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RipTen Review: Resident Evil 4 HD (Xbox 360)

Aaron Alexander — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:19:45 +0000

When Resident Evil 4 hit shelves in 2005, it instantly redefined third person shooting. Modern shooters have no doubt been inspired by “over the shoulder” system that the game’s known for popularizing. Yet, RE4 was not only known for it’s mechanics, but also for flipping the Resident Evil formula on its head. It was a widespread success for Capcom, and an instant classic for fans. Unfortunately, time is a harsh mistress, and Resident Evil 4 is her lover no more.

Looks pretty cold bro.

If you haven’t played Resident Evil 4 before, you’ve missed out on a genre defining moment. It presented a dark, somewhat mystical turn for the series – instead of shambling zombies, you have mind controlled parasitical Spanish humanoids. The main character, Leon Kennedy, is on a mission to find the president’s kidnapped daughter, and soon walks into a barrel of problems along the way. You’ll fight beast-like bosses, use and upgrade interesting weaponry, and traverse haunting and frightening landscapes.

Ada makes a return

However, almost immediately, the presentation of RE4 in HD falls flat on it’s face. Capcom have taken no time to clean up any of the presented text or interface – instead seemingly opting to scale the game to 720p display and slapping a giant blur filter on it. Not only does it make certain text look smudged, but cut-scenes and menu’s are made unpleasant to look at because of this. Fortunately, you won’t be spending half the game in the menu, so it’s a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things. The actual in-game models and environments do look good – for the most part everything is up-rezzed quite nicely, and textures hold up quite well, provided you don’t get close enough to ruin the magic. The visual quality certainly doesn’t compare to the PS2 HD classics, but it does the job just fine.

Smiles all round!

Yet, it’s actually the controls that are the biggest flaw. I get it, you’re remaking a classic title and by all means – don’t change anything or the die hard fan-base will have your heads, however some concessions need to be made. When Resident Evil 5 launched, I, like many people thought it controlled exactly the same as it’s predecessor, boy was I wrong. The controls presented here feel clunky, arbitrary and outdated. The camera is loose and button placement for firing your gun or slashing your knife feels unnatural by today’s standards. Aiming is still done with the left stick, the same stick used for movement. Perhaps it’s just me, but I’m subliminally always tugging on the right stick when lining up shots. Looking back, it’s easy to forgive these controller layouts as it was easily one of the pioneers of the genre, but coming back to the title can cause nothing but frustration as the movement and combat can feel very stilted. A new modern day layout for the control scheme would have been one of the easier tasks Capcom could have done, it’s a shame they didn’t bother.

Wolverine makes an appearance.

With that being said however, Resident Evil 4 is still one of the best (if not the best) in the series. The locales, enemies, and weapons are varied and exciting and it has a good amount of intrigue to keep the story moving along. Unlike the lack of horror in RE5, this game will have you damn near shitting your pants when hordes of Ganados and chainsaw wielding maniacs are hunting you down. The sound quality can be disappointing, but it’s still eerie to hear the various zombies mutter under their breath whilst chasing you. Aside from killing crazed zombie Spaniards, you’ll solve various puzzles along the way and spend your hard earned coin buying upgrades and items from the mysterious Merchant, who’s easily the best character in the game (FACT).

Best character in any Resident Evil, period!

It’s a lengthy game, and you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. The additional PS2 re-release content is also here in full effect, and the constant progression of weaponry will warrant more than one play-through. Hell, it goes without saying that you’re presented with more single-player content with RE4 than most modern titles. There’s also a full 1000 gamer-score on offer, for the rabid achievement hunters like myself.

Say what you will, but replaying a classic like this with the incentive of achievement points, is actually kind of awesome.

Despite outdated control mechanics and less than ideal sound quality, nothing can detract from Resident Evil 4′s originality. It still holds up to this day, and that is truly a testament to one of Capcom’s finest games of all time. It’s a shame then that Capcom never bothered to truly reinvigorate the game, as in spots it can feel like nothing more than a relic from another era thanks to patchy audio, flawed controls and often blurry visuals.

