Over the years, Resident Evil 4 has taken a Skyrim-like approach to ubiquity. The original GameCube game has received ports to virtually every console, ranging from the PlayStation 2 to the Nintendo Switch, and the remake made the leap to the ninth generation of consoles. Add in VR versions of both the original and remake, and deciding which way to play the game can quickly become overwhelming.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these options, but one of the earliest ports might still be the best. 18 years ago, Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition brought the game to Nintendo’s next console, which dwarfed Resident Evil 4‘s original platform in popularity. At a glance, the two versions look identical, but the magic of the Wii edition lies in the motion controls.
Wii Motion Controls Made Resident Evil 4 Even Better
Point & Shoot
To give credit where it’s due, Resident Evil 4 already controlled well on the GameCube, especially compared to Resident Evil 3. The tank controls of the Resident Evil PS1 games initially suited them well, but by the time RE3 rolled around, the shift toward more intense action mechanics was pushing the framework to its limits. While shuffling around zombies in hallways suited the first Resident Evil perfectly, RE3‘s Nemesis fights begged for a more graceful dodging system.
Resident Evil 4 solved the problem, imbuing Leon with newfound agility and a camera view that let him pinpoint targets with much greater precision. I’ve never loved playing shooters on a gamepad, but it suits RE4‘s start-and-stop gunfights just fine, and the laser guidance helps. RE3 often feels like you’re fighting the mechanics more than the enemies. RE4 flips that on its head, giving Leon a powerful suite of mechanics to help him blast through more intense enemy hordes than ever before.
Jump to the Wii, though, and the GameCube controls look inelegant by comparison. Unlike a lot of Wii ports, Resident Evil 4 feels like it was originally made for the system. Leon’s inability to move and shoot at the same time gives RE4 a certain rail shooter sensibility, and throwing in the Wiimote delivers the ultimate light gun fantasy.
Easier Controls Don’t Ruin The RE4 Experience
Leon’s Just That Good
Resident Evil 4‘s animations are some of its best features, and they synchronize with motion controls in an especially gratifying way. Knocking an enemy’s weapon out of their hands or blasting out a leg from under them feels especially tactile when pointing and firing with a Wiimote. The big moments, like triggering explosives in hostile hands or blowing off their heads with lucky shots, provide a blood-red cherry on top.
Guns aren’t the only recipients of Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition‘s motion controls. A wave of the Wiimote slashes Leon’s knife through the air, making the transition to melee feel seamless in the fray. Certain sequences indulge in the classic Wii gimmick of demanding frantic QTE waggles, which are silly but generally fun.
The obvious downside to these advantages is, well, that they’re advantages, and they make the Wii version of the game a bit easier as a whole. Fights can still be intense, but you’re less likely to feel totally overwhelmed or drained of resources.
In other games, this could be a bigger problem, but I don’t think it’s a particularly notable detriment to Resident Evil 4. While it isn’t meant to be easy, it’s much more of a power fantasy than the previous Resident Evil games were. Doing acrobatics as Leon is a far cry from creeping around a mansion as Chris or Jill, and the sense of fear that dwindling supplies can invoke doesn’t feel as integral to the game’s vibe.
18 Years Later, Resident Evil 4 Is Still Great On The Wii
You Can’t Top Perfection
The VR editions of Resident Evil 4 and its remake fulfill a similar fantasy to the Wii version, once again making extensive use of motion controls. The Wii did it first, though, and it did it in a way that’s a lot more accessible. VR is still a niche platform, but everyone and their grandmother had a Wii, most of which are probably still hanging around in dusty TV cabinets.
Tragically, the Switch version of Resident Evil 4 doesn’t offer any gyro motion controls.
Look at what the Resident Evil 4 community has to say, and you’ll get split opinions about whether the Wii version is a good first way to experience the game. Some fans swear by it, while others will insist that you need more of a challenge the first go-round. Both stances are eminently reasonable in my book.
What almost everyone agrees on is that it’s cool, and I think that’s just as true 18 years later as it was when the Wii version released. I’m having a blast playing through it right now, even with so many shiny alternatives on the market. The Wii’s motion controls are often nothing more than a gimmick, but when it comes to games like Resident Evil 4, they can be so much more than that.
- Released
-
January 11, 2005
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Engine
-
RE Engine
