Dark mansion halls, lonely paths through deserted woods, and eerie silence should be familiar settings among veterans of the STARS Bravo team. Chances are, you haven't made it this far in life without conquering a Resident Evil of the past, and chances are that you think you've got respectable zombie killing skills. But while Resident Evil 4 keeps the scares familiar, one thing most definitely is not the same...

These are not zombies.

Resident Evil 4 is a whole new game. With smarter, more vicious enemies than ever before, you'll have to make expert use of the game's new control scheme and aiming system if you want to get out of this mess alive. If the challenges of survival horror have got you beat, read our Resident Evil 4 strategy guide for:

• Basic tips to get you started, and some expert info you'll take with you throughout your nightmarish journey.
• Weapons and items info, so you don't buy the wrong weapons or drop the wrong items.
• Full walkthrough to get you through this long and grueling adventure. Every chapter broken down with maps showing item locations, and tips of defeating all enemies and bosses.
• Secrets to let you get the most out of your game. Free weapon upgrades, unlockables, and more.

Resident Evil 4 Online Strategy Guide

Beat the game to unlock the mercenaries mini game.

Unlock the Matilda handgun (which fires 3 round bursts) by clearing the game.

Submitted by - djraver108

Beat the game to unlock the mini game: Assignment Ada

In the hall south of the hedge maze there is a locked door. Return to that area with Ashley, piggy back with her and she will unlock the door. This reveals the broken butterfly.

Beat Operation Ada, and the "Chicago Typewriter”, a Thompson with 10.0 firepower, infinite ammo, no reload, and the fire rate of a maxed out TMP, becomes available at the merchant.

Submitted by - Luksifer

Get the five star ranking on the mercenaries mini-game to unlock the Handcannon.

You, know the guy, who runs around and sells you upgrades for weapons, he has a secret quest for you. You must search two areas of the game for blue medallions and shoot them. Finding and shooting more than 10 of the medallions will reward you with the punisher pistol. This weapon has slightly upgraded statistics and penetrating bullets.

Submitted by - Johnebbenhouse,puck

• To unlock Ada Wong in Mercenaries get a 4 star rating on the Pueblo map of the game.
• To unlock Albert Wesker in Mercenaries get a 4 star rating on the Waterworld map of the game.
• To unlock Hunk in Mercenaries get a 4 star rating on the Island Commando map of the game.
• To unlock Jack Krauser in Mercenaries get a 4 star rating on the Castle map of the game.

If you buy the broken butterfly before you find it, you can hold twice the ammo. The shopkeeper will not sell you this gun if you already have it.

Each weapon has a special "exclusive power" when all of its stats are custom tuned to the maximum:

• Handgun - Increases the chance of a headshot being fatal by a factor of five (5% or 20%, take your pick).
• Punisher - Each bullet can penetrate up to five bodies.
• Red 9 - Increases firepower to 5.0
• Blacktail - Increases firepower to 3.4
• Matilda - Increases magazine capacity to 100.
• Shotgun - Increases the effective damage range of the gun.
• Riotgun - Increases firepower to 10.0
• Striker - Increases magazine capacity to 100.
• Rifle - Increases firepower to 18.0
• Semiauto Rifle - Decreases firing speed to 0.40 seconds.
• Broken Butterfly - Increases damage to 50.0
• Killer7 - No exclusive power!
• TMP - Increases firepower to 1.8
• Minethrower - Adds homing ability to mines and increases their blast radii.

Submitted by - djraver108

If you are low on health spray and herbs when at the lake take aim at the fish and fire away. When you hit a fish it floats. Jump in the boat and ride over the fish and take it. Depending on the size of the fish it will give you health.

Submitted by - WormAQ

When Ashley is standing on a ledge and you are below her, look up at her and she will hold down her skirt and say something about you being a pervert and one or two other funny lines.

Submitted by - Cueballthebald

When you beat the game you are able to keep all of your remaining weapons and items. Start a new game with the "cleared game" feature.

Submitted by - Kwiet Storm

In Chapter 1-1, along the path towards the village you will run along a white dog trapped in a bear trap. If you help this dog he comes in handy later when you are fighting Los Gigante for the first time. About midway through the fight, you will hear the dog bark and he will come to your aid. Los Gigante becomes distracted, and begins to attack the dog rather than you.

Submitted by - Michael

When you find these items do not sell them right away. You can increase the value of the items with gems.

Submitted by - MRS street racer

There is a quick way to center your gun when aiming up or down. Simply tap the L1 button (takes out your knife) and you will quickly aim straight ahead.

Submitted by - MRS street racer

If you mix: GREEN HERB + RED HERB + YELLOW HERB. It restores your health completely and raises your max health.

Submitted by - staarx

Whenever you upgrade your gun's capacity it fills the weapon with ammo. So don't reload before you buy the upgrade. This works great with weapons that have very little ammo (such as the magnum revolver 'Broken Butterfly'); after you use up the gun's magazine, simply look for the merchant and upgrade the ammo capacity.

Sometimes when you destroy the wooden crates a snake will jump out and bite you. If you keep slashing with your knife when the box breaks you can kill the snake and receive a healing egg.

Submitted by - MRS street racer

There are three main buildings in the village where you first see the chainsaw not-zombie. The shotgun is in the northeast building, on the second floor of the house.

Submitted by - staarx

In chapter 5-3, right before the room with the lasers, there's a red throne room. Approach the throne and hit 'A' to have Leon sit upon the throne in all his glory.

Submitted by - Michael

Late in the game, Leon will stumble across a weapon aptly called the Killer 7, an obvious tip of the hat to Capcom's Killer 7 videogame.