Faithful recreation of the original, beat-for-beat in the gameplay loop and scenes; it does not reinvent the wheel and that's exactly why I like it. The game is the same just with upgraded visuals, sharper audio, and in the case of this sequel the og soundtrack is an option. Not sure why all the reviews are dogpiling on this game. Things like the voice acting "has no charm" (which, if we're being honest, is nothing more than nostalgia rationilizing technology limitations of the time) is wrong, the voice acting is kept stilted and surreal but with more distinctive voices, and unlike those reviews who are going off sheer rosy-tinted memory, I actually have the original ports on Wii and play them quite often to this day, so I know most of the so-called "charm" is still there. The game launched with bugs, which I encountered during the demo, but I can confidently say they're non-existent now. Overall, the game delivers on the pure arcade loop: aim, shoot, reload, repeat. No grinding, no filler, just frantic action from start to finish.
One of the most divisive entries in the series, often overshadowed by its predecessors due to its departure from the traditional structure of previous games and alienated most fans. However, it deserves recognition for its distinctive approach, haunting and claustrophobic atmosphere, narrative depth, and, notably, its closer adherence to the original vision of the first game. Some may take issue with that last assertion, but hear me out: while SH4 was originally conceived as a spin-off (contrary to the common misconception that it was shoehorned into the series), this does not diminish its legitimacy as a SH entry. As stated, I'd argue that it aligns more closely with the foundational framework of SH1. How so? In the first game, the narrative was not centered on the protagonist, Harry, but rather on Alessa. Harry functioned as an outsider caught within her nightmarish reality, with the plot deeply interwoven with the machinations of a cult. Similarly, SH4 revolves around its antagonist, Walter, while the player assumes the role of Henry, a character unwittingly entangled in Walter’s nightmarish psyche—one that was shaped and corrupted by the cult that raised him. Much like Alessa, Walter was also a victim here. The game is not without its flaws, and there are evident indications that it was rushed in development. However, some of the criticisms it receives are inconsistent. Complaints about 'janky' combat, for example, overlook the fact that the previous two entries utilized the same engine and exhibited similar mechanical quirks. Ultimately, SH was never intended to follow a rigid formula like SH2 or SH3. It was envisioned as an anthological horror series, and SH4 effectively embraces that concept. Go in blind, ignore everything you've heard. If nothing else, it delivers a genuinely unsettling experience, and at best, it may foster a newfound appreciation for SH as anthological horror series.
