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Resident Evil 4; -.-
Topic Started: Dec 7 2007, 06:53 PM (258 Views)
wario
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Resident Evil 4, known in Japan as biohazard 4 is a third-person shooter, published and developed by Capcom. It is the sixth installment in the Resident Evil series. It was released in North America on January 11, 2005 for the Nintendo GameCube, and was later released in Japan on January 27, 2005 and in Europe on March 18, 2005. The game was later ported onto the PlayStation 2 in October 2005, and for the PC and Wii in June 2007. Resident Evil 4 has won numerous game of the year awards.

In 2004, the Umbrella Corporation's secretive activities within Raccoon City have become a public affair. Following an investigation conducted by the US government, several Umbrella officials are implicated and prosecuted. The government indefinitely suspends Umbrella's business, causing the company to become bankrupt.

Leon S. Kennedy, one of the few survivors of the Raccoon City incident and a former police officer of the Raccoon City Police Department, was recruited by the US Secret Service after they learned of his actions in Raccoon City. Leon is sent on a mission to rescue Ashley Graham, the President's daughter, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult. Leon travels to a rural village in Europe, where he encounters a horde of unruly villagers who pledge their lives to Los Iluminados (The Illuminated Ones), the cult that kidnapped Ashley.

During the course of the mission, Leon is reunited with Ada Wong, a woman he met in Resident Evil 2, and Jack Krauser, one of Leon's former friends from his years of government training, thought to be dead. He also meets Luis Sera, a former Los Illuminados researcher, who aids Leon on his mission before he is killed. By examining Sera's notes, Leon discovers that Los Illuminados gained control of their subjects by implanting a mind-controlling parasite known as Las Plagas into their bodies.

After Osmund Saddler, the leader of the cult, discovers that Leon has rescued Ashley, he commands his subjects to use any means to recover her. Meanwhile, after defeating the village chief, Bitorez Mendez, Leon and Ashley take refuge inside the castle of the local castellan, Ramon Salazar. A surprise attack by Salazar's minions leads to Ashley's recapture, forcing Leon to travel to a military and research complex located on a nearby island. After numerous altercations with Saddler's forces, Leon is able to rescue Ashley, and defeat Saddler with Ada's assistance. Leon recovers a vial containing a Plagas sample from Saddler’s corpse, but Ada forces him to give it to her. She then escapes from the complex in a helicopter, leaving Leon and Ashley to escape via jet-ski.

Resident Evil 4's game mechanics have been completely redesigned to incorporate fast-paced gunplay, quick controls and shootouts involving massive crowds of enemies in large open areas. This, combined with an abundance of healing items and ammunition, results in a different gameplay experience from other Resident Evil games. Previous titles in the series have focused more on exploration and conservation of ammunition. A typical playthrough can result in the player killing upwards of 900 enemies.

Because the game contains parasitic zombies, this installment is a radical departure from the series formula. Instead, the main enemies are parasitically-controlled humans referred to as "Los Ganados" (Spanish for "the cattle"). Significantly smarter and quicker than the zombies from previous games, Ganados are a very different sort of foe. These new enemies dodge, wield melee and projectile weapons, and are capable of working collectively and communicating with each other. Once simple farmers, these Ganados are the product of an infestation of Las Plagas, which are powerful mind-controlling parasites.

Resident Evil 4 also contains changes to the inventory, camera angles, and control system. Normally, the camera remains behind the player, who stands just left of the center of the screen. The camera zooms in for an over-the-shoulder view when the aiming button is pressed, and projectile weapons are given a laser sight for precise aiming. This feature was removed in the Wii version in favor of an aiming reticule controlled by the Wii Remote.

The inclusion of a laser sight gives players an unprecedented amount of control in their attacks. Previous Resident Evil games only allowed players to aim their weapon up, down, or level; Resident Evil 4 expands this considerably, and enemies respond differently to bullet impacts to various parts of the body. For example, a shot to the foot may cause an enemy to stumble, while a shot to the arm might make an enemy drop its weapon. In many cases these types of shots leave enemies vulnerable to melee attacks, which often knock nearby enemies to the ground as well. This allows skilled players to use ammunition more efficiently, a feature not possible in previous Resident Evil games, by changing the focus away from item management to combat. Additionally, ammunition is more plentiful than in previous installments, primarily because some enemies drop ammunition after they are defeated. Weapons may be purchased from and continuously upgraded by the merchant using the currency in the game, the peseta.

