TheResident Evilseries is seeing a rise in popularity these days, as the remakes for earlier titleshave been of exceptionally high quality, which has had the effect of fans asking for more. However, what remains certain is that the most popular titles remain the second and fourth installments.
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Both of these titles were groundbreaking during their time of release, and they have endured as quality games that have aged remarkably well. To this day, there remains a debate over which of these two entries deserves higher praise. Since the arguments remain split in favor of each of them, here are five reasons each whyResident Evil 2or4is the best in the series.
10RE2: It Has Two Strong Protagonists
Very rarely did games at the time ofResident Evil 2’s release give fans two protagonists who were both likable and strong figures. Claire Redfield in particular is still seen as a classic example of an empowering female character who doesn’t need a masculine figure looking out for her.
Along with that, the game also didn’t have either character feel like a liability at any point, unlikeResident Evil 4which had Ashley be a horrible obligation for Leon to continually defend and mess with the gameplay.
9RE4: It Shifted The Series Genre
TheResident Evilseries wouldn’t have been the iconic franchise it is today had it not reinvented itself at some point. Due to this,Resident Evil 4is credited with bringing new life to the series, as it allowed it to shift toward action territory while holdingon to its survival genreroots.
FollowingResident Evil 4, the majority of the games in the franchise have veered toward the template set by this entry. This has allowed for more versatility in the gaming experience, as well as bringing in thousands more fans to whom the action aspect was appealing.
8RE2: The Focus On Horror
There will always remain a particular fanbase that prefers straight-up horror over simple survival elements, andResident Evil 2perfectly mastered this aspect. Even today, fans tend to revisit this game toremember just how scary thingscould get.
While the originalResident Evilwas frightening in its own right, the scares were developed and honed in this entry, where players are bound to feel the terror of fighting zombies lurking around every corner.
7RE4: Leon And Ada’s Romantic Tension
If there’s one pair that comes close to a romantic association in theResident Evilseries, it has to be Leon and Ada. Truth be told, their association first began inResident Evil 2, but it was given a dramatic flair and a hook for fans to follow inResident Evil 4due to the tension between the characters.
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Following this entry, fans found the idea of introducing more emotional quality in the series to be appealing, and the result has been apparent since the following games have had protagonists show their human side. To this day, Leon and Ada’s potential romance is a favorite among fans.
6RE2: The Eerie Soundtrack
There’s little doubt that the best stage to set the scene for a horror game or film is to make it as unsettling as possible. To achieve this, an eerie soundtrack is absolutely essential, somethingResident Evil 2more than achieves.
WhileResident Evil 4has a more fast-paced beat to stick to the action-oriented setting, it also takes out some of the scares from it. On the other hand,Resident Evil 2’s soundtrack is something to behold, keeping players on their toes as the music reflects the horror setting to create a complete experience.
5RE4: It Has A Stronger Storyline
At some level, you have to believe thatResident Evil 2’s storywas around the same lines as the first game’s, making it seem pretty familiar. WhereResident Evil 4is concerned, though, it has a wholly original plot that sees Leon transition from helpless cop to an ace special agent.
The many mysteries surrounding Ada Wong and Albert Wesker, along with a host of other characters, steer the plot through many twists and turns. These are so vast that the conclusion of this angle took place inResident Evil 5, thereby influencing the player to stick around for a real long time.
4RE2: Better Puzzle-Solving
Games at the time ofResident Evil 2’s release had a more subtle approach to them, in that players were encouraged to take their time and let the environment set in. With this style came a whole lot of puzzle-solving, most of which required some expert thinking.
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Not only were these sequences interesting, they served to create a balanced atmosphere during gameplay, as the player was kept invested from an intellectual standpoint as well. These puzzles weren’t simple either, making them a challenge of their own.
3RE4: Better Variety In Gameplay
Due to the change in gameplay formats,Resident Evil 4was able to bring in third-person elements. This brought about a truckload of options for the gamer, ranging from explosive styles to more traditional ones. Even the quick-time events were a fun segue from the main action.
Another big advantage for the game was how the map size allowed for replay value to be amplified, as players tend to return in order totry out different weaponryin a multitude of backdrops.
2RE2: Unique Obstacles Suited To The Character
An original aspect fromResident Evil 2was how the gameplay reflected the character the player had chosen. It wasn’t as if picking Leon or Claire would bring the same campaign, as the game laid out challenges suited to their characterizations.
WhileResident Evil 4is a whole different beast, it does mainly revolve around Leon, while other playable characters feel relatively similar. In the case ofResident Evil 2, though, the “zapping” system brought different perspectives of the protagonists based on decisions made by the players themselves.
1RE4: It Revolutionized The Industry
Gamers tend to take the over-the-shoulder perspective for granted these days, but this wouldn’t have become such a common piece of gaming had it not been forResident Evil 4making it a thing in the first place. Another innovation the game brought was the precision aiming, which empowered players to attack based on their own terms rather than be hindered by fixed camera angles.
This element has since been added to mainstream titles likeGears of War, Uncharted, andThe Last of Us. The game’s focus on action paved the way for the industry to innovate as well, makingResident Evil 4the benchmark for success.
