Yes, I know exactly what you are thinking - "Again?!" Resident Evil 4, once a Gamecube exclusive, touched down two years ago on the PS2 - with a host of exclusive goodies - before making what many considered to be its final stop on the PC earlier this year. Yet here we are again, gearing up for the Wii Edition, which is set for release this month. Again, I can see the apprehension in your eyes - "But I already have a Wii version; it's called the backwards-compatible Gamecube version. Why would I buy it again?" Well, let's go over the host of new features and see if we can't convince you why!

First off, the most obvious feature is the new controls. Though you can use the Gamecube controller if you are afraid of change, after reading this you should have little reason to do so. The nunchuck controller plays home to movement, using the analog stick, then you use the Z button to run and pull out Leon's knife with the C button. The Wiimote gets all the fun though, as the weapon hand. Replacing the original game's laser sight is a crosshair that never leaves the screen, changing color to let you know if you actually have a target in sight. Once you have a target lined up, simply pull on the B button and blast away! With pinpoint aiming you now have a realistic sense of accuracy, allowing specific areas of an enemy to be targeted with ease.

That's not all that the Wiimote has to offer though; why hit the C button to bring out your knife when you can just swipe back and forth with the Wiimote? There is no reason. Run out of ammo? Simply double shake the Wiimote and bam, more goon-blasting firepower is in your hand. The speaker in the Wiimote is also put to use, playing appropriate sound clips for actions such as ammo reloading and receiving radio signals. They have even been integrated into the context-sensitive moments found throughout the game. One such example takes place near the beginning of the game, where Leon is outrunning a giant boulder. You are now asked to swing the Wiimote back and forth to sprint, before jumping out of the way with a button combo.

It seems that the controls neither demand that you exaggerate your movements just to execute action in-game, as many commercials may have led you to believe, nor do they demand a high learning curve. If you have played any other game on the Wii and/or any other action-adventure title in the past then you should blast right through any adjustment period with ease. But don't take the accessible controls as a gateway to parental gaming, as all of the gore, action and terror from the game's first run have been replicated here as well. If you skipped out on the PS2 and PC versions then there's a wealth of new content to enjoy, as the 'Separate Ways' Ada Wong missions, easier difficulty modes, new costumes and more have all made the transfer. Graphically the game isn't much different than the Gamecube build, unless you have a set of component cables and a widescreen TV, as you can take advantage of a 480p and 16x9 widescreen picture (no black bars here!)

Sure, there may not be any new content in Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, but there is no denying that the new controls alone radically change the way you play the game, therefore altering the entire experience in a wonderfully immersing and creative way. In fact, the can't miss game of 2004 is shaping up to become the can't miss Wii title of the summer! Oh…and there's that thing about it only costing…what was it? I think it was a lowly, wallet-friendly, budget price of $29.99. What more do you really need to know?

Previewed by Tony Peters for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).