Lost in Spain? Getting pwned by Granados? Having trouble finishing the new Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition?

The good folks over at Prima wants to help. Why should you listen to them? Well, they did write the Official Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition Strategy Guide after all, so it’s pretty safe to assume they’d know what they’re talking about. For example, here are their top ten basic survival tips:

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Top Ten Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition Survival Tips

Agent Leon S. Kennedy encounters all manner of hazards and horrors during his mission to save the First Daughter, Ashley Graham. Keeping Leon and Ashley alive and in good health is of the utmost importance, and knowing how to react to any given situation is the best way to do just that. The following ten tips underscore key survival tactics and strategies everyone should know before venturing out to experience the masterful horror of Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition.

Tip #1: Move with Caution
Traps and environmental hazards can cause severe damage when triggered. Fortunately, they’re also some of the easiest dangers to avoid-provided you know where they lie. Always move slowly and methodically when traveling through forests and other areas where it’s tough to see what’s underfoot. Walk, don’t run, and periodically look around to ensure you aren’t caught by a cleverly-concealed trap.

If you think you’ve spotted a hazardous device, take aim at it; if the object registers as a viable target, chances are it’s dangerous.

Tip #2: Destroy Everything
Almost everything that can be destroyed in Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition holds something of value. Leon’s survival often hinges on the items he has in his inventory; running out of ammo or curatives can mean certain death, so smash everything you see and reap the rewards.

If you’re unsure if an object can be destroyed, sight it with one of Leon’s firearms. If the targeting reticle turns red, chances are the object can be bashed apart to reveal a valuable prize.

Tip #3: Outmaneuver Hostiles
Many times, the first step to surviving a fight against impossible odds involves using Leon’s superior mobility to outmaneuver adversaries. Never allow enemies to surround Leon; always look to position him where he has the best chance to defend himself from foes. When faced with large groups of hostiles, confined spaces, such as tiny rooms and narrow passages, are ideal. Holing up in such locations prevents Leon’s attackers from surrounding and overwhelming him.

Leon’s enemies are cunning and relentless, and you’ll find it hard to keep them from flanking him at first. When confined spaces aren’t to be found, pressing Leon’s back to a wall or corner, or simply backing him up, are sound fallback plans. These basic maneuvers ensure Leon won’t be assaulted from behind.

Above all, never feel that you have to make a stand at a certain location. If the spot you’ve chosen to defend suddenly becomes a liability, fall back and get out of there. Leon is a bit faster than most of his adversaries when running; a quick turn followed by some fast footwork is usually the best way to make an escape.

Sometimes, you may find you’ve no better place to fall back to. In these situations, consider moving forward, slipping past foes to take up position somewhere beyond. Though most hostiles are quite agile, Leon is usually able to run past them as long as he doesn’t move too close. To safely run past a group of enemies, first try to knock several of them to the ground with a roundhouse kick or short-range shotgun blast. Then make a dash for it before they return to their feet.

Tip #4: Doors Are Your Friends
You can never tell what lies beyond a closed door, but one thing’s for sure: doors can be exploited by Leon to help simplify a great many combat situations. For starters, enemies who pursue Leon through narrow doorways are forced to line up into tight formations; this makes it easy to pin them down with heavy fire and prevents them from using their numbers against Leon.

Leon can also use doors as weapons against his foes. Pressing the action button twice in rapid succession causes Leon to violently kick a door rather than slowly opening it, knocking all enemies standing on the other side of the door to the ground and dealing them damage. This is a somewhat risky maneuver however, as Leon’s enemies can kick doors in a similar fashion.

Finally, Leon can block certain doors by pushing nearby objects in front of them, such as bookshelves and cabinets. Blocking doors in this manner makes it difficult for Leon’s pursuers to open them, slowing them down and allowing Leon to combat them more efficiently. In addition, if the door is made of wood, Leon can pelt his adversaries with gunfire while they attempt to batter it down-without fear of counterattack.

Tip #5: Choose Weapons Wisely
As Leon explores each area, he periodically discovers new types of weaponry to add to his arsenal. It’s important to understand that each category of weapon (handgun, shotgun, rifle, etc.) is designed for use in specific combat scenarios. For example, shotguns are devastating when used against nearby targets, but they’re largely ineffective against long-range threats. Rifles are lethal at any range, but their slow firing speed and long reload times make them tough to wield against agile enemies who rapidly close in. Picking the right weapon for the current scenario is critical; using inappropriate weaponry often results in wasted ammo and loss of health.

When choosing a weapon to wield, consider the following:

• Which weapon is likely to be most effective? This is usually the most important factor in determining which weapon to use. Familiarize yourself with each type of weapon and know when to use them. For an in-depth look at each firearm, check out our official Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition guide.


• How much ammo do you have for your weapons? It’s always wise to save at least a few shots for each firearm, just in case the unexpected suddenly occurs. Leon’s handgun should receive the biggest workout throughout the adventure, as handgun ammo is most plentiful.


• How many restoratives am I carrying? If you’ve got lots of recovery items, you may want to sacrifice a bit of health by wielding an impractical weapon if it means conserving ammo for others. This is the last thing to consider when selecting a weapon.

Because firefights can unfold in unexpected ways, switching weapons multiple times over the course of an intense struggle is a common practice. Don’t feel you have to rely on one type of weapon to get you through each scenario; constantly reevaluate the situation, switching weaponry as often as you feel it necessary.

