Resident Evil 4 is an awesome game. One of the greats, remade into a modern masterpiece. It's more of an action-adventure game than RE2, which is a survival horror, where killing everything just removes all the tension, risk, and fear. Running around a completely empty RPD with an infinite ammo MP5 isn't fun. Whereas in RE4, you're encouraged to kill everything. Every enemy will drop money, ammo, resources to craft ammo, healing items, or gemstones to sell. Speaking of which, the Merchant is a brilliant mechanic - anything can be sold to fund new weapons, attachments, treasure maps, and upgrades. You can really customise your playthrough this way. Enemy variation is superb. The sound design on the Novistadors is bloodcurdling, and I really enjoyed fighting the soldiers. Regeneradors are terrifying when they leap at you. The music is top notch as well and pays homage to the original (Krauser's boss theme for example). My favourite is Salazar's boss theme - very orchestral and fits the set piece. All the music fits the atmosphere, from horror (village & castle) to uplifting heroism (Mike's entrance).

The dialogue & story between Leon & Krauser is Shakespearean. You could genuinely adapt Operation Javier and their relationship/encounters in this game into a theatre play. He keeps trying to convince Krauser to turn back; that he's not too far gone. In the end, Leon reluctantly realises that he must do it. He must kill his former comrade and master to save Ashley; to save a lost, frightened girl; to complete the mission. As for Ashley, she undergoes a character arc: from being a petrified victim, to a capable woman who strides ahead, encourages Leon, and conquers her fear. Genevieve Buechner is a leading lady next to Nick Apostolides. Leon's animations are top tier. When he pulls his sidearm out, he checks the chamber. Speaking of which, one of my favourite cutscenes is of Leon sitting down and doing a one-handed press check in Chapter 13. Makes it all the better knowing that Nick did the full performance capture: he acted out every scene in addition to voice acting the character; he even cosplays as Leon at events. The dude has so much respect for the character and the fans, and it's clear as day to see in his performance.

Leon is perfect in RE4. A veteran soldier (he had special forces training and completed several missions before the events of this game). Playing RE2 before this, you can see the difference. He wants to do things by the book, and not really stick his neck out as he believes the system will do its job. He's too inexperienced, and doesn't want to bend the rules to accomplish a goal. He's too trusting, and thinks everything will be okay in the end; that people will be saved and Umbrella will be brought down. Spoiler: Raccoon City gets nuked; Leon gets pressganged into becoming a Special Agent; and whilst Umbrella collapses, hardly any of the victims were compensated/faced personal justice. As a result, he's less trusting, and is the type to shoot first, ask questions later. Subsequently, he doesn't hesitate to spring into action; there's no time to negotiate or play by the rules. Yet he still retains his strong sense of right and wrong.
He struggles with PTSD from Raccoon City and this is his driving motivation. Had Ashley died, Leon would have killed himself. I don't say that to be comedic or glib. It would be a tragic suicide. That is why he will never give up. Because this time, it can be different, it has to.

10/10