STACK #223 May 2023

REVIEWS GAMING

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RESIDENT EVIL 4

SURVIVAL HORROR MULTIPLAYER

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Over the past 20 years we've been treated to some fantastic remakes of classic Resident Evil outings. Now what many consider to be one of the greatest entries in the series returns with Resident Evil 4 , remade for new-gen consoles. Taking place roughly six years after

the events of Raccoon City, we step back into the shoes of Leon Kennedy, one of the main playable characters from Resident Evil 2 , who finds

sewers, but it’s the enemies in Resident Evil 4 that provide the game’s most unsettling aspects. Rather than T-Virus reanimated corpses, or traditional zombies, RE4 gives us zombie-like infected villagers. Instead of rotting flesh and shuffling towards you, the villagers here look somewhat normal, and use weapons. There's also a sense of dread and helplessness when enemies continue to spawn. During one early sequence we arrive at a small hamlet, and we're introduced to the special enemy variant, Nemesis. This section plays out quite similarly to the fight or flight scenarios in Dead Space – which actually sourced a lot of its inspiration from the Resident Evil series. For those who’ve never experienced it, Resident Evil 4 is nothing short of fascinating, with familiar yet faster gameplay. Meanwhile, it provides a fresh, modern-day update that’s more than enough of a reason to return for a second helping. AD

YOU’RE SO VEIN! Just like anything Capcom have released recently, Resident Evil 4 runs on the RE Engine, which was first used for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard . The graphics are incredible, with great attention to detail such as imperfections and age in Leon’s iconic coat, and the pulsing veins of the villagers.

himself in a small village in Spain. Leon is looking for a missing person and, well... being a Resident Evil game it was never going to be a simple job, was it? We've been in poorly lit police stations, sewers, and such previously, but as RE4 is based in a small Spanish town, there are moments where we're outside while the sun is out, moving through open areas. That’s not to say that there aren’t still horrifying places such as caves and

HOGWARTS LEGACY

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER

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Hogwarts Legacy is a wonderful step into a truly magical universe for an experience that lives up to the hype of theWizardingWorld books and the movies.

Players can explore Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and its expansive surrounding areas, at whatever pace that

that require specific solutions, otherwise there are no wrong answers. You can use whatever set of spells, or even naughty unforgiveable curses, that tickle your fancy. Combat comes down to a cunning combination of crafty spell casting. Some enemies will cast shields that require specific spell types to counter, and will even taunt you for using a weak spell against them. The flurry of wisping curses, whirring spells, and whizzing counters is incredibly exciting. Importantly, right from the beginning, where you attend the sorting ceremony, everything is fun. The Room of Requirement acts as your homebase. It’s a space that you can personalise by adding new furniture and add helpful equipment to aid you on your journey. This is the kind of game that you can get lost in for hours, and you’ll be happier for it. Many fans of the Wizarding World have waited years for a game that matches their expectations, and Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t disappoint. DN

they choose, finding wonders and losing themselves along the way. Your character starts their first

POTTER GOLD Whether it’s attending a Defence Against the Dark Arts class, strolling across the grounds to

semester at Hogwarts at the fifth-year level. It’s something that’s not normally done, and feeds heavily into the events to come. After a brief, but harrowing, induction, your character embarks on a spectacular journey, truly worthy of what we’ve come to experience within the Potterverse. Skipping over the junior years to get into more advanced magic is a distinct bonus. By mid-game, you’ll already be overwhelmed by the sheer number of spells at your disposal. While there are some puzzle scenarios

the quidditch pitch, or sampling snacks at Honeydukes in

Hogsmeade, the world of Hogwarts Legacy is packed

with more memorable pieces than you could shake a Boggart at.

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