However if you’re a long-time fan of the series, you’ll feel right at home here. Even if you’ve never played RE4 but you’re curious enough to try it, go ahead, but don’t expect something that looks and plays like other titles of this generation.

Here’s The Rundown:

+ It’s Resident Evil 4, one of the greatest survival horror games of all time!

+ It looks better!

+ Achievements!

- It could have looked much better

- Controls just don’t play well in 2011… at all

Learn more about the RipTen scoring system and what this score means. Visit our review scoring page

Resident Evil 4 HD was developed and published by Capcom. It was released on September 20th, 2011 for $19.99 USD on PSN and Xbox Live. A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for the purposes of review. Aaron beat it, even with the wonky controls simply because he really liked the merchant who sells you his wares n such.

New Trailer Shows Remastered Resident Evil 4 & Code Veronica in HD

Garrett Hartman — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:44:39 +0000

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Capcom has released a new Resident Evil: Revival Selection Trailer which gives you side by side comparions between the HD visuals of the upcoming game and previous releases of Resident Evil 4 and Code Veronica X.

Resident Evil: Revival Selection will release in Japan on September 8. Unfortunately, it will not see a North American release. However, both will be released as separate digital downloads in North America.

Resident Evil:The Mercenaries 3D to Contain Revelations Demo

Matthew Sims — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:29:44 +0000

As Resident Evil news continues to pour in, we have yet another piece of info that will be helpful to Resident Evil fans, particularly those who own a 3DS. Mercenaries, the first Resident Evil title to hit the 3DS, will contain a demo of the other RE exclusive on the 3DS, Revelations.

Mercenaries is a portable version of the Mercenary modes from Resident Evil 4 and 5 with an emphasis on killing enemies while also fighting a ticking clock. Revelations takes place between RE4 and RE5 reuniting playable characters Chris and Jill and showing the events from the formation of the BSAA to the beginning of RE5.

HD Versions of Resident Evil 4 & Code Veronica X Coming to PSN/XBLA

Dave Ernst — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:26:14 +0000

In celebration of Biohazard/Resident Evil’s 15th anniversary, Capcom has confirmed plans to release HD versions of two games from the franchise. Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil: Code Veronica X will get the HD treatment very soon. Both games will be downloadable titles for PSN and XBLA with a release date of Fall this year.

The HD versions will include all extra content from special editions released on other platforms including Resident Evil 4′s “separate Ways” epilogue.

Check out some comparison screenshots below. I just hooked up a Gamecube to my HD TV to see if the game looks that crappy from its original release. It doesn’t look anything near as bad as these screenshots show.

Source: Xbox360achievements.org

Resident Evil 4 for iPhone and iPad on Sale

Sam Naylor — Sat, 29 May 2010 15:16:50 +0000

Capcom have announced that for “a limited time” the three Resident Evil 4 based games on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad will be 50% off (apart from the “Beginners” version, which is now 100% off).

The links to the US iTunes store are below, along with the new prices. I’ve snapped up the iPod Touch version, and despite the obvious control issues with there being no buttons, it’s actually quite a lot of fun. It’s not exactly pretty, but it still feels like I’m playing Resident Evil 4 on an iPod, which is worth the pocket change alone. The iPad version might be a bit better, but really for $2.99 RE4 is actually a good buy. There’s always the trial (“Beginner”) version if you’re not sure, too.

Resident Evil 4 for iPhone/iPod Touch – ~~$6.99~~ $2.99 (£1.79)

Resident Evil 4 HD for iPad – ~~$9.99~~ $4.99 (£2.99)

Resident Evil 4 for Beginners – ~~$0.99~~ – Free

I assume this sale is for all regions, as the UK store versions are also 50% off at the moment (seen in brackets above). Just type in “Capcom” in the iTunes search, it’s easy. Even a lamb could do it.