Item management has also undergone significant change. While previous installments restricted a character to carrying a set number of items, Resident Evil 4 bases the number of items a character may carry on a grid system in which each item takes up a set of squares on the grid. The player's carrying capacity may be expanded by purchasing larger attaché cases. In addition, key items are now kept separately from weapons and healing supplies, allowing the player to acquire them without dropping current items or backtracking to the nearest item chest to make room. Treasures may be sold to the merchant for pesetas. The healing herbs from the previous games are back. In addition to the traditional green and red herbs, the new yellow herb, when combined with other herbs, increases the player's maximum health.

Another new aspect of Resident Evil 4 is the inclusion of context-sensitive controls. Based on the situation, the player can interact with aspects of their environment: kicking down a ladder, jumping out of a window, or dodging an enemy attack. As mentioned previously, the player can perform a melee attack against enemies while the enemy is stunned or on their knees. There are also dynamic cut scenes, 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 many boss battles, where the player must avoid one-hit kill attacks. The Wii version expanded on this concept slightly by including a quick Wii Remote shake as a possible context sensitive action. The game also features a dedicated knife button, which the player can use in addition to firearms. In the Wii version, flicking the remote without using the knife button results in a weaker knife attack that is automatically aimed at the nearest available target.

The game features a more cinematic presentation by using letterboxing. Loading times are kept to a minimum, unlike previous Resident Evil games, where moving between areas required a load screen. In Resident Evil 4, the game loads only between areas denoted by green action text. An area may consist of anything from a few buildings to a huge military base. Doors may be opened slowly and quietly by pressing the 'action' button next to them, or kicked open by double-tapping the same button, often stunning enemies on the other side.

Characters

Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is the president's daughter, taken captive by Los Illuminados during her trip home from her university. After a report stating that she was seen in Europe, it becomes Leon's initial objective in the game to confirm her whereabouts and retrieve her. After meeting her, it is revealed that she has been implanted with a Plaga parasite, so that the cult could gain control of her before returning her to the US. The rest of the game becomes a quest for Leon and Ashley to find a way to remove the parasites from inside their bodies before they fall under Saddler's control. When Ashley is with Leon, it is the player's duty to protect her as she has no weapons and no means to defend herself. There is also a short section where the player assumes control of Ashley.


Luis Sera
Luis Sera is a researcher hired by Saddler. He befriends Leon early in the game and turns up to aid Leon and Ashley in various locations. He is eventually killed by Saddler shortly after retrieving the Plagas sample as well as a container of colored pills that is intended for Leon to use to suppress the Plagas parasite that is growing inside of him.

The "Separate Ways" scenario and "Ada's Report" documentary added to the PS2, PC and Wii version of the game expands on Luis's role, depicting him in league with Ada Wong and the organization she works with (a connection that was only implied in the main game). He leaves notes and files in various locations throughout the game based on the research he documented while working for Saddler and the Los Illumandos.


Ingrid Hunnigan
Ingrid Hunnigan is Leon's primary radio contact and his only link to headquarters. She provides the player with general gameplay tips and hints between chapters early in the game. Leon loses contact with her after he first enters Ramon Salazar's castle. Salazar (and later Saddler) takes over the transmission to taunt Leon between missions. She resumes radio contact with Leon after the credits.


Jack Krauser
Jack Krauser is a mercenary hired by Lord Saddler and is responsible for Ashley's kidnapping. A former U.S. agent, he was once a friend of Leon until he was presumed dead in a helicopter crash two years before the events of the game. In reality, he was working with Albert Wesker and infiltrated Los Illuminados in order to procure the sample of Las Plagas to aid Wesker's plans to rebuild Umbrella. In addition to being a skilled knife fighter and archer, Krauser possesses superhuman speed, stamina, strength, can jump great distances, and gained the ability to transform his left arm into a giant mutated claw through unknown means.

