Fear Like You Have Never Known Before

18th February 2004 - Resident Evil 4 is the pinnacle of survival horror, and is just one month away from launching in Europe on 18th March 2005, exclusively on Nintendo GameCube. This is the latest incarnation in the massively popular Resident Evil series, which has seen 14 different games since its inception in 1996. To date over 25 million people world-wide have battled the creatures of the night in a Resident Evil title and the phenomenon is set to continue in 2005.

Heralded as the creator of the survival horror genre, Capcom's Shinji Mikami actually developed the original Resident Evil as a first person shooter. While working on this project the 3D abilities of the next-generation consoles inspired him to look past the confines of the shoot-em up genre, adding enigma and adventure elements to the game. Thus the survival horror genre was born.

The original Resident Evil title launched in 1996 and was instantly recognised as the most atmospheric adventure game ever. Taking inspiration from classic horror and action films, the game featured a cinematic story line, following members of a special police unit (STARS) as they explored a creepy mansion. Resident Evil, the original game, set the plot for the rest of the series, explaining how the walking dead were created. In 2002 the original game was completely remade for the Nintendo GameCube to take advantage of its graphical power.

Resident Evil 2 was launched two years after the original and took the story a step further, as the T-virus infection spread from the mansion to the rest of Raccoon city, following members of the Racoon City Police department's escape from an army of walking dead. Resident Evil 3 fits neatly around the events in Resident Evil 2, this time returning to the star of the first game, Jill Valentine. In this title, Jill finds herself fighting a bioweapon known as Nemesis as well as a city of infected people. The final spin-off in this series was called Resident Evil: Code Veronica, which was set on a remote island shortly after the second game. This time the main character was Claire Redfield, the sister of one of the original STARS members who stumbled upon Umbrella mansion in Resident Evil.

Capcom produced a Nintendo exclusive prequel to the original Resident Evil titles in 2003 called Resident Evil 0. Resident Evil 0 followed one of the original STARS members, Rebecca Chambers, as she investigated strange reports of walking dead on the outskirts of Racoon City. Additions like character switching and the best graphics seen in the series made this game a huge success.

In late 2002, the now legendary Resident Evil series was immortalised with its very own film. Starring Mila Jovovich as ex-Umbrella head of security Alice, this film was directed by Paul Anderson whose other works include Event Horizon. Set underneath the original mansion several months before the first game, Resident Evil: Ground Zero explains the T-virus outbreak. Following the success of the first film, Resident Evil: Apocalypse was released in 2004. In this film, Alice is joined by Jill Valentine, among other characters from the Resident Evil games.

Resident Evil 4, the latest title in this well-known series, will launch in Europe on 18th March 2005. This game sees the return of Leon Kennedy, last seen in Resident Evil 2 and totally revolutionises the genre invented by its predecessors, with the addition of features like a point and shoot mechanic, allowing accurate aiming and a camera which follows, an action button to perform a series of explosive moves and completely new and never before seen enemies that are quicker, clever and more menacing than ever before.

The Resident Evil series has spawned a large range of merchandise including toys, collectibles, books and even a range of clothing inspired by Resident Evil 4.

Resident Evil 4 launches across Europe on 18th March 2005 on the Nintendo GameCube at the estimated retail price of around £40. The Resident Evil 4 Pak also launches on 18th March 2005 and will available at the estimated retail price of around £89. This Pak contains a limited edition Platinum and Black Resident Evil 4 branded Nintendo GameCube, a platinum and black controller featuring the Resident Evil 4 logo, a copy of the game and a special bonus disc featuring making of footage of Resident Evil 4, plus game movies of Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis; Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil 4 and a playable demo of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.

Nintendo will distribute this game in Europe and Capcom is the Publisher.

Click onto www.nintendo-europe.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.

For further information please contact Simon Watts or Rebecca Strickland at the Nintendo Press Office on 020 7307 3103, or log onto the Nintendo Extranet at www.Nintendo-Europe-Media.com.

Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 1.9 billion video games worldwide, created such industry icons as Mario^® and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda^® and Pokémon*. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system which has sold over 170 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.