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The evolution of Resident Evil 4.

M

Mineshaft_Gap

4077th
I remember there being three trailers. The first seemed to be pre-rendered with some impressive lighting that implied Leon was infected with something. A theme of course that WOULD be carried over into the final product albeit in a much different way than one got the impression from in this vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBA8shVPZ64

Myself and the rest of the internet were pretty giddy over this trailer if I recall correctly. There's an extended version of this trailer somewhere out there I think but I'm too lazy to find it.

Then we had this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY0Ifgbd4JE&feature=related

In this trailer the RE series looked like it would be taken more in the direction a psychological horror type gake. Kind of like Eternal Darkness or Silent Hill. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this but I still thought it looked pretty awesome.

And then of course we got the final product. It seems weird to me that Capcom would showcase what seemed like three COMPLETELY versions of the same game instead of waiting until they'd rested on an idea they were going to run with. It makes me curious as to what might have happened to the concepts from the first two trailers. Would they later be used for other non RE related games? Hell... wasn't Devil May Cry originally intended as a Resident Evil sequel?

What we ended up with was one of if not the best console game of last generation don't get me wrong. I can't help but be a little curious to know what the game would have been like had they followed through on either of those first two trailers.
 
K

KennyLinder

Member
Ducky_McGee said:
I remember there being three trailers. The first seemed to be pre-rendered with some impressive lighting that implied Leon was infected with something. A theme of course that WOULD be carried over into the final product albeit in a much different way than one got the impression from in this vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBA8shVPZ64

Myself and the rest of the internet were pretty giddy over this trailer if I recall correctly. There's an extended version of this trailer somewhere out there I think but I'm too lazy to find it.

Then we had this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY0Ifgbd4JE&feature=related

In this trailer the RE series looked like it would be taken more in the direction a psychological horror type gake. Kind of like Eternal Darkness or Silent Hill. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this but I still thought it looked pretty awesome.

And then of course we got the final product. It seems weird to me that Capcom would showcase what seemed like three COMPLETELY versions of the same game instead of waiting until they'd rested on an idea they were going to run with. It makes me curious as to what might have happened to the concepts from the first two trailers. Would they later be used for other non RE related games? Hell... wasn't Devil May Cry originally intended as a Resident Evil sequel?

What we ended up with was one of if not the best console game of last generation don't get me wrong. I can't help but be a little curious to know what the game would have been like had they followed through on either of those first two trailers.
Click to expand...


You should read up on Resident Evil 2. They pretty much axed the entire game and started again.
 
K

KennyLinder

Member
scitek said:
I wish they had tried two other versions of RE5 before releasing it.
Click to expand...

:D So true. Can't believe they managed to fuck it up. Actually, I can, this was the company that made Devil May Cry 2.
 
L

LaneDS

Member
As much as I love RE4 and RE5 (sorry GAF!), I would still really like to play an RE game where horror is played up as much as possible. Those early versions of RE4 looked great. Ideally Capcom will find the right balance between horror and action. RE4 had quite a few moments (Regenerators, for example) that hit the perfect mix I think.
 
A

AgentOtaku

Member
I remeber being so damn excited for what was RE 1.5
Vividly remeber the trailer/footage that came with an issue of PS Underground. Superzombie, Elza Walker, a more modern Racoon City/Police Station

Pre RE4 on the other hand ...well other than Leon's cool wardrobe and some really slick visuals for the hardware, I can't say I was really ever excited for it.
The supernatural just doesn't fit with the series and I imagine Capcom powers that be felt the same way. That and the game itself looks like it's just more of the same, not the groundbreaking shit we got from Mikami and crew.
 
B

bloodforge

Member
Gomu Gomu said:
This is a 5 minute gameplay demo of an early version of RE4.. I think this is based on the second stage of development according to the OP. I was, and still am, blown away by the video. It had so much potential. Aside from all the dolls and ghosts bs, it looks super atmospheric and actually scary. It's exactly what I wanted RE4 to be. Not that I didn't like RE4.
Click to expand...

I still really wish they would have stuck with this version but with the camera of the version we got, really like the supernatural stuff going on.
 
S

scitek

Member
I like how both times Resident Evil underwent some heavy design changes mid-development, the resulting games were two of the best ever made.
 
K

KennyLinder

Member
Totally. RE4 was brilliant, legendary even, but it wasn't really a RE game anymore. I'd love a new fixed camera Resi with the suspence of the original (esp the GC rebirth).

I also loved how clever Capcom were with the original game, reusing the house half-way through the game, now with unlocked doors and the Hunters to deal with. Classic game.
 
L

luka

Loves Robotech S1
bloodforge said:
I still really wish they would have stuck with this version but with the camera of the version we got, really like the supernatural stuff going on.
Click to expand...

This is biohazard, Silent hill is that way. ->

But seriously, Mikami obviously knew that the original versions weren't up to par, and ended up delivering one of the best and most polished action games of all time. I'm not complaining.

I would absolutely love the chance to play "1.5 and 3.5" though. I always love seeing how this stuff turns out.

zoukka said:
And I'll strangle every "tank control" dude in this thread personally. OH LOOK A SLOW METHODICAL CORRIDOR SURVIVOR HAS SLOW CONTROLS WHY CAN'T THEY BRING THE CONTROLS OF BAYONETTA IN HERE SO MUCH SMOOTHER LOL
Click to expand...

I'll help.
 
B

BitchTits

Member
Gomu Gomu said:
This is a 5 minute gameplay demo of an early version of RE4.. I think this is based on the second stage of development according to the OP. I was, and still am, blown away by the video. It had so much potential. Aside from all the dolls and ghosts bs, it looks super atmospheric and actually scary. It's exactly what I wanted RE4 to be. Not that I didn't like RE4.
Click to expand...
This looks great. So much more tense and claustrophobic than the released game (which is still one of the best action games of all time).

I still prefer the over the shoulder view of the released game though.
 
L

luka

Loves Robotech S1
BitchTits said:
This looks great. So much more tense and claustrophobic than the released game (which is still one of the best action games of all time).

I still prefer the over the shoulder view of the released game though.
Click to expand...

I really hope lost in nightmares is some kind of indication of the direction they'll be going in the future.
 
R

remz

Member
Reminds me of the Ashley section in the final game, and uh... Alan Wake.

RE4's development is really interesting. It's coo to see how many revisions they went through before getting to the final (awesome) game
 
T

toastyToast

Member
I think the final incarnation of 4 was easily the best one.

I can't say the same thing about 5, the 2007 trailer was fantastic with Chris getting manhandled by the Orobros and being chased down and shit. Coop should have been an entirely separate mode to SP.

I would like to see something done with the 2nd RE4 concept. A new survival horror franchise would be welcome.
 
R

Resilient

Member
Oh man, this stuff makes me so sad. I will go back and play RE2 now, and pretend that after RE4 nothing happened.

Why did RE5 have to exist? Why?
 
A

anaron

Member
zoukka said:
This kind of gameplay wouldn't sell anymore I'm afraid. It looks so good though.


And I'll strangle every "tank control" dude in this thread personally. OH LOOK A SLOW METHODICAL CORRIDOR SURVIVOR HAS SLOW CONTROLS WHY CAN'T THEY BRING THE CONTROLS OF BAYONETTA IN HERE SO MUCH SMOOTHER LOL
Click to expand...


Oh man, same here. It's like people don't understand why they're implemented in the first place.
 
T

Totobeni

An blind dancing ho
Ducky_McGee said:
In this trailer the RE series looked like it would be taken more in the direction a psychological horror type gake. Kind of like Eternal Darkness or Silent Hill. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this but I still thought it looked pretty awesome.

And then of course we got the final product. It seems weird to me that Capcom would showcase what seemed like three COMPLETELY versions of the same game instead of waiting until they'd rested on an idea they were going to run with.
Click to expand...

just to add , Hiroshi Shibata ( Lead Game Designer for Bayonetta and RE4 ) was the former director of RE4 (director for the 3.5 versions of RE4 ) before Mikami return to it.

I think Shibata deserve to make his own game,I hope PlatinumGames give him the chance to be a director again ( and make something scary like RE3.5 ).
 
R

remz

Member
Totobeni said:
just to add , Hiroshi Shibata ( Lead Game Designer for Bayonetta and RE4 ) was the former director of RE4 (director for the 3.5 versions of RE4 ) before Mikami return to it.

I think Shibata deserve to make his own game,I hope PlatinumGames give him the chance to be a director again ( and make something scary like RE3.5 ).
Click to expand...
Ah so he's still with Clover/Platinum? cool! I actually hope he makes a game too!
 
