>>14922326
The first two are just basic sidescrollers while the later 2 are are beat em ups, which is why >>14922312 is kinda retarded for making that comparison and expecting something that it isn't.
The first two are certainly the best, but they are not games to be played for the gameplay as they are basic as all fuck, but instead enjoyed for its horror elements.
Dead Space makes for a pretty good 3D spiritual successor to the first two games if you wanted something more like those instead of the third and fourth game.