Resident Evil 4 now available for iPhone, $8

by David Hinkle { Jul 27th 2009 at 11:57AM }

Remember that super-polished version of Resident Evil 4 we saw strutting its stuff on iPhone? Well, it's available right now for purchase in the App Store -- and suspiciously squashed down to 37.3 MB. While the game sits on the pricier side of the app spectrum (and is missing elements from the console versions), anything called "Resident Evil 4" is almost impossible for us to resist. Almost.

[Via App Advice]

Resident Evil 4 (Capcom, $7.99):

Tags: capcom, resident-evil, resident-evil-4

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

nickux @ Jul 27th 2009 12:03PM

Is there any place to see this running in video?

nickux @ Jul 27th 2009 12:04PM

oops- nevermind. Got that "super-polished" link. Joystiq's linkage is always excellent.

Nerdy Desi @ Jul 27th 2009 12:05PM

I'm curious, do all paid apps in the App Store have a "demo" mode to try it out before buying?

Nap @ Jul 27th 2009 12:11PM

Yes. They are called Lite versions, I don't think this one has one yet

Bradwart @ Jul 27th 2009 12:11PM

Sadly, no. Doom Ressurection is an example of a no-demo title.

Levi @ Jul 27th 2009 12:31PM

Try the demo for Resident Evil Degeneration. It looks like it's the same engine.

Martin @ Jul 27th 2009 12:45PM

No, not all games are required to have a demo version (also called a "Lite" version as Nap points out. Xbox Live is still the only service that requires demos for their games that I know of.

NaeemTHM @ Jul 27th 2009 1:02PM

Levi,

I read on Touch Arcade that it has a tweaked control setup. It's better than Degeneration's controls but....I guess that's not saying much.

I really wish dev's would stop trying to cram button controls on a damn touch screen. Wolf3D is the only game I'm played with on screen controls that I've actually enjoyed. And I'm pretty sure that's only because the game is so damn simple.

Levi @ Jul 27th 2009 1:16PM

Naeem, hopefully it's a bit better. I'm really hoping for other options, as opposed to just an optimized virtual analogue, but I'll take that over nothing. I'll hea over to touch arcade (funniest name ever, sounds like an arcade for petifiles) and check out the review. I've been on the fence on RE:D (yes I'm that broke this week that $6 matters :/ ), so hopefully this adaptation of 4 is a little better.

Captain Planet @ Jul 27th 2009 12:05PM

The controls they implemented in this game makes me want to kick a puppy.

Akuma FTW @ Jul 27th 2009 12:23PM

I plan on slicing sections of my thumbs off

Levi @ Jul 27th 2009 12:25PM

Yeah I really think they should have implemented other options for controls. Accelerometer aiming for those who like it, and fo me, turn the screen into a trackpad when in aiming mode.

mikey @ Jul 27th 2009 12:13PM

Stupid they release this game on something shitty like the iphone and not something more capable like the psp

HeXeN @ Jul 27th 2009 12:24PM

I see you enjoy flame wars!

Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Jul 27th 2009 12:25PM

There is a Resident Evil game in the works for the PSP.

Mike Sylvester @ Jul 27th 2009 12:26PM

Perhaps Capcom felt the PSP couldn't do the controls justice. Oh wait, this is Resident Evil.

Kristof @ Jul 27th 2009 12:28PM

I guess it depends on your definition of "capable". Graphics-wise, the iPhone is pretty capable. Controls, don't knock em 'til you tried 'em - they may look weird or silly (which I thought when I saw games like this with controls on the screen) but once you're using them, they actually work out nicely. Now, sure, the game could be crap. I'm just saying, you're knocking things without even knowing it. Plus, I'd rather pay $8 than $20 or $30 or $40 to play RE4 on the go ... and if I have it on my phone and not need to switch out UMDs, all the better. Sure, yes, I have a PSP, but random pick-up play goes to my iphone than the PSP.

Levi @ Jul 27th 2009 12:38PM

Without trying to sound biased... I actually agree with the OP. I've tried the demo for Degeneration, and it does look rather unimpressive. I'm confident that the PSP can push more polygons and what not. The controls are pretty awful, but I guess are barely good enough to still enjoy the game. The bottom line is that, while these look like the best examples of good real games that could compete with the handheld consoles, I'm pretty confident that Degeneration and 4 would look, sound, and play better on a PSP.

They are very impressive for mobile phone games though, and huge steps forward for the crApp store. Hopefully they will keep upporting it, and patch in better aiming controls :/

johnny @ Jul 27th 2009 12:50PM

there are some great iphone games, i sold my psp and am very happy with the iphone games for my portable fix. and the graphics on the iphone are as good as psp, theres no doubt about that.

Orion @ Jul 27th 2009 12:54PM

Seriously, touch screen controls might look weird to you, but they're great. Try playing Isotope (RPGish Geometry Wars) and you'll understand.

Oh wait, you can't, because you don't have an iPhone.. you just talk shit about products you don't own because you secretly want it but can't afford it... like every other fanboy out there.

Levi @ Jul 27th 2009 1:23PM

Orion, touchscreen controls are not good for everything though. Sure there are some things that benefit from he capacitive screen and accelerometer, but just like on the Wii, it's not always better. In the case of most shooters like this , actual physical controls trump touchscreen controls, but other times, like with Puzzle Quest, the touchscreen is actually much better.

