Wii Resident Evil 4 - Worth the upgrade?

[Technosis]

I've got this title for the GameCube (still haven't played it enough to finish it) and really like it. I'm wondering if the Wii version is improved enough to justify the purchase?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

If you only have the GC version, and you enjoyed it on multiple play-throughs (ie, you could stand another run-through) it's worth picking up for the EXCELLENT "Separate Ways", which is FAR superior to "Operation Ada" and fills in a few crucial story gaps in the central RE4 story.

The Wiimote controls are pretty good, and I'm looking forward to trying them with the official Nintendo Wii Zapper setup. And you can also use the classic controller if you want.

$30 isn't bad, but you can probably find one used for a bit less if you look.

[YoshiM]

I played through the original and I gave RE4Wii a rent. Personally the motion controls didn't sell me on it, but then again most of the games that try to reinvent how you play haven't really swayed me. I *will* say that the controls do not feel tacked on. I just don't care for the Wii control scheme and even though there's the extra missions, not enough for me to plunk down 30 bones.

[Soviet Conscript]

i'm one of those few that havn't played RE4 yet so i thought the wii version was a great deal. $30ish dollers and i get the game with the impoved graphics of the GC version and the extra features of the PS2 version.

[UniHamachi]

$30 isn't bad, but you can probably find one used for a bit less if you look.
Hah! That's what you think (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108151).

[Mr. Smashy]

My only issue with the GameCube verison was that it's always running in a letterboxed 4:3 resolution, even in 480p. My issue with the PS2 version is that all the cut scenes are pre-rendered, which just makes it look odd if you're not wearing the default outfit. The Wii version fixes both of these issues.

[studvicious]

The Wii version fixes both of these issues.

Unfortunately no. The cut-scenes are pre-rendered.

[Mr. Smashy]

Unfortunately no. The cut-scenes are pre-rendered.

Really? I'll admit that I don't own a copy of the game for myself but from what I've seen, the cutscenes looked great on the Wii. Maybe I'm a victim of factual errors by the media.

From GameSpot (http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/residentevil4/review.html):

"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."

Odd that they didn't issue a retraction.

[Cloud121]

The Wii versions cut scenes are all in real-time.

[Rob2600]

As I wrote in another thread (Ratchet and Clank for PS3 (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97859)):

In the GameCube version of Resident Evil 4, all of the cut scenes were real-time. Later, in the PlayStation 2 and computer versions, the real-time cut scenes were converted to FMV. Finally, in the Wii version, the cut scenes are rendered in real time again.

According to IGN.com:

"The Wii iteration is based on the initial graphics from the GCN build, not the PS2 one. That means that cut-scenes use the real-time game engine and that the added lighting and water transparency effects from the GameCube version are in the Wii port. In addition, the Wii incarnation boasts the true 16:9 widescreen mode of the PS2 title, which means that it's really a combination - the best of both worlds."

FMV has disadvantages. According to Wikipedia's Resident Evil 4 entry:

"Almost all of the GameCube's real-time cut scenes were converted to FMV on the PS2. The characters will appear wearing their default costumes, regardless of which accessories or outfits were actually chosen."

That would ruin the game for me.

Anyway, a game like Resident Evil 4's graphics are so good that FMV is pointless...so why do some developers still use it?

[Ed Oscuro]

"Almost all of the GameCube's real-time cut scenes were converted to FMV on the PS2. The characters will appear wearing their default costumes, regardless of which accessories or outfits were actually chosen."

That would ruin the game for me.
The terrible new outfits in the PS2 version would ruin the game for me...

[alxbly]

FMV has disadvantages. According to Wikipedia's Resident Evil 4 entry:

"Almost all of the GameCube's real-time cut scenes were converted to FMV on the PS2. The characters will appear wearing their default costumes, regardless of which accessories or outfits were actually chosen."

That would ruin the game for me.


Ironically, that's exactly what happens in the Wii version.

I've been playing through the Wii version again recently, and the changing costumes that have been described above for the PS2 version also happen in the Wii version. I had started a new game after completing Seperate Ways, selected Leon's 2nd costume, and very quickly noticed that the Wii version does revert back to standard costumes during cutscenes. Does this mean that it is FMV that's used?

[Rob2600]

Ironically, that's exactly what happens in the Wii version.

I've been playing through the Wii version again recently, and the changing costumes that have been described above for the PS2 version also happen in the Wii version. I had started a new game after completing Seperate Ways, selected Leon's 2nd costume, and very quickly noticed that the Wii version does revert back to standard costumes during cutscenes. Does this mean that it is FMV that's used?

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't know about that. I just checked Wikipedia's Resident Evil 4 entry again and it states:

"Like the GCN version, the Wii game features in-game cutscenes. However, the video clips found in Movie Browser and Separate Ways are FMVs."

It seems as though certain parts of the Wii version feature real-time cut scenes and certain parts feature FMV cut scenes.

[studvicious]

Thank you. I've actually played the game and I can tell you if you select Special Costume 2 and start up a new game each and every cut scene will feature Leon and Ashley with their default costumes, NOT the Special Costume 2 and yes, it's extremely annoying.

[alxbly]

It seems as though certain parts of the Wii version feature real-time cut scenes and certain parts feature FMV cut scenes.

There doesn't seem to be any real-time cut scenes in the main game, if the changing costumes is an indicator. I'm about half way through now and it seems that every cutscene is affected, including the interactive scenes (where you need to press A, B, etc). Perhaps the real-time cut scenes are in Seperate Ways, Assignment Ada, etc?

Not that it really matter, though. It looks like the in-game engine is being used, even if it is prerecorded FMV. If it weren't for me playing through again with a different costume I doubt I would have noticed.

[Rob2600]

There doesn't seem to be any real-time cut scenes in the main game, if the changing costumes is an indicator.

Interesting...IGN.com and Gamespot are incorrect!

Again, I really don't understand why developers still use FMV, especially when game graphics have gotten so good these past several years. It's a waste of disc space.