Resident Evil 4 for iPhone leaked

Sam Naylor — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:16:03 +0000

Japanese site AppBank spotted an iPhone version of the fantastic Resident Evil 4 on the Japanese app store, and managed to get a lot of screenshots and the above video. Of course, the app has now been pulled; most likely due to a leaked release, I’d say. The footage is pretty extensive- if this is a fake, they’ve done a brilliant job of making it look real.

Xbox 360 Review: Dead Space

Roly Reyes — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:23:09 +0000

From the dark recesses of my mailbox surfaced a copy of the recently released EA game, Dead Space. Readily equipped with poo-retardant pants, I prepared myself to be survivally-horrified. Read on to find out just how many turds I dropped.

After logging a multitude of hours on the dimly lit space vessel as the game’s lead character, Isaac Clarke, I was repeatedly reminded of similar survival horror titles that preceded it.

Dead Space somewhat unabashedly borrows from previous games that have already been successful, tossing aside the need to build something new. While it does have a bit of innovation thrown in there, Dead Space isn’t really treading much new ground. How this makes you feel about the game is entirely dependent upon how you feel about previous survival-horror games.

After a mere five minutes in, I couldn’t stop calling Dead Space “Resident Evil 4: Space”. It has all the trappings of Resident Evil 4: over-the-shoulder camera, controls, scarce supplies, and zombie-esque beings to shoot. After a while, “Resident Evil 4: Space” became “BioShock Presents: Resident Evil 4: Space”.

After realizing that I was going to be stuck in an alien-infested, self-contained spaceship for quite a bit of time to come, my mind instantly thought back to BioShock’s underwater failed utopia, Rapture. I was further reminded of Rapture when I happened upon my first audio log detailing a situation that had played out sometime before or during the alien-zombie takeover.

Getting information about the world across is something Dead Space excels at — there were very few instances that took control away from the player. In addition to audio/video/text logs, the main way Dead Space informs the player is through interactivity. Interactions that don’t involve literally tearing opponents apart limb from limb are those that involve the crew that boarded the ship with you. Your communications with them make one thing clear: they’re trying just as hard as you to get off the damn ship safely.

The things that Dead Space does that aren’t by-the-book copied formulas are the only things that help rescue the game from a mediocre score. Six hours in, I was ready for it to be over, and my interest in the narrative began to wane — it’s not exactly a work of literary genius.

Dead Space starts with protagonist Isaac Clarke and company approaching the Ishimura (which I eventually lovingly dubbed “Hell Ship”). Upon arrival everyone realizes all is not well, and off you go to shoot your way to potential safety with Dead Space’s combat system, titled “Strategic Dismemberment.”

“Strategic Dismemberment” is what picked up the slack and acted as motivation for me to keep on keepin’ on. You’ll learn very early on that neither body blows nor even headshots will get you through even the earliest waves of baddies. The point of Strategic Dismemberment is to pick off opponents’ limbs by using whatever means you have available to yourself, many of which match up with the world you’re inhibiting.

Complementing strategy with superb control is always a plus, and Dead Space has some pretty sweet controls. This can only be describable as the perfect middle ground between Resident Evil 4 and Gears of War, and I suspect it’s a nice preview as to what we’ll get when Resident Evil 5 releases, but I digress.

Dead Space goes to great lengths to make sure you stay immersed, extending from integrating the entirety of the interface naturally (for example: the inventory, although no different from any other standard interface, is displayed as a projection from Isaac’s suit) all the way to providing back-stories for weapons so they’d integrate cohesively with the world.

Before I continue, I have a confession to make: I’m a total pansy and am easily coaxed into a fit of paranoia-induced fear. That said, having been posed as a survival-horror game, Dead Space failed to make me scream like my inner-schoolgirl knows I should. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve either finally become a man, or Dead Space isn’t very frightening.

As much as I’d like to lean towards the former, I’m afraid it’s the latter. The only thing that almost brought me into a state of fright was its sound design. I’m not exactly rocking a 5.1 state-of-the-art Dolby Digital system in my Batcave of Nerdery, but I still feel Dead Space’s sound design, and the utilization of said sound design deserves special mention.

