 17, 2007 sales figures provided by Capcom, the GameCube version ofResident Evil 4 had sold a total of 1.6 million copies worldwide, while the PS2 version had sold over 2 million copies.[205] As of March 2025,Resident Evil 4 had sold 14.7 million copies.[206] It holds the record for "Best-Selling Survival Horror Game" in the 2012Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition.[207]
Resident Evil 4 is consideredone of the best video games of all time. It is included in the reference book1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die (2014).[208]Nintendo Power ranked it as number one in their list of the top 25 best GameCube games of all time in 2005[136] and also ranked it second on their list of the best games of the 2000s in 2010.[209] In 2008,Resident Evil 4 was ranked first place in the list of the best video games of all time according to the readers ofIGN,[210] and sixth place in the list of the best PlayStation 2 games of all time according to theIGN staff.[211] In 2021,IGN ranked the game as the 40th best game of all time.[212] In 2009,Game Informer rankedResident Evil 4 number one on their list of top GameCube games[213] and number three on their list of top PlayStation 2 games.[214] In 2022,Complex magazine named it the tenth-best PlayStation 2 game of all time.[215]GamePro ranked it as the second best game for the PS2.[216] In 2010, the readers ofPlayStation Official Magazine voted it the 10th greatestPlayStation game.[217] In 2007,Edge ranked the game at second place in its list of top games of all time, behind onlyThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998).[218] That same year,G4 named it the 21st top video game of all time, calling it "a modern horror masterpiece."[219] In 2015, it placed 7th on USgamer's The 15 Best Games Since 2000 list.[220] In early 2006, in their 200th issue,Nintendo Power ranked it in second place in their Top 200 Games of all-time list, also behind onlyThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.[221] In 2025,Rolling Stone named it the 27th-greatest game.[222]
Resident Evil 4 is regarded as one of the most influential games of the2000s, particularly due to its influence in redefining thethird-person shooter genre[223] by introducing offset camera angles that do not obscure action.[224] The new gameplay alterations and immersive style appealed to many not previously familiar with the series.[225] The over-the-shoulder viewpoint introduced inResident Evil 4 has later become standard in third-person shooters and action games, including titles ranging fromGears of War toBatman: Arkham Asylum (2009).[223] It has also become a standard "precision aim" feature for third-personaction games in general, with examples includingDead Space,Grand Theft Auto,Ratchet & Clank,Fallout,[226]Uncharted,Mass Effect andThe Last of Us.[227] In 2019,Game Informer calledResident Evil 4 "the most important third-person shooter ever" and said it "innovated two genres", inspiring developers of bothsurvival horror andshooter games.[228]
Resident Evil 4 redefined the survival horror genre by emphasizing reflexes and precision aiming,[229] thus broadening the gameplay of the series with elements from the wider action game genre.[230] However, this also led some reviewers to suggest that theResident Evil series had abandoned the survival horror genre,[231][232] by demolishing the genre conventions that it had established.[233] Other major survival horror series followed suit, by developing their combat systems to feature more action, such asSilent Hill: Homecoming[231] and the 2008 version ofAlone in the Dark.[234] These changes represent an overall trend amongconsole games shifting towards visceral action gameplay.[235]
While working onThe Last of Us,Naughty Dog took cues fromResident Evil 4, particularly the tension and action.[236]Dead Space designers Ben Wanat and Wright Bagwell stated that their game was originally intended to beSystem Shock 3 before the release ofResident Evil 4 inspired them to go back to the drawing board.[237]BioShock (2007) was also influenced byResident Evil 4, including its approach to the environments, combat, and tools, its game design and tactical elements, its "gameplay fuelled storytelling" and inventory system, and its opening village level in terms of how it "handled the sandbox nature of the combat" and in terms of "the environment."[238]Cory Barlog citedResident Evil 4 as an influence on theGod of War series, includingGod of War II (2007) and particularlyGod of War (2018), which was influenced byResident Evil 4's "combination of poised camera exploration and scavenging".[239]Uncharted directorBruce Straley called theResident Evil 4 village sequence the best opening fight in a video game.[240]
Resident Evil Village (2021) was influenced byResident Evil 4. The director said, "IfResident Evil 7 was like areboot that inherited theDNA of the originalResident Evil, then you could say that this time we're doing the same forResident Evil 4. We've designed the game and its structure withResident Evil 4's essence in mind".[241]
VentureBeat creditsResident Evil 4HD as an early example ofHDvideo game remasters.[227] Aremake ofResident Evil 4 was released on March 24, 2023 on thePlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Windows, and theXbox Series X and Series S.[1][242] The remake was also announced for theiPhone 15 Pro, to be released between late 2023 to early 2024.[243]
In June 2021, the photographer and author Judy Juracek launched legal proceedings against Capcom for allegedly using images from her bookSurfaces: Visual Research for Artists, Architects, and Designers (1996) without her permission to createtextures for multiple games, includingResident Evil 4 andDevil May Cry.[244][245] The parties reached an undisclosed settlement outside of court in February 2022.[246] Capcom and Juracek have amicably resolved their dispute concerning the alleged use of her photos in Capcom's games. A dismissal was filed on February 7, 2022 with theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut to end the lawsuit.[247]
The camera problems have been finally solved thanks to a very useful over-the-shoulder and behind the player camera that makes the whole aiming process really easy.
