Resident Evil 4. Three words to make an entire generation shudder, which is not common in the video game industry. This fourth numbered installment was not just a “simple” good game but a turning point in action gaming and the cultural landscape.
Naturally, bringing it back as a remake, Resident Evil 4 Remake, is enough to pique curiosity and even cause concern among fans. Rest assured, Capcom does not disappoint.
It was in the late ’90s that the development of Resident Evil 4 began, initially intended to be the successor of the second installment (so it was Resident Evil 3, obviously). But after numerous internal redirections, the project veered off course, transformed, gave birth to a certain Devil May Cry, and saw its development start from scratch more than once. The development of the title was long, chaotic, and risky to the point of pushing Capcom to throw in the towel, but the result was nothing short of meeting expectations.
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Even beyond that, Resident Evil 4 is considered in many ways one of the greatest games of its generation, if not the history of the Tenth Art as a whole.
It’s quite simple: without it, we wouldn’t have had all the third-person shooters we know today, from Uncharted to Gears of War and a certain… Dead Space. Its ultra-dynamic (and cinematic) sense of direction, shoulder camera, and desire to turn away from horror to lean towards action-horror was something else.
So, naturally, when Capcom decides to continue its momentum and remake the sacred adventure of Leon S. Kennedy after the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3 (released in 2019 and 2020, respectively), all eyes are on the publisher.
Sculpting such a monument is both risky – as it’s crucial not to tarnish its legacy – and comfortable, as the foundations of Resident Evil 4 are particularly strong and therefore difficult to tarnish. But whatever the case, it was with unbridled excitement that we fought, once again, Lord Saddler and his iconic Plagas.
Let’s go to the Plaga
The least we can say is that Capcom has mastered the art of the remake. However, Resident Evil 2 and 3 were originally PSOne titles, and their reimagining for modern consoles made sense. For Resident Evil 4, which still feels very current in 2023, the question of a remake has been debated. Was it really necessary?
We won’t attempt to answer that question in this article, but we can assure you of one thing: the Osaka-based company didn’t skimp on resources and certainly didn’t rest on its laurels.
Granted, RE4 doesn’t need the same reconstruction work as the remakes of recent years, but the studio made sure to meticulously polish the experience for modernization. This begins with the story and writing, for example.
The setting of Resident Evil 4 takes place in 2004, years after the destruction of Raccoon City: Umbrella is no more, and Leon S. Kennedy has joined the President of the United States’ close protection team. The problem is that Ashley Johnson, the President’s daughter, has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult called Los Illuminados, and it’s up to our elite agent to secretly rescue her.
Welcome, stranger
From the outset, this remake delights in fleshing out the context of the original game, even in its simple prologue. Here and there, it sheds light on certain obscure areas, adding more depth