Although Dead Space is most analogous to the friend you’ve nicknamed “Mooch” because he/she takes your clothes without intent of return, you just can’t help but love him/her. Like Mooch, Dead Space’s high points far outshine it’s minuscule flaws, of which there are relatively few.

As stated before, Dead Space relies on tried-and-true formulas, but it manages to foster them into something even more awesome, and then finally polishes the crap out of them. The end result, while not truly innovative, makes for one hell of a ride, though it remains disappointingly not very frightening for a survival-horror title.

Top Ten Developers – #3 Capcom

James Fleming — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:00:35 +0000

Little known facts about Capcom: Their name is pronounced Kapukon in Katakana, the writing system designated for foreign words in the Japanese language. Megaman is actually referred to as “Rockman” in his native Japan. And the name Capcom is actually a partial acronym taken from the company’s original name, Japan Capsule Computers.

Ok, enough Wiki-trivia. What is widely known is that Capcom is a developer that has made some of the greatest games to ever grace a cabinet or console. Whether you were a resident arcade junky or an agoraphobic console jockey, chances are you’ve played one or two of Capcom’s many gems. Based on their successes over the last 28 years, you weren’t the only one.

Capcom made one game that successfully hypnotized any and all who gazed upon it. Whether it was kids at an arcade in Shinjuku, Tokyo or teens killing time at a local Pizzeria during lunch period on Main St., USA, the game had the power of seduction. It showed up, seemingly out of nowhere, and already had a Roman numeral tacked onto its name in reference to a prequel that was unknown to most gamers.

Yes, Street Fighter II is a sacred name for most arcade enthusiasts. It paved the way for the Mortal Kombat, Tekken and Virtua Fighter games that would soon follow. It wrote the book on 2D fighting games and, for many, has never been bettered.

Street Fighter II could separate a 13-year old from his allowance money faster than an angry parent who just discovered the newly shaved family dog. But Capcom was around long before SF II, and has remained long after. This company is no one trick pony.

Arcade games were, and still are, a major source of income for Capcom. While many companies gave up on arcades in favor of home console game development, many of the big guns kept a toe in the quarter-pumping waters, Capcom being one of them. Games like 1942, Commando, and Gunsmoke gave Capcom their initial success, and the much-imitated Final Fight and Street Fighter series carried the torch in later years.

Capcom would go on to dominate home gaming machines. Mega Man would etch the famous blue and gold Capcom logo into the cache of many a pliable mind. Delivering solid side-scrolling action with RPG elements and powerups was a stroke of genius that would spawn five sequels on the NES alone. Dozens of other Mega Man games soon followed on subsequent machines. Bionic Commando and Trojan would also become early Capcom console favorites.

In 1996, Capcom made a little game called Resident Evil (Biohazard in Japan). Resident Evil scared the pants off of gamers the world over. It practically invented the “survival horror” genre and its creative puzzles and control scheme would serve as inspiration for 14 sequels on almost every console imaginable (along with three pretty bad movies).

Resident Evil made Capcom a big player in the late 90s, with help from Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe (made by sister company Clover), and the Onimusha series.

So whether its beat ‘em ups, shoot ‘em ups, hack ‘em ups or blow ‘em ups, Capcom delivers the goods time and time again. Versatility is not something that comes easily for most developers, but this Osaka powerhouse hits the bulls-eye time and time again. So whether it’s a classic side-scroller or light-gun operated shooter, you can put your faith in the old blue and gold.

Must Haves:
The Mega Man Collection (Multi),
Resident Evil 4 (Multi)

Have Nots:
Dino Crisis (PS1)

Top Ten Developer List: 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1

Top Ten Summer Games That Will Be Good

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 22 May 2007 22:36:04 +0000

Every gamer knows that the summer time is hands down the worst season to play games. Generally we get stuck with summer movie blockbusters turned in to poorly rated games and have to search for a mediocre game that will tie us over till fall’s big hits. Hopefully here at ripten.com we’ll make that search a little easier. So we bring you the “Top Ten Summer games that will be good.”

