The Complex Journey of Resident Evil 4's Development
Resident Evil 4 is an iconic horror game that was released in 2005. However, its development story is just as fascinating. Capcom's success with Resident Evil 2 led to several projects, including an N64 and Dreamcast port of RE2, RE0, Code Veronica, a new mainline sequel for PlayStation, and Resident Evil Gaiden. But the development of Resident Evil 4 was a challenging process that spanned several consoles and iterations.
The Early Versions of Resident Evil 4
The development of Resident Evil 4 began in 1998 with Hideki Kamiya as director. The initial version of Resident Evil 4 was known as the "fog version" but was scrapped in favor of the "hook man version." This version was an action-oriented game where the player controlled a man with a hook for a hand. But Capcom decided to scrap that version as well, and Kamiya and his team started working on a new version.
The Move to GameCube
The new version of Resident Evil 4 was supposed to be a PlayStation 2 game, but Kamiya and his team were having a hard time making the game work on the hardware. Eventually, Capcom decided to move the development to the GameCube, which was a more powerful console. This move was controversial, but it proved to be the right decision.
The Different Prototypes
There were several different prototypes of Resident Evil 4 that never saw the light of day. The first iteration was set to be a "gothic" horror game featuring stuffed animal heads and killer dolls. The next version, known as "Hookman," featured a new enemy type, a new camera angle, QuickTime events, and selectable dialogue choices. However, the true threat in this version of the game was a form of psychosis caused by a mysterious virus that led to players switching between a real world and a hallucinatory one. The third iteration, known simply as "Resident Evil Zombie," attempted to go back to the series' roots by featuring classic trappings like familiar settings and zombies. The final version featured a new setting in rural Europe and a new enemy type, the Ganados. It included elements from the "Hookman" prototype, such as QuickTime events and a more over-the-shoulder viewpoint during combat.
Resident Evil 4's Legacy
The GameCube version of Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005 and was a critical and commercial success. It introduced new gameplay mechanics, such as the over-the-shoulder camera angle, and was a departure from the series' traditional survival horror roots. The game's success led to several ports, including a Wii version with motion controls. Today, Resident Evil 4's legacy can be seen in many modern games, and it remains a beloved classic of the survival horror genre.
The development of Resident Evil 4 was a long and complicated process that involved several iterations and consoles. The team had to deal with memory limitations, technical challenges, and the pressure of delivering a blockbuster game. But in the end, they succeeded, and Resident Evil 4 remains a beloved classic to this day.