The problem is usually in the implementation. I think this game would work best with trackpad controls for aiming. Instead, they stick with the virtual analoge, which is not good. It may be good enough to play the game, bu even after getting used to it, it's still a pain in the ass. I haven't played Doom Ressurrection, but from the people who like it for what it is. I sounds like they understood that every game needs a specific fine tuned control system when you have no physical buttons.

So, yeah it's good sometimes, but not all the time.

Orion @ Jul 27th 2009 1:38PM

@Levi.

Totally, yes I agree. I was just trying to show Mikey how much of a dick he was by saying something like this:

"Stupid they release this game on something shitty like the iphone and not something more capable like the psp"

The thing is, it's not the devices fault.. they could have found a VERY competent control scheme within the iPhones limits for this game. I think there's less "games that can't be done on the iPhone" as there are "games that can be done, but are done wrong", if you understand my meaning.

There are some games though that have changed my mind about portable gaming. I have my PSP for games such as Battlefront and God of War, but playing Real Racing, Isometry, Zenonia, Sonic the Hedgehog, and iSR have changed my opinion of what touch and accelerometer controls can offer. I never though touch screen dpad gaming could work, and they've proved me wrong on many games. In my personal opinion, it's what the DS should have been. The DS was innovative, but it's become too confined for games like FPS to be completely workable.

Levi @ Jul 27th 2009 2:04PM

Completely agree on everything except FPS on the DS. The only one I can remember playing when I had one was Metroid Prime, and aside from the fact that it was a bit akward to hold after a while, it controlled surprisingly well for a handheld FPS. It's control was at a level that I don't think we can achieve without some physical buttons (in this case, moving and shooting). Wolfenstein worked pretty well on the iPhone, but mostly because it's extremely simple.

Definitely have to agree with you on implementation, though. Degeneration's controls, while good enough, weren't that good overall, and it's not because of the touch screen, bu because they didn't try bard enough imo. With a little creative thought, it could have been better.

This has been the most civil flame war I've seen on Joystiq so far... XD

chasan @ Jul 27th 2009 5:19PM

My hards hurt when I remember playing Metroid Prime Hunters for the DS. Good game anway :P

Zexion_VI @ Jul 27th 2009 12:23PM

I think I own enough versions of RE4, I don't think I need another

johnny @ Jul 27th 2009 12:53PM

thanks for letting us know, now we can all stop wondering.

Orion @ Jul 27th 2009 12:56PM

@johnny

+1 good sir.

pika2000 @ Jul 27th 2009 1:10PM

Wow, looks like the controls are PITA.

under13warrior @ Jul 27th 2009 1:14PM

Hmmmm which of the 8 dollar ports should I get?
Monkey Island?
Metal Gear Touch?
RE4?

Flankenstein @ Jul 27th 2009 2:39PM

Monkey Island for sure...though I would wait for a patch for some bugs and control issues. There is also a lite version of Metal Gear that will probably tell you it isn't worth the cash.

aristokrat @ Jul 27th 2009 1:22PM

As someone who rediscovered the RE series with RE5, I'm definitely interested in this, but I'll wait for some reviews first. Though I guess it's really slimmed down narrative-wise, so it may not be all that satisfying. Darest I play RE4 on my Wii?

Levi @ Jul 27th 2009 1:43PM

RE4 Wii was the best version by far. The controls in that game best utilized the Wiimote in my opinion. You aim the thing at the screen like a gun when you want to shoot, an pull the z button like a trigger. Swipe the wiimote like he does with the knife, no buttons required, and he swiped the knife. Seriously, it is the best Wii game I've played, and that's after having already played most of it on Gamecube. Get it.

Cornelius @ Jul 27th 2009 2:13PM

I second that. Plus the Wii version of RE4 has all of the extras from the PS2 and PC with the added pretty graphics of the GameCube edition. Personally, I think it's the best platform to play RE4 on...

Used copies of RE4 for the Wii can be found online for about $5.

Jacksons @ Jul 27th 2009 1:58PM

It's a trap.

mv2093 @ Jul 27th 2009 2:46PM

This game looks pretty good, but touch screen controls might ruin it.

zero2dash @ Jul 27th 2009 3:36PM

I can't even imagine trying to kill a quick moving enemy (a novistador, or worse...Verdugo) with controls like that. Yikes...

soccerant @ Jul 27th 2009 4:45PM

And they can't port RE5 to Wii? The RE games sell extremely well on the console, Wii-only users would eat it up.

mikey @ Jul 27th 2009 5:23PM

I wasn't hating on the iphone completely geez. I go to the dmv and come back to this. Let me clarify. Its a proven fact that iphone games sales are relatively weak, yet the support for them is growing everyday. Its possible because of the explosive growth in sales of course, that companies like capcom are figuring they could make mint once people actually ahead and buy these games. For now they don't match the sales numbers just yet.Resident evil is coming for the psp actually, but not 4. I've been saying for ages that 4 should come out on psp. One game that looks pretty awesome on the iphone/ itouch is dexter. Which really pushing the envelope in graphics in regards to the iphone/itouch. Anybody who said that the iphone has better graphics than the psp really hasn't played god of war on psp or most good games on it. Now the iphone gs of course opens the possibility of games looking way better than games on psp. But the iphone gs just came out, so few games will use the gs platform completely.

Either way. To sound fair! lol Its cool that its out iphone, just wish capcom would have thought of the psp too.