The rules are simple. It must come out between May 22 and July 31 and while it can be a port from a last generation game, it can’t be a port from this generation. Example: XBOX 360 to the PS3 does not count, but XBOX to XBOX 360 counts.” Now without further ado, let’s get to the list!

10.) Mario Party 8, (May 29, 2007. For: Wii) Rated E
I’ve stopped using the earth’s orbit around the sun to judge a year. I now use Nintendo bringing out a Mario party to know another year has come and gone. Nintendo’s eighth installment is promising to rejuvenate their milking of the franchise, and we mean that in the nicest way possible.

By using the Wii’s controller you’ll have the character that your control yell at you when it’s your turn and you’ll be swinging your arms and jump up and down through 65 mini games. Though it probably won’t be a very deep title, get a few of your buddies, better known as the homeless people you pay to be your friends, together and this game has good time written all over it.

9.) The BIGS (June 25, 2007. For: PS3, Xbox360, Wii, PSP) Rated E
To quote David Cone, “Chicks dig the long ball”, and it’s true, everybody that watches baseball loves homeruns. Throw in 98mph fastballs and unbelievable diving catches and you have The BIGS. Sure, It’s way over the top baseball much like MLB slugfest or NFL Blitz was to football made by Midway a few years back, but unlike Midway, 2K Sports is the developer and has a proven track record for sports titles.

This marks 2K Sports first attempt at creating an arcade style sports game so there are some question marks. They are going to try to put a “superstar” type mode were you create a player and strive to make him a great. No word yet as to whether or not you can take steroids to “upgrade.”

8.) Manhunt 2 (July 10, 2007. For: Wii, PS3, PSP) Rated M
The first Manhunt was known for its chilling graphic kills, which inevitably caused Jack Thompson (lawyer in the news protesting violent games) to bite through his teeth. The sequel will be known for its, well … chilling graphic kills and probably cause Mr. Thompson to bite through his gums.

Three execution kills (hasty, violent, and gruesome) are featured in the game this time around, however for the first time the game will include “environment kills” such as a face smashing a poor souls face into a fuse box, or using a phone wire to choke your enemy … now that’s taking the slogan “reach out and touch someone” to the next level. If that isn’t enough Manhunt 2 also gives gamers the option to use guns to kill people execution style. With the game set to debut on the Wii, stabbing your enemy will never feel more real … we hope.

7.) Ninja Gaiden Sigma (June 26, 2007. For: PS3) Rated M
Okay, Okay, I know this a remake of an older game again from last generation. But Ninja Gaiden was not only one of the best games to come out for the Xbox, but it was hands down one of the best games that came out on a last generation console period.

Sigma is pretty much the same game as Ninja Gaiden Black with the addition of some new weapons and a few other “extra features”, but the big difference will be that this time around the game will be running in 1080p at 60fps. This is a graphic whores dream come true!

Oh, and the game play is not only addicting, it’s one of the most challenging ever made. So sharpen your blade, turn out the lights, and start practicing your stealth attack maneuvers on your sister’s stuffed animal collection…you are going to need it.

6.) Resident Evil 4 (June 19, 2007. For: Wii) Rated M
When Resident Evil 4 came out for the Gamecube two years ago it was greeted with rave reviews. So much so that Capcom decided to re-release it on the Wii. The game is pretty much a port of the Gamecube version with the added advantages of the Wii controller.

The red laser that graced Leon’s gun will be replaced by a curser that blinks red when pointed at an enemy and green when it’s not. You will have to point the Wiimote towards the screen, much like a light gun game, and shoot with the Z button.

If you have played previous releases of the game and enjoyed obliterating zombie after zombie (as did I) then prepare yourself for a freakishly good time. If you haven’t played any of the RE titles and own a Wii get up off your mound of flesh and pick this gem up when it hits the shelves.

