Resident Evil 4Â released in 2005 for the GameCube and was a radical shift in the iconic franchise's formula. The series went from utilizing tank controls and fixed camera angles to putting the view behind the character's shoulder and focusing more on intense action.
The road to this game was not easy, as the facts about the title below showcase. However, it was certainly worth it considering Resident Evil 4 is often regarded as one of the best video games ever made. A lot happened during its development, which explains why fans had to wait so long for it after Resident Evil 3 and Code Veronica.
10 Development Started On The PS2 In 1999
For the beginning of its life, Resident Evil was more closely associated with the PlayStation, even though entries came out for the Sega Saturn and Nintendo 64. Because of this, development for the game started in 1999 on Sony's second mainline system. Everybody knows this changed, however. Resident Evil 4 would only come out on the PS2 about nine months after its release on the GameCube.
9 Hideki Kamiya Was The Original Director
In its original incarnation, Hideki Kamiya was the director of Resident Evil 4. Fans of the series should already recognize the man as the director of Resident Evil 2.
After his turn with the series and leaving the director's seat for this title, Hideki Kamiya would go on to direct such highly acclaimed titles like Devil May Cry, Okami, and Bayonetta. He helped create PlatinumGames, which is responsible for some of the finest action games of the past 15 years.
8 The Team Went To Spain And The UK
It is not uncommon for development teams to visit real-world locations for inspiration and photoshoots. They even use the photos for textures within the game. Members of the Resident Evil 4 team went to Spain and the UK to take pictures and scout locations. The final game takes place in Spain and is divided into a village, a castle, and an island area, so there is no doubt the trip served as proper inspiration.
7 Devil May Cry Was Born From This Game's Development
Hideki Kamiya was trying to make a Resident Evil game that was more action-focused. Apparently, he felt the game he was making eventually went too far in the action-packed direction, which caused him to leave the project and make Devil May Cry. Playing the original Devil May Cry reveals numerous similarities between it and Resident Evil. The game still focuses on puzzle-solving and primarily operates with camera angles.
6 It Was A Part Of The Capcom 5
Early in the GameCube's life, Nintendo and Capcom announced a partnership to bring several games exclusively to the platform. Resident Evil 4 was one of these. Also included on this list were the Resident Evil remake and Resident Evil 0. While Resident Evil 4 would come to the PS2 shortly after its GameCube release, the former two did not come to non-Nintendo platforms for more than ten years. Resident Evil remake is on par with Resident Evil 4 in terms of quality.
5 There Is No Japanese Dialogue
Resident Evil has notoriously bad dialogue, though it is endearing. You might be surprised to learn that most of the series, Resident Evil 4 included, lacks any Japanese voice tracks. Even so, it's a bit difficult to believe there's anyone out there who doesn't realize how cheesy the English voice acting sounds. Such a choice is kind of a rarity since most prefer playing a game in its original language.
4 Ashley Graham Is Sandy Cheeks From SpongeBob SquarePants
Ashley Graham is a polarizing character. Some consider escorting her the worst part of the game, while others appreciate the added challenge of the combat during her segments.
Those who grew up on irreverent children's cartoons in the early 2000s might recognize her as the character of Sandy Cheeks from SpongeBob SquarePants. Just imagine Ashley with a southern accent and you have Sandy Cheeks' voice.
3 There Were Four Different Versions In Development
The game went through as many as four different versions before the team settled on what would become the final game. After Hideki Kamiya left, Hiroshi Shibata was directing a version where Leon infiltrates Umbrella's main headquarters. The next incarnation, known as the "Hook Man" version, was actually shown to the public. After this version was dropped, another scenario where Leon attacks Oswell Spencer's mansion was in the early planning stages before changing it up once again to what fans eventually got.
2 Shinji Mikami Directed It
While the game jumped around to different directors, Shinji Mikami eventually helmed the final product. Who better to reinvent the series than the man who created it in the first place? This is the last game in the storied franchise he ever worked on, though he was far from done with survival horror. After founding Tango Gameworks, he would direct The Evil Within and produce its sequel, both of which expand upon Resident Evil 4's mechanics.
1 The Change In Direction Was Not Welcomed By The Team
Certain fans still think Resident Evil 4 spelled doom for the "true" Resident Evil. Even members of the development team were uneasy with the game's new direction, even though it was being headed by the series' creator. Eventually, the new scenario and setting helped differentiate it from other games in the franchise and helped it seem less like just a gimmick. It also helped the series expand beyond just being about the events that occurred in Raccoon City.