Warning: Spoilers
Well, wasn't Resident Evil 4 a total surprise? Capcom effectively published a game in a genre completely different from its predecessors, and it was even counted as a canonical sequel and not a mere spin off. The zombies were given brains, speed and weapons (and don't try to claim that the Ganados are not zombies at all, the lack of free will, relentless aggression and horde instincts fit the zombie criteria, even if they are fast and tricky little zombies), the player was provided more than enough provisions in firearms and first aid to wage war on the enemy masses, and the pace was amped to breakneck speeds. This was rather like when Halloween 3 came out, where the setting, characters and slasher monster were all replaced. It took guts from Capcom, and unlike Halloween 3 it really paid off.
The gameplay is much more action-oriented than the previous Resident Evils, where you actually take aim at the monsters and manouver through the environment to avoid the enemy. When shooting, the camera angle moves behind the player's shoulder as he lifts his gun up, and a little laser sight appears which can be moved to guide where the player shoots. This is a very original way of shooting and I can see it being used more often in future games. However, because it takes a moment to get into firing position (where the player freezes in place to take aim and is unable to move) and then draw a bead on the enemy, the gameplay does not support enemies which are very mobile nor enemies with ranged attacks.
Some enemies still attack very fast and occasionally some other threat occurs which needs fast reflexes which the player alone couldn't answer to. However, the game has a fun way of prompting you to press a small combo of buttons to dodge, which lead to the player automatically leaping to the side or parrying a blow or such. This reminds me most, odd as it is, of Dance Dance Revolution-type games, where you have to press the right buttons at the right time. Many people complain about it being an unnecessary evil, but I think it adds a fun element to fights, not to mention an action-movie coolness feel which would be impossible in conventional games.
Speaking of the action-move atmosphere, the surroundings are not static anymore and can be used to your advantage. Stuff like luring the violent villagers into their own traps, jumping out of windows to escape a crowded room (complete with cheesy commando roll on the ground) and knocking ladders down are all ways of maximising your chances against the brutal gauntlet of foes. Heck, even the foes themselves can be quickly dispatched with some fancier tricks than just shooting them dead, like shooting the dynamite guy's arm to drop the bundle of joy, or meléeing staggering enemies. Try shooting the later Ganados in the game and meléeing them to see Leon show off his pro wrestling skills!
There aren't a lot of different foes, but that's alright, because the varied gang of homicidal villagers, monks and soldiers are quite a challenge. They'll use tactics to dodge around, they'll come out from all directions and they'll be packing an arsenal of painful death in the form of farming tools, medieval weaponry and the classic chainsaw of insta-death goreness. The player's set of weapons is also very impressive, even if a bit conventional, and can be customised for maximum punishment.
The storyline is a bit of a weak-point. Leon Kennedy, the rugged cop from Resident Evil 2, is out to save the president's kidnapped daughter from some religious nutjobs in Spain. Turns out that a horrible plague has turned the locals a bit homicidal, not to mention mutated. It's no T-Virus, but it's just another scientific deus ex machine to create a horde of mindless killers. Leon runs the gauntlet of levels picking off the main bad guys one by one, all the while trying to escape with the girl. Although the gameplay is radically different, it's the same old Resident Evil, and the dialogue is just as wooden. I must say, though, the various characters were charming in their ways. The wicked little man suffering from progeria and his pair of hulking bodyguards hidden in Gothic robes were my favorites (fun fact: Mr. Salazar refers to the chap who always stands on his left side as his right hand man). In true Resident Evil fashion, the main bad guys mutate into horrible killing machines in a terribly gory way after giving their egotistical and scoffy spiel.
Don't get me wrong, I still pine for a classic Resident Evil with blocky controls, supply-saving and fixed camera angles. But Resident Evil 4 is still an excellent game and a feather in Capcom's hat. It's quite worthy of joining the ranks of the other parts of the series. Here's to the creepy merchant fellow making future appearances just for the heck of it!