On the other hand, you may find you have a surplus of ammo in one type of weapon, while ammo for Leon’s other weaponry is in short supply. In these situations, look to implement tactics that allow you to effectively use whichever weapon you have the most ammo for. For example, if you have lots of rifle ammo and precious few shotgun shells, keep far away from hostiles and try to pick off as many as you can from range. If your enemies suddenly close in, flee to a different location where a rifle or handgun can be used to keep them at bay.

Tip #6: Exploit Weak Spots
Almost every hostile entity Leon encounters features some sort of weak spot-a certain place on their frame that’s abnormally vulnerable to attacks. A Ganado’s head is its weak point, for example; Ganados suffer greater damage when shot in the face or skull. Exploiting enemy weaknesses is a key method of simplifying combat, helping you conserve ammo and recovery items. We fully disclose each enemy’s weaknesses in our official Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition guide, but as a general rule: if a hostile screams, staggers in pain, or seems abnormally affected by a certain attack, chances are you’ve struck a nerve.

Tip #7: Conserve Ammo
Ammunition is life in Leon’s world. Running out of ammo is just about the worst thing that can happen, so strive to conserve your shots. Even if you think you’ve got plenty of ammo to spare, you never know how much you may need to overcome a particularly dicey scenario.

Targeting enemy weak points is the best way to conserve ammo. Striking a hostile’s soft spot inflicts greater damage, allowing you to defeat the creature with fewer bullets. Hitting an enemy’s weak points may also set them up for a kick or knife assault, both of which further help to conserve ammunition.

Leon’s knife can spare him a lot of ammo as well. Use the knife to assault enemies you’ve knocked to the ground, slashing them repeatedly before they return to their feet. Shooting a humanoid hostile’s legs is a good way to bring them down, setting them up for knife attacks.

Finally, always look to use the environment to your advantage. Forcing enemies to chase Leon through doorways lets him pop shots at them while they funnel through, making it difficult for the fiends to surround him. Luring pursuers up ladders allows Leon to simply sit still and pelt them with bullets or slash with his knife, knocking each one to the ground just before they reach the top.

Tip #8: Conserve Recovery Items
No matter how skilled a combatant Agent Kennedy may be, he’s never faced adversity like the horrors he encounters in Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. As Leon goes about his mission, he invariably suffers damage, loses health, and finds himself at risk of death. Fortunately, Leon can collect a number of health-replenishing items if he searches his surroundings carefully. These precious items are somewhat rare and must be used sparingly.

Herbs are some of the most common recovery items Leon finds. They tend to blend in with their surroundings, so keep a sharp lookout for them. Leon can combine certain types of herbs in his attach case to form more potent blends, the most effective being a mix of one red, one green, and one yellow herb. Our official guide provides complete details on herbs, including how to blend them and when to use them for maximum gain.

While leaving Leon or Ashley in a wounded state is risky, it’s sometimes strategically sound. Avoid using a recovery item on Leon or Ashley unless they’re apt to receive its full healing properties. For example, using a first aid spray on Leon or Ashley when their health is still half full would be unwise, as these items fully restore health. Save these powerful restoratives for use when Leon or Ashley is near death instead to receive their full benefit.

Tip #9: Protect Ashley
It’s game over if Ashley dies, so her health and status are just as important as Leon’s. Keeping Ashley safe is vital; make sure she sticks close to Leon and always keep an eye on her condition, using recovery items to heal her whenever the need arises.

Fortunately, Ashley’s quite good at keeping out of harm’s way. Whenever Leon points his weapon, Ashley quickly ducks for cover, knowing gunshots are soon to be fired. This keeps her out of Leon’s sights and also makes her a smaller target for enemy attacks and projectiles. Be careful, though: it sometimes takes a moment for Ashley to hit the deck, and Leon’s hurried gunfire can kill her just as surely as a Ganado’s hatchet.

If you have a feeling a fierce battle is about to erupt, consider leaving Ashley behind while moving Leon to explore the area. If there’s a place for Ashley to hide, take advantage right away; you can bet there’s grave danger nearby.

Be aware that not all enemies want to kill Ashley. Ganados, Illuminados, and other humanoid hostiles will attempt to capture the girl, carrying her off toward the area’s nearest exit point. Leon fails his mission if they succeed, so pay close attention to Ashley’s status and cries for help. If Ashley is captured, strive to save her by firing at her kidnapper’s exposed body parts. Naturally, you don’t want to hit Ashley by mistake; reduce the chances of doing so by aiming to take out her captor’s legs.

Tip #10: When All Else Fails, Retry!
Death is never permanent in Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. Even if Leon succumbs to the horrors he must face, there’s no limit to how often you may choose to continue from the last continue point. Retrying can be a great way to increase combat efficiency and cut down on wasted ammo and recovery items. The following are all good reasons to pause and retry:

You Had a Bad Run: Many areas are filled with dangers and can be difficult to clear without blowing through lots of ammo and recovery items. The retry option allows you to go back through an area you’ve managed to clear, but felt you could have done better at securing.

Weak Item Drops: Most enemies you kill and many objects you smash spawn random items. Sometimes the odds don’t go your way and you come up largely empty handed. If you feel you were the victim of weak item drops, you may want to pause and retry so you can revisit the area and test your luck again.

You Have Got to Do That Again: Many moments in Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition are so mind-blowing, you just have to choose the retry option so you can experience them again. Go ahead; enjoy!

As a courtesy to our Unity readers, Prima has kinda provided us with two PDFs that contain the intro portions of the guide, allowing everyone to quickly become familiarized with the game. It even contains the a bonus section detailing some of the possible unlocks in the game!

Right-click on the links and choose “Save As” to save the PDFs on your computer.

Part 1

Part 2