Krauser and Ada are both sent by Wesker to obtain the Plagas sample, but they soon openly turn on each other after Ada foils Krauser's initial attempt on Leon's life. Leon later fights Krauser again in a set of ruins on the island. At the end of this battle, Krauser is assumed to be dead. However, in the "Separate Ways" mini-game it is revealed that he survived his battle with Leon when he fights Ada, loses and seemingly dies. Krauser appears as the only boss in the "Assignment: Ada" mini-game. He is also a playable character in the "The Mercenaries" mini-game, in which his transformed arm can be used as a special attack by the player. In addition, the "Ada's Report" documentary expands on Krauser's role in the storyline.


Osmund Saddler
Osmund Saddler is the main antagonist of Resident Evil 4. He is the leader of a cult known as Los Illuminados, which seeks to control the world. He has converted the local population into Ganados and now controls them using the Plaga parasites in their bodies. His plan was to put the parasite into Ashley and send her back to the U.S. to infect the president, allowing Saddler to begin his conquest of the world.

Saddler encounters Leon and Ashley frequently, first setting his minions on them, then using his growing power over their Plaga-infected bodies to control their actions.

Leon finally confronts Saddler on a platform high above the island, where Saddler transforms into a massive multi-legged monster. Despite Saddler's considerable strength in this form, Leon manages to defeat him.

Bitores Mendez
Bitores Mendez is the village chief encountered by Leon early in the game. He is a tall imposing figure with superhuman strength. He leads the hunt for Leon and Ashley early in the game and leaves various notes and documents around the village, typically orders for the Ganados.


Ramon Salazar
Ramon Salazar is the eighth castellan of the castle that serves as a setting for part of the game. Salazar's ancestor, the first castellan, was responsible for sealing Las Plagas in his castle centuries ago and dissolving the cult that worshiped them. Salazar himself, however, aided in unearthing Las Plagas and reviving the cult, having been corrupted by Saddler. His diminutive stature, gray hair and wrinkled face give him the appearance of an old man, but he states that he is only 20 years old. He is protected by two cloaked bodyguards known as Verdugos.

Leon and Ashley encounter Salazar at many points as they make their way through his castle. He uses various means to capture Ashley and neutralize Leon, usually involving his minions, the Ganados or various booby traps. But during the last confrontation, where Leon catches up to Salazar and the remaining Verdugo, Salazar elects to stand and fight. He and his Verdugo merge with an enormous Plaga and emerge bonded into one huge tentacled entity.


The Merchant
The Merchant is a salesman, dealing in weapons and items. He can also upgrade the player’s weaponry and he operates shooting galleries, where the player can win prizes.

Enemies

Las Plagas

Las Plagas are the new agent of transformation in Resident Evil 4. Las Plagas are parasitic creatures that grow in the body of a human, and control the behavior of the host. Humans infested with Las Plagas remain outwardly normal.

The Plagas were sealed deep under the castle by the first castellan. This first castellan had taken away the rights of the early Los Illuminados. When the Plagas were unearthed, they seemed to have been fossilized. However, they had actually been in a dormant state. The first Ganados were extremely belligerent and had contracted the parasite while mining.

Las Plagas are extremely sensitive to light, only coming out of the host's body when it has sustained a lot of damage, or if its head is destroyed. The head of the host may either be destroyed completely and replaced by the parasite, or the parasite may emerge from the mouth or neck of the Ganado. However, due to their photosensitivity, Las Plagas can be destroyed with the use of a bright light source such as a flash grenade.

Several varieties of plaga may be seen during the course of the game. Some appear as the result of damage to certain parts of the host's body, such as the head, and may be a protrusion out of its host's body, or in whole as a detached entity. It is unclear if these are actually different varieties or mutations of plaga or if they represent various levels of maturity. The following is a list of non-unique Plagas or their parts as seen in the game.

Blade plagas, found in villagers and commandos, emerge from the severed neck of their host, have a number of small tentacle-like appendages that swing erratically and are harmless, but one larger tentacle has a sharp bone at the end which is used to inflict damage by slashing at Leon. This attack is fairly long-ranged and quite harmful, and early in the game, can result in a one-hit-kill.

