Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 changed where the camera sat – and where third-person action was heading.

Capcom’s 2005 GameCube release took Resident Evil in a new direction. Instead of watching Leon from fixed camera angles, players stayed close behind him, with the view tightening further whenever he raised his weapon.

That change made every encounter feel more immediate. Ganados advanced in groups and reacted to where they were hit, so careful aim could interrupt an attack or open a path through the crowd. Combat felt faster and more physical, but survival still depended on managing limited ammunition and deciding what deserved space in the attaché case.

The camera was the breakthrough other developers noticed. Its close over-the-shoulder perspective became enormously influential, helping shape how third-person action games would frame aiming and movement for years afterward.

Resident Evil 4 helped turn one viewpoint into a new industry standard.