5.) NCAA Football 2008 (July, 17 2007. For: PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, Xbox) Rated E
The appetizer for Madden, otherwise known as NCAA Football, options its way on to store shelves June 27. Last year’s NCAA got decent reviews but still didn’t meet the expectations of next gen gamers. It seems as though EA might have put their jockstraps back on and are finally preparing themselves “for some football”.

For starters, EA has given the game a new game play engine and new animation system that will allow for gang tackling and more importantly better control. Last year’s football title ran at only 30fps, but this year NCAA will run a blistering 60 fps. We believe this is in large part due to the developer’s decision to dumb down the textures in the game. While you may not be able to see every hole in a player’s mesh jersey as he dives into the end zone, the upside is that from we have seen, the major slowdown issues have been eliminated.

Another feature making its next gen debut will be “Campus Legend Mode”. You can go in and create your high school and start off as a high school player in the state championship playoffs. Depending on how well you do you’ll have colleges try to recruit you. Where you sign is up to you. Unfortunately, just like your real high school days, dating the head cheerleader will not be an option.

4.) Shadowrun (May, 29 2007. For: Xbox 360) Rated M
Shocking news to report here, Microsoft saw something good and bought it. This time it was the developer FASA Interactive, creators of this innovative FPS title. Before you jump into battle you select from five different races; Human, Elf, Troll, Gnome, and Dwarf each with their own unique powers and abilities. This feature alone adds a level of depth in terms of online play which is very promising. For instance, Humans can equip more guns, while the dwarves suck essence.

Speaking of online play this game boasts a very significant first; it will be the first game ever to allow PC to console play. This could prove to be extremely frustrating for console players’ considering many gamers believe it is easier and faster to play with a mouse and keyboard. Microsoft says this won’t be an issue … you be the judge.

3.) Guitar Hero Encore Rocks The 80′s (July 17, 2007. For: PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) Rated: RP
Anyone that lived through the 80′s knows that it was the most confusing time in American history, hot colors, a Cold war, and fear … the fear of being attacked by Russia at any moment.

So what did we do? Party! Oh yeah, we partied with mullets blasting, maybe some of the worst hair dos and music known to man, an era that was so bad it was fantastic! That’s where Guitar Hero wants to go, with songs like “I ran” by the Flock of Seagulls, or “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister.

You’ll either remember the 80′s or live through them for the first time. I for one can feel the hair on my head taking the shape of a mullet already. Grow it out, wear it proud, and most importantly Rock on!

2.) Forza Motorsport 2 (May 29, 2007. For: Xbox 360) Rated: E
Racing sim Forza Motorsport was one of the most surprising hits of last generation gaming, competing with the likes of Grand Turismo and Project Gothem. Not Only does sequel looks amazing with 220,000 polygons per car running at 60fps, but the level of crash detail could be the best of any game to date.

When you hit a wall or car you might see your bumper, door, or even a mirror fall off and it will stay there for the rest of the race causing debris to be a driving hazarded. FM2 has an astonishing 300 cars to choose from, which along with everything else the title has to offer, might be just enough to cross the finish line in first place as the best racing sim of this generation.

1.) The Darkness (June 25, 2007. For PS3, Xbox 360) Rated: M
Based on the comic book character that hit stores in 1996 created by famed illustrator Marc Silvestri and produced by Top Cow Productions, The Darkness makes its video game debut this summer and packs enough of supernatural power to make it one of the most original first person shooters ever.

You start off as a mafia hitman by the name of Jackie Estacado who, on the eve of his 21st birthday, becomes possessed by a power known as “The Darkness”. He can’t legally drink yet but I hear his supernatural entity makes a mean martini. In all seriousness though, the game, much like the comic, immerses you in a world full of ghastly beasts and has all the suspense of a modern day crime drama with a backdrop straight out of a science fiction film.

The feature list includes both first and third person views, non-linear progression, and not one but two highly interactive and destructible environments. Make your way from the rooftops of New York City into the parallel reality crawling with darkness that is The Otherworld this June.

The Darkness might not only be the best game of the summer, it could potentially be one of the best games of the year.

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