Resident Evil 4 is always praised as one of the best games ever made, so it was time to play RE4 on this series marathon I'm personally doing, and let me tell you, I can see why many call it one of the best games ever.
One thing I should stress is that typically, I format these paragraphs as an intro, what I found good with the game, and then what I didn't like about the game. RE4 will be different, in that there isn't a single thing wrong with this game that I can think of.
To go into further detail, RE4's gameplay, sound design, setting, tone, characters, pacing, all of it is just unprecedented, and set a new standard for gaming as a whole I'd say. I could go on and on about why everything about RE4 is perfect, but I'll try to condense it for your sake, and for mine as well.
Resident Evil 4 starts off with one straight forward goal, and ends with the goal being achieved, that being to save the President's daughter, Ashley Graham. It may seem simple, but RE4 keeps throwing different story beats at you that it keeps the game refreshing and fun to play on multiple run-throughs. Traversing through the maps of RE4 as Leon S. Kennedy, can be a bit clunky, considering how the Wiimote and Nunchuck (the way I played it) isn't really suited for tank controls, but once you get used to the controls, RE4 just feels so natural to play. Aiming with the Wiimote like an arcade on-rails shooter, blasting off the cult member's heads with a shotgun is just so satisfying. The controls and the sound design really mesh well in RE4, which can't be said about many games out there.
Now for the characters, each one offers their unique contribution to not only the RE4 story, but as well as the overarching story across all the RE4 games. I do have to mention Ashley though. I've read different people's opinions on Ashley, and the general consensus is that she's very annoying, as she can't defend herself for the life of her, and can be pretty dry dialogue wise, as she's kind of there just to progress the story. While I do see those complaints as valid, I actually really like Ashley, and here's why. Yes, she can be annoying, but I found her gameplay segments to have the most tension in the whole game. This is a "horror" game after all, and trying to defend a helpless girl from getting killed filled me with the motivation needed to progress with the game, and to me, that's part of the RE4 experience. Plus, her petty attitude had some inside jokes between my siblings, and to be fair, that also is a reason why I have a soft spot for Ashley.
To conclude, I feel like I can't do this game justice just by reviewing it and rambling about Ashley. Resident Evil 4 is a game that you must play for yourself. It is an experience you cannot forget, and will leave you with a memorable and lasting experience. That you should play on Wii because even though I haven't tried RE4 with a traditional controller, I feel like I wouldn't be able to change to the natural and fun feel of the Wiimote and Nunchuck.