Clattertron

[dc]I[/dc]‘ve covered a lot of ground since my last post about Resident Evil 4. Ashley (“The president’s daughter”) is with me now, and we’re inside the big spooky castle—which triggers all kinds of flashbacks to the original Resident Evil (it took place inside a spooky mansion).

Resident Evil 4 Dynamic Duo

Ashley brings a different element to the game: looking out for another character. It certainly ups the tension, as Ashley has a health meter like Leon. If she dies, or gets kidnapped (and taken off-screen), then it is a game over.

It might be my playing Resident Evil 4 after all three Mass Effects and two Dragon Ages as a female character, but Ashley’s stereotypical “damsel in distress”-ness really sticks out to me this time. ¹ It is pretty awkward at times, especially when one thinks about the subtext of the creepy cultists grabbing Ashley and carrying her away. Then there’s the ‘look up Ashley’s skirt’ trick, which I will let you Google/YouTube on your own.

It’s funny that since Ashley came into the picture, I’m wanting to play The Last of Us again. You cannot deny Resident Evil 4’s influence on The Last of Us. In many ways the games are very similar. There’s plenty of differences, of course, especially when it comes to the “Ashley” in The Last of Us: Ellie.

I think I should re-play The Last of Us after Resident Evil 4. It’s a short game, and I have already beaten it, so I can play The Last of Us with a New Game + option. This is assuming I can handle another ride on the emotional merry-go-round which is The Last of Us. Just reading about the ending again the other day started to get me a bit teared up.²

But seriously though: how does Ashley keep that sweater around her neck with all that running around?

More Flashbacks

I am near to the furthest I ever reached in my earlier playthroughs. I’m now in chapter 3-1 and I only ever got as far as 4-1 in the past. I am doing better in some ways this time, but still getting my butt kicked in the usual tricky spots.

Some of the rooms triggered panic flashbacks again. I knew what was coming and how much I hated it before.

Specifically: the water room. It is a mad house and I already got several game overs. But: I beat it before, years ago, so I know I can beat it again.

New Toys

The castle means new weapons are available and with that comes some hard choices. After a lot of reading, I decided I will sell my trusty bolt-action rifle and grab the semi-automatic. The semi-automatic works better for the water room, where I have to pick off targets going after Ashley.

Sir Saves-A-Lot

I’m up to 80 saves so far and a little over of ten hours into the game. A lot of those are precautionary saves, but I don’t care. I just want to finish the game. I can try for a better rating another time.

What’s Next?

I have to get through the water room, and I have vague memories of what lies beyond, and I’m not looking forward to finding out.

Extra Life

I’m playing games for the Extra Life charity next month (money raised goes to the Sparrow Children’s Center here in Lansing). Please pledge to me if you can, any amount helps.

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¹ These days, if I have a choice of playing as a male or female character, I choose the female character. I’ve played enough games as a dude.

² And good on Naughty Dog for having the guts to use such an ending.