What were they thinking getting rid of the item box in RE0? Absolute madness. The train level intro is some peak resi tho.
Personally I think the 2002 remake of the original Resident Evil is my favourite for a pure horror experience. I would have a hard time picking between that and the original RE4 for best game in the series.
Honourable mention to RE7 - if the quality didn't dip halfway through then it might take the top spot.
Overall I love that game. Definitely GOTY 2014 for me.
I think there is a point about midway through where you could stop playing and still have seen the majority of what it has to offer. To be fair to the game they up the ante for the final couple of hours but the late-midgame drags.