Resident Evil 4 detaches itself from the established story arc of the first three games in the series and finds Leon S. Kennedy attempting to locate the president's daughter in Spain.  Leon arrives at a rural village, but things soon turn sour, and he finds himself dealing with a religious cult and the monsters it has created.

Resident Evil 4 ditches the mechanics of the past games in the series and opts for a semi-controllable over-the-shoulder camera.  This provides a more intimate shooting experience, and has been mimicked by games like Gears of War.  Enemies have multiple hit-points, so shots need to be planned out and taken effectively.  Is someone holding a stick of dynamite?  Shoot their arm and make them drop it.  Is someone running at you?  Shoot them in the leg and make them drop to the ground.  It all adds up to a more dynamic and realistic feeling game.

You will be paired with Ashley, the president's daughter, for much of the game.  Luckily, she isn't completely idiotic like most AI controlled partners and is smart enough to stay out of the way while you fight.  In one sequence, during a cabin siege, the game tosses her in a dresser during the battle.  The cabin siege, by the way, is one of the best parts of the game.  See the video below for a walk-through of it, complete with cheesy dialog the series is known for.



During the lengthy campaign, you will take part in a number of memorable encounters, be scared more than once, and just have a great time.

Why should I play it?

Resident Evil 4 is, hands down, one of my favorite games.  It throws you right into the action, and you are immediately fighting for your life in an unfamiliar territory.  The boss battles are interesting and fun because they constantly bring new ideas into play.  The mechanics feel good, and the game is plenty scary too.  On one occasion I shut the game off and just walked away for a little bit.  Check out this enemy called the regenerator.  I hate them and their stupid breathing, especially when you're in a dark room and you can't see them.

How much is it?

You can catch Resident Evil 4 on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network for $20.