Resident Evil 4 [GC]

Except, it finds us first. Once we're halfway into the lake, another cinematic cut-scene is triggered. The camera zooms in unto Leon's detailed face as he looks around the lake for signs of movement. Then the action changes to an overhead view. We can see Leon in his boat. The camera starts to pan back. The boat grows a little smaller and now we can see some of the water. It pans back a little more and we can see more of the water. And we can see something else: the absolutely enormous Thing Under the Lake. It swims directly underneath Leon's boat and the more the camera pans back, the more we can see of the creature. All said and done, the menacing entity looks to be six to eight times the size of Kennedy's craft.

Then the creature thrusts upward from the water and reveals its hideous face. It looks like a salamander. A giant salamander with a huge mouth engulfed with two tiers of razor sharp fangs that are, naturally, dripping with blood. From somewhere deep inside the thing's mouth, a host of tendrils squirm and wiggle forward like separate tongues. Disgusting, to say the least. The beast screeches and crashes back into the lake, sending a wave of water toward Leon that's nearly powerful enough to capsize the boat. The screen shakes with the force, and Leon's anchor falls from the vehicle and into the water. It hooks onto the creature as it swims beneath and then the boss fight is on. Leon's boat is frantically pulled around the lake by the boss as it tries to break free or eat him - whichever comes first - and you have several goals: most importantly, don't get eaten. Second, maneuver the boat out of harm's way. Although you are essentially being dragged by the monster, you still have some degree of control over the boat. It's very much like a waterskiing dynamic. You can swing from side to side to avoid objects, but you can't exactly go for a Sunday cruise. If you happen to crash into protruding tree branches, you'll be hurled from the boat and you'll need to frantically tap the A button in order to get back in before the Thing Under the Lake can swallow you whole. And if you're not quick, it will. If you fail, a cut-scene actually shows Leon going down the thing's throat. Third, harpoon the unruly bastard. Hit the R button, aim, and let him have it. If your aim is true, blood will explode from the skin of the putrid thing and it will howl in pain.

There's a lot to the gameplay process. You have to juggle multiple responsibilities. The boss battle is so refreshing because it's phenomenally cinematic -- downright gorgeous, to be sure, but also completely engaging and most of all, plain old fun. The control mechanics are tight and responsive. The dynamic is original. And the presentation couldn't be better. Capcom is a real stickler for the little details. If you happen to harpoon the Thing Under the Lake right before you get knocked into the water, the camera will show an underwater view of Leon scrambling to the surface, and as he swims you'll also be able to see the creature wiggle by with a harpoon in its side and blood jutting from its body.

We died a couple of times before we finally killed the mutated monster, but we eventually ended it. At the request of Capcom, we are unable to talk about the intriguing demo-ending cut-scene that follows, but rest assured there are going to be some true surprises in Resident Evil 4. Count this truly remarkable boss fight as one of them.

©2004, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved