Resident Evil 4 - GC or PS2?

[Craig]

So, which 1 should I get? The Gamecube version, or the Playstation 2 version?

I know the latter has extra content, but I imagine they both have pros and cons.

[Necronopticous]

The gamecube version looks a little better. I have the gamecube version but I got that long before the PS2 one came out.

[Madame Adequate]

I've played both very extensively, and I believe the PS2 version is superior. Aside from a single instance of odd shading, the graphics are pretty damn good on the PS2, and the extra content is most definately worth it.

[Craig]

What about the controls? I can't imagine playing Resi 4 with anything but a Gamecube controller.

[Dreddz]

I have only played the Gamecube version, and think its great, but the PS2 version looks better, the graphics still look pretty damn nice on the PS2, and theres extra content. But the Gamecube version would be cheaper I'd imagine ......

[Madame Adequate]

What about the controls? I can't imagine playing Resi 4 with anything but a Gamecube controller.

The only problem with PS2 controls is that triangle and start are counterintuitive. Where one expects triangle to open the inventory, it opens the map. You need to hit start to open the inv. and I've still not got used to that.

I should probably look and see if the buttons can be remapped...

Aside from that single error, the PS2 controls are just as good as the GC, and the fact that the pad doesn't induce major pain in my hands is always a plus.

[*ETERNAL FANTASY*]

ahh those scenes where you have like 2 seconds to press a bloody button(s) are killers, especiallly that knife fight scene! arf..anyway i only got the ps2 version! Gamecube does edge out the ps2 in terms of graphics but its still pretty close from my observation, the extra content is great but either way its up to you! I would get the ps2 version anyway!

[XxSephirothxX]

I bought it just a few weeks ago, and the guy at EB said he'd played both versions and thought the GameCube one was superior. I like the Cube controller a little better, and as it was designed for the GameCube I imagine it controls slightly better than on the PS2 version. I figured I could live without the extra missions, and I love it on GameCube, but I don't think it matters much either way. Maybe the PS2 version costs a bit more.

[BatChao]

Dispite the extra content of the PS2 version, I really think the graphical difference between the two is big enough that you should get the GCN version. RE4 is all about immersing you into the world of the game and it does a great job of doing so. While the PS2 version still looks good, it doesn't look nearly as good as the GCN version and this really affects how much you are sucked into the game. Some areas have negligible differences (less foilage, particles, etc), but some places are like night and day. Any area where there are a bunch of villagers coming after you, the villagers look pretty bad. Their face textures are blurry and look two dimensional (they remind me a little of the faces on the characters in GoldenEye and Perfect Dark). Also, there are a few scenes that take place at night with lightning flashing in the distance, lighting up the scenery. These sections look more impressive on the GCN than the PS2, and gives you a much more intense feeling of creepiness. When I first played the PS2 version, and I saw what it looked like, I couldn't get passed how it looked and didn't touch if for a week or so. The load times are also a bit longer on the PS2, requiring for a 'Loading' screen between area transitions, which also temporarily removes you from the world of RE4. The cutscenes on the PS2 are also pre-rendered, while they run in real-time on the GCN. This means that if an object is destroyed in the background on PS2, it will be back again in the cutscene. It probably also means that the characters will always be wearing their normal costumes in cutscenes even if you are wearing the alternate ones in the game. This is yet another thing that slightly jars you out of the 'reality' of the game. In the GCN version, what you see while you are playing is what you see in the cutscenes. I also find that the GCN controller seems a little more intuitive and responsive. I guess it's also worth mentioning that the sound on the GCN version sounds a bit crisper, but it's not a big deal.

The game is, of course, excellent on both consoles. By now, the price of the GCN version of RE4 has dropped quite a bit and you can pick it up for about $30-$40, and sometimes less. The MSRP of the PS2 version is $40. I don't know if you can find the collector's edition of the GCN version anymore, but I assume it's still going to go for about $60. The PS2's collector's edition (actually called the 'Premium Edition') may be a bit easier to find and goes for $50. As far as packaging goes, I like the PS2 cover a lot more and the content in the collector's edition for the PS2 blows the GCN version away. The metal case for the PS2 set is much nicer than that crappy 'GameStop' version GCN owners got, and it also comes with a bonus 'Making-of' DVD. Besides the bonus DVD and the case, the only difference between the contents of the 2 collector's editions is that the GCN one comes with a laser cell of Leon while the PS2 one has one of Ada. I'm an Ada fan myself, and that picture of her is really sexy, so I like the Ada one more :D .

So yea, that's my take on it. The extra levels/costumes on the PS2 are great (I love that there are new missions where you can play as Ada!), but for the main game, the GCN version is simply superior. The graphics are just THAT much better on the GCN. Normally, I don't really care about the graphical differences between ports, but in a game like this, where the atmosphere is so important, it's hard not to notice the shortcomings of the PS2 port. For those of you that think I'm just being picky, just play through the first section of the PS2 version, up until the church bell rings. Notice the look of the villagers (especially their faces) when you are playing, and then compare them to the faces of the villagers in the cutscene. It's a huge difference! The GCN version has the villagers looking like the cutscene throughout the game, and it really helps to look at some detailed, freaky looking guy rather than one that looks bland when you are trying to get into the game. Of course, my complaints might just stem for my playing the original GCN version, then switching to the PS2. Maybe if you've never played the GCN version, you won't be able to tell the difference.

My recommendation is for you to get the GCN (regular) version first and play that. Then you should pick up the PS2 Premium Edition if you really liked the GCN version for that extra DVD and the new content. If you just want to toy around with the new costumes/weapons or want to play the new missions, and don't want to purchase the game again, just rent the PS2 version.

Anyway, here's a short list of what I think are the pros and cons of each version:

GCN:
++Much more immersive
+Better graphics
+Real-time cutscenes
+More intuitive controls
+Faster load times
+'Crisper' sound
-Ugly packaging for Collector's Edition
-Two discs (swapping discs is a little annoying)

PS2:
+New weapon
+New missions starring the ever-sexy Ada Wong
+New costumes for Leon and Ashley
+Making-of DVD with the Premium Edition
+Box for Premium Edition is very nice
+Single Disc
+Sexy Ada cell with the Premium Edition
--Not as immersive
-Slower load times
-Worse graphics
-Pre-rendered cutscenes
-Sound is slightly muffled (a little noticeable with the dialogue)

[Craig]

Stuff

Yeah, I figured as much. The pre-rendering is off putting.

I don't own the Gamecube version, but a friend does and I've played it to death plenty of times, infact it's been at my house for the past couple of weeks.

I think I'll just get the Ps2 version though, as I've completed the Gamecube version a few times. Besides the Gamecube version is older, so if I ever feel I need to play it 1 time I doubt it costs much. And for such a great game I wouldn't mind owning both copies.

[Madame Adequate]

Batchao: Your points are reasonably made and all, but I have to say that in the majority of cases I have honestly not noticed a massive difference in graphics. A difference, yes, but hardly enough for me to recommend someone forego a good four or five hours of content, some new weapon/outfit stuff, and something like three more minutes of Luis. I'm not kidding on that last one BTW.

[DMKA]

I played the Gamecube version, so if I ever do get the game again I'm getting the PS2 version.