Which is Better – Resident Evil 4 or Resident Evil 6? A Survival Horror Expert‘s Take

As a long-time survival horror aficionado with a special passion for the Resident Evil series, I get asked this question a lot – which is better between franchise juggernauts Resident Evil 4 (2005) and Resident Evil 6 (2012)? In the constant debate among RE fans over these two titans, I firmly believe RE4 claims victory.

Critical Reception and Review Scores: Experts Favor RE4

Released 7 years apart, both RE4 and RE6 were highly anticipated follow-ups aiming to advance the landmark survival horror series. However, in the eyes of critics, only RE4 truly succeeded.

RE4 was met with widespread critical acclaim upon launch, earning an average Metacritic score of 96 and ringing endorsements from major gaming outlets:

• IGN – 10/10 – "the paramount of superior game design"
• GameInformer – 9.25/10 – "one of gaming‘s most engaging experiences"

Conversely, RE6 garnered mixed reactions from critics and a more modest 68 average on Metacritic. While some praised its scope and action set pieces, most took issue with its drift from survival horror into full blown over-the-top action territory:

• Destructoid – 4/10 – "An unsatisfying mess"
• GamesRadar – 2.5/5 – "Too silly to scare"

As a survival horror connoisseur, I strongly agree with critics on RE4 being the superior experience. It modernized tank controls and pre-rendered backgrounds for its time yet remained faithful to the genre‘s tension-building foundations. RE6 largely did away with any residual horror in favor of hollywood-esque spectacle.

Sales Figures: RE4 Dominates by Wide Margin

In addition to critical acclaim, RE4‘s excellence translated into far greater commercial success compared to RE6. To date RE4 has sold over 12 million units across all platforms since launch:

Comparatively, RE6 has moved approximately 7.8 million units lifetime – over 4 million less than RE4‘s towering sales. As the data shows, RE4 resonated much stronger commercially, especially critical PlayStation and Nintendo platforms.

Legacy & Influence: RE4 a Landmark, RE6 Footnote

In my opinion as a seasoned gaming expert, Resident Evil 4‘s brilliance echoes through many of today‘s top franchises while RE6 barely made a ripple on the industry.

RE4 pioneered and popularized the "over-the-shoulder" 3rd person camera and gameplay so ubiquitous in modern gaming. Titles like Gears of War, Dead Space, The Last of Us and many more built directly upon RE4‘s foundations.

As one of the most influential games ever crafted, RE4 frequently tops "Best Of" lists from both critics and players. Clearly it left a tremendous impact befitting an all-time great franchise entry.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for RE6. While ambition is admirable, the messy execution and confused identity failed to advance the series in any meaningful way. As more of a noisy footnote than landmark, RE6 did not inspire future generations like its predecessor.

Core Gameplay Comparison

Getting into specific gameplay elements, RE4 again comes out well ahead as the superior survival horror experience that set the template for excellent modern third person action.

Atmosphere & Horror – RE4 masterfully blended action with a creeping sense of dread thanks to its eerie setting and enemies that can quickly overwhelm the player. Expertly paced, you often transitition from shooter to survival horror seamlessly. RE6 features bombastic, warzone-like environments with monstrous mutants that capture shock factor over suspense.

Combat & Controls – RE4 perfected the stop-and-shoot mechanic for precise gunplay while allowing players to shoot and run as needed. RE6 added sprinting, sliding and melee attacks for a faster pace yet clunky mechanics. Higher action made the experience feel more generic.

Weapons & Upgrades – Collectible treasures in RE4 gate access to powerful weapons including the infamous Chicago Typewriter. Players can customize a small arsenal to suit their playstyle. RE6 simplifies this system for streamlined action, reducing strategic considerations.

Inventory Management – Both feature grid-based inventories, but RE4‘s strict limits force difficult decisions when managing key, ammo and healing items. RE6 is more forgiving, reducing survival tension.

Story & Tone – RE4 adopts a grittier tone focused on lone hero Leon S. Kennedy battling a mysterious cult. RE6 goes full Hollywood with four globe-trotting campaigns mashed together against megalomaniacal villains – quantity over quality.

Bosses – Among its many highlights, RE4 has some of the most memorable and well-designed boss encounters in gaming history. RE6 trades quality for quantity again, with over a dozen flashy but forgettable boss fights.

Verdict: RE4 is Rightfully Considered the Superior Title

While I can appreciate RE6‘s attempt to expand the scope of the series into blockbuster territory, the messy execution failed to live up to standards set by one of gaming‘s giants in Resident Evil 4.

By retaining the critical foundations of survival horror while innovating its core gameplay systems, RE4 propelled the Resident Evil franchise – and gaming as a whole – into bold new territory that still inspires today.

In the great debate between these essential RE entries, Resident Evil 4 stands in a class all its own as the unquestionably superior title in this survival horror masterclass.