Leon: It was right before I was to take on my duties of protecting the President's daughter when she was abducted. That's the ultimate reason I'm in this lonely and rural part of Europe. According to our intelligence, there's reliable information of a sighting of a girl that looks very similar to the President's daughter. Apparently, she's being withheld by some unidentified group of people. Who would have thought my first job would be a rescue mission?
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Leon: We decided to lay low in a castle, but it looks like it was a bad move. /Hunnigan: Meaning? /Leon: Well it appears that this castle's also connected with the Los Iluminados. They must not get many visitors cuz they're giving me one hell of a welcome. / ... /Saddler: Oh, I believe I forgot to tell you that we gave you the same gift. /Leon: (When I was unconscious.)
Sera: That is the incident with the viral outbreak right? I think I might have seen a sample of the virus in the lab at my department.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Leon: Calm down. Everything's going to be just fine. My name's Leon, I'm under the President's order to rescue you. /Ashley: What? My father? /Leon: That's right, and have to get you out of here. Come with me.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Saddler: If you must know, my name is Osmund Saddler, the master of this fine...religious community. /Leon: What do you want? /Saddler: To demonstrate to the whole world, our astounding power, of course. No longer will the United States think they can police the world forever. So we kidnapped the President's daughter, in order to give her our power, and then send her back.
'Saddler: Now that I have the sample, you serve me no purpose. /Leon: Saddler! /Saddler: My boy Salazar will make sure you follow the same fate. /Leon: Stay with me, Luis. /Sera: I am a researcher...hired by Saddler. He found out what I was up to. /Leon: Don't talk. /Sera: Here. It should suppress the growth of the parasite. The sample...Saddler took it. You have to get it back.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Leon: You, working with Wesker. /Ada: I see you've been doing your homework.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Krauser: I died in the crash two years ago. Is that what they told you? /Leon: You're the one who kidnapped Ashley! /Krauser: You catch on quick. That's expected. After all, both you and I know where we come from. /Leon: What do you want? /Krauser: Hmph. The sample Saddler developed, that's all.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Krauser: Saddler's got it. It seems he's sniffed out our little game. /Ada: Perfect. /Krauser: Just so we understand each other clearly, I don't trust you. Nor does Wesker. If you try to do anything clever, I will kill you. /Ada: Is that so? You know, I met Wesker long before you.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Leon: Wha? What are you talking about? I thought he was with you. /Saddler: What are you talking about? Did you really think I'd trust an American? To tell you the truth, I was contemplating how to get rid of him. But thanks to you, that's no longer necessary. /Leon:You were just using him right from the start.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Ada: Sorry, Leon. Hand it over. /Leon: Ada, you do know what this is.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Leon: We have to get off this island now! It's gonna blow any minute.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Die ersten Arbeiten anResident Evil 4 haben bereits Ende 2001 begonnen. Die Teamgröße fluktuiert je nach Entwicklungsstand, derzeit arbeiten etwa 60 Mann an dem Titel. [...] Hiroyuki Kobayashi: Es war nicht einfach, das Team bei Laune zu halten, nachdem wir die Richtung des Spiels so radikal verändert hatten. Als die Entscheidung getroffen wurde, das Spiel actionlastiger zu gestalten, war die Stimmung im Team schon sehr gedrückt. / The first work onResident Evil 4 already begun at the end of 2001. The size of team varies depending on the stage of development, about 60 people are working on the title at the moment. [...] Hiroyuki Kobayashi: It was not easy to keep the team going after we changed the direction of the game so radically. When it was decided to make the game more action-oriented, the team felt really depressed.
The game the whole world has been waiting for will finally be unveiled. The story takes place deep inside the very heart of Umbrella, the evil company responsible for the Progenitor Virus. The main character of Resident Evil 2, Leon S. Kennedy, is back in the game. What will Umbrella have in store for him this time? That "surprise" will push Leon to the very limits of his being for one purpose...the STRUGGLE to survive. Director / Hiroshi Shibata
Chris's Diary: We talked it over, and have decided to fly to the main Umbrella HQ in Europe.
Mikami: Ja, Flagship hat die Story dazu geschrieben. Mehr über Teil 4 werde ich aber nicht verraten (lacht). / Yes, Flagship wrote the story for it. But I won't reveal anything more about part 4 (laughs).
I remember playing Resident Evil Zero and said to myself that this is just more of the same... This is why I wanted to change the system. With the new system, I once again feel nervous and scared when I play it.
The staff, which includes myself and of course Shinji Mikami, decided that we wanted to go in a new direction and re-create the series. We were tired of making the same stuff as well. We wanted to make something new and original. And that's how it started.
I've worked on a number of Resident Evil titles in the past and honestly, I think the series has been recycling the same patterns, the same gameplay each time. The creators were starting to get bored with it and many moved to other projects.
In the past installments, we were stuck in the cookie-cutter RE mold. We had to break those shackles holding us down before we came up with something new.
The Umbrella Corporation is no more. "It's the only thing that makes sense if you think about it," explains Resident Evil 4 producer Hiroyuki Kobayshi. "Why would the U.S. government allow a company that developed the T-virus, and in the end forced them to destroy an entire city, to continue to exist? They wouldn't. Hence the rationale for Umbrella going away after RE3." [...] "Right from the start, we wanted to do something new and innovative for the series, so Mikami issued an order to the team: 'I want to totally re-create how the polygons, the camera, everything looks.' But, every time the staff tried to do it without his direction, they only came out with little minor changes. Nothing major. Perhaps they were too afraid to take this series that he created and totally change it. But anyway, he stepped in and showed what he wanted."
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