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Other changes are just as welcome. Getting your knife to find its mark is a lot easier thanks to an auto-aim function that makes melee attacks land on the nearest available target. You can still use a more familiar control scheme by holding C and pressing A to slash, but even better, you can waggle the remote to do it. The same is true of reloading: You can enter aiming mode and push down on the D pad to do it, or wave the remote. The famous context-sensitive actions are still a hallmark of the experience, and the addition of the motion sensing makes them feel fresh again. The end result of all these improvements, both subtle and obvious, is a logical and comfortable control scheme that makes perfect sense and heightens your immersion.
Resident Evil 4 sounds as fantastic as ever. It's a sonic spookfest, from the creepy minimalist soundtrack to the outstanding weapon effects. In fact, the most memorable aspects of the game are accompanied by equally thrilling audio, such as the roar of the humongous bosses or the disturbing murmurs of villagers as they infiltrate your personal space. But even here, the Wii version sneaks in a small but notable enhancement, thanks to the remote speaker. Hearing the swoosh of the knife and the clatter of reloading your shotgun emanate from your own hand sweetens an audio design that was already practically perfect.
El Gigante is an appropriate name for this towering monstrosity.
On the other hand, RE4 on the Wii doesn't bring anything new to the visual table, though like the PS2 version, it supports progressive scan and widescreen displays. Yet it still looks superb, featuring beautifully designed character models and environments that were obviously created with deliberate care and detail. Of particular note are the boss characters, which get more vulgar and imposing as you progress. But even the minor details are impressive, such as flocks of crows that flutter away as you approach or the way flames flicker realistically. And unlike the PS2 and PC versions, which used prerendered cutscenes, the engine renders them in real time here, making the scenes look more natural.
Resident Evil 4 isn't quite as groundbreaking now as it was two years ago when it was first released on the GameCube, but that doesn't make the Wii version any less dazzling. It is undoubtedly the preferred version for anyone who has yet to experience the thrill of climbing up El Gigante's back, and even if you already have had such an experience in the past, this iteration is still most certainly worth playing. The exquisite controls make this the defining Wii action title and a must-play for anyone who enjoys the act of shooting things.
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"This one of the greatest things that has happened to the wii!!"
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