Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition

Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is a port of a game that already rewrote the rules of action games at its original GameCube release, and on Wii it gained exactly what it had been missing: fast and precise aiming. Leon S. Kennedy sets out to a remote European village to find the kidnapped daughter of the American president, and instead of classic zombies he runs into villagers controlled by a parasite who attack in groups, use tools, and can surround the player.

The over-the-shoulder camera, aimed shooting at specific body parts, and the alternation of tension with absolutely frantic firefights became a template for an entire generation of action games. On Wii you aim the cursor directly at the screen, which speeds up the whole rhythm, because the player can precisely hit a knee or the arm holding an axe much faster. Some contact actions also use controller shaking, whether it's shaking off an enemy or quick reactions in cutscenes. The rest remains untouched: managing the backpack, in which the player arranges weapons like a puzzle, the merchant with upgrades, protecting the escort character, and several memorable boss fights.

The Wii version also includes content that didn't make it into the original GameCube release, including the side campaign with Ada Wong and bonus modes. Technically it's a faithful rendition of the original with a sharper image, so nothing revolutionary, but smooth and legible. The atmosphere remains excellent, especially thanks to the lighting work, the echo in the castle corridors, and music that can be completely silent and then strike. Reviews were enthusiastic and many players still consider this version the best way to play Resident Evil 4. For a low price, the Wii thus gained one of the best action games ever. It's a game that both closed one chapter of the series and opened another, because later entries pulled back from its action-oriented stance and horror temporarily receded into the background. Anyone who has never played Resident Evil 4 has one of the best options to start on Wii, they just need to reckon with the brutality that ranks the game among titles for adults.