I

Ignis Fatuus

Banned
Gomu Gomu said:
This is a 5 minute gameplay demo of an early version of RE4.. I think this is based on the second stage of development according to the OP. I was, and still am, blown away by the video. It had so much potential. Aside from all the dolls and ghosts bs, it looks super atmospheric and actually scary. It's exactly what I wanted RE4 to be. Not that I didn't like RE4.
Click to expand...
I don't care if it didn't fit the universe they should have taken that concept and run with it. It actually looks like it has some legitimately scary moments.

The color change when shit goes down? Awesome. You know when you see blue that you're fucked.
 
D

Deleted member 30609

Unconfirmed Member
Totobeni said:
just to add , Hiroshi Shibata ( Lead Game Designer for Bayonetta and RE4 ) was the former director of RE4 (director for the 3.5 versions of RE4 ) before Mikami return to it.

I think Shibata deserve to make his own game,I hope PlatinumGames give him the chance to be a director again ( and make something scary like RE3.5 ).
Click to expand...
holy shit. how have I not heard of this guy by name?
 
L

luka

Loves Robotech S1
anaron said:
Oh man, same here. It's like people don't understand why they're implemented in the first place.
Click to expand...

My favorite part is when people call them 'archaic' like we didn't have the ability to strafe since fucking wolfenstein. :p

Rez said:
holy shit. how have I not heard of this guy by name?
Click to expand...

Me too. I'm definitely going to pay attention to this guy.
 
B

beelzebozo

Jealous Bastard
re4 is probably--definitely--in the five best games i've ever played.

you wanna make an omelet, you gotta break a few eggs.
 
G

Gomu Gomu

Member
Totobeni said:
just to add , Hiroshi Shibata ( Lead Game Designer for Bayonetta and RE4 ) was the former director of RE4 (director for the 3.5 versions of RE4 ) before Mikami return to it.

I think Shibata deserve to make his own game,I hope PlatinumGames give him the chance to be a director again ( and make something scary like RE3.5 ).
Click to expand...
Oh god I hope so. This Shibata guy has got some magic up his sleeves.
 
Z

Zeouterlimits

Member
Turned out well in the end, but I was so hyped for the first two "versions" of RE4.
Disappointed due to expectations by the result, but a great game anyway.
 
F

faridmon

Member
RE4 is my favourite game of all time. If they made it more horror like game, i would have never touch it as I don't play Horror games (cowardiice)
 
B

Baron Doggystyle von Woof

Member
RE4 was perfect. Good thing they changed it along the way of developing.

The Wii version made it even perfect. I love aiming at zombie knees with the wiimote.

RE5 is a piece of shit. I couldn't even finish it.
 
B

beelzebozo

Jealous Bastard
re5 is "adequate." it's like a direct-to-dvd sequel to re4 that riffs on specific moments from that game with almost none of the imagination or creativity.
 
M

Mr. Pointy

Member
I remember reading about some collector actually getting his hands on 1.5, but he won't rip it and put it online.

I managed to get a very large amount of the CG backgrounds to that game. I think I still have them around somewhere.
 
Haunted

Haunted

Member
Ducky_McGee said:
It seems weird to me that Capcom would showcase what seemed like three COMPLETELY versions of the same game instead of waiting until they'd rested on an idea they were going to run with.
Click to expand...
It's safe to say that at the moment they showed those videos, they were sure that these were the concepts they'd run with, respectively.
 
M

Mineshaft_Gap

4077th
Are there any other games that have had really neat development cycles like this where a game was shown in early previews as one thing only to have the final product be completely different (and still fantastic).
 
J

Jason's Ultimatum

Member
Jesus Christ the graphics and artstyle were AMAZING. I loved at 2:50 mark where Leon is walking down that corridor by the windows and the greenish tint. I loved the animations. The gameplay concept looked amazing.


Hell, i'm not even a big RE fan, and if there's one game I wish we could get, it's this.
 
B

badcrumble

Member
beelzebozo said:
re5 is "adequate." it's like a direct-to-dvd sequel to re4 that riffs on specific moments from that game with almost none of the imagination or creativity.
Click to expand...
This is basically the best summary of the difference between the two that I've read.
 
L

Lard

Banned
I wish they had stuck with the concept for trailer 2.

I didn't enjoy RE4 at all, it just wasn't scary and I detest escorting.
 
G

GCX

Member
Ducky_McGee said:
Are there any other games that have had really neat development cycles like this where a game was shown in early previews as one thing only to have the final product be completely different (and still fantastic).
Click to expand...
Well, Alan Wake has already been mentioned in this thread but it was originally a full-blown sandbox game.
 
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