Centipede plagas, which may emerge from the opened necks of zealots, and attack by swallowing the head of their enemy whole. Though their attack is more predictable and has a shorter range than that of blade plagas, it will immediately kill Leon if it is used on him.

Spider plagas, or fully matured Plagas, may emerge from zealots and commandos necks. These plagas are unique in that they are capable of completely detaching from their host. They will eventually perish after detaching. While still attached they will spit acid on Leon. They can also strike him with their legs, either while attached or separate, though they deal more damage while attached.

Tentacle-like protrusions, found in Colmillos. Unlike previous forms, they are not spawned as a result of damage, but rather are simply produced when the Colmillos has engaged in combat. They attack by whipping their enemy.

Leech-like plagas, most of which can only be seen using an infrared scope, are found in Regenerators and Iron Maidens. They sustain the regenerative powers of both monsters, but are entirely harmless on their own because they can't attack.

Ganados

Los Ganados are the primary enemies in the game. Ganados are humans who have become infested by the mind-controlling Plaga parasites.

Humans infected with Las Plagas can be controlled by anyone with a ceremonial staff; in this case, Lord Saddler. The staff appears to be fused with a fully living plaga. In one of Ada's reports, she suggests that it is possible that the staff issues commands through high frequency sound waves, unheard by human ears, but heard with a sensory organ in Las Plagas.

There are three main types of Ganados found in the game are Villagers, Zealots and Militia.

Villagers

The villagers were once peaceful residents of a rural community until they were exposed to the parasites. From that point, they became ruthless savage zombies under Osmund Saddler's control. They continue to carry out agricultural duties, although their living conditions have deteriorated somewhat. When Leon first arrives in the village, he is immediately attacked by one of the villagers after questioning him about Ashley's whereabouts.

The Ganados' arsenal is comprised mostly of farming tools, including: pitchforks, hatchets, sickles or scythes, knives, torches and dynamite. Upon completion of the game, a series of sketches in the background of the credits serve as flashbacks to the earlier days of the village. What was once a community distanced from the modern world, populated with farmers and their children, became corrupt upon the arrival of Osmund Saddler, and the workers were infected with spores during the Plaga excavation, causing families to become savage and turn against one another. Ada is seen reading a book about this in the Separate Ways mission in the beginning of the second mission. According to the booklet included with the Biohazard 4: Incubate DVD, the children of the villagers died after being injected with the Plaga parasites.

Though the Plaga parasites control the hosts' bodies, they induce no obvious alteration of the host body aside from the glowing red eyes at night, and slight discoloration of the skin.

Zealots

The zealots are members of the Illuminados cult, and appear in Ramon Salazar's castle. They are dressed in varying robes bearing the cult's insignia. Unlike the villagers, the only 'human' activities they undertake are chanting and worshiping.

The zealots are better equipped than the villagers, using a variety of medieval armaments. They wield weapons such as scythes, flails, crossbows and wooden shields. Their skin is much paler than that of the villagers, and all of them appear to be bald. Some have crimson lesions, tattoos or ritual scarification on their faces. As Leon progresses through the castle, the Zealots utilize giant catapults and even a giant Gatling-style machine gun.

The Zealots reside only in the Castle and are under the control of Salazar for the most part. The lowest ranking members wear black robes. Mid-rank Cultists dress in dark blue and gold robes and the highest ranking Zealots wear red and gold robes. Some of the Cultists wear metal skull helmets to prevent being shot in the head. Among Zealots, 'leaders' can be identified in the mid and high levels by wearing a horned goat skull as a mask.

Militia

These zombie soldiers are members of Saddler's mercenary organization, assigned to protect his island complex. They are generally better equipped than other Ganados and can run faster. They can be seen carrying stun rods, flails, wooden shields, RPGs, dynamite and crossbows. With the exception of J.J., no soldier carries a firearm.





Over all Resident Evil 4 is one of the greates games of all time
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Haseo15
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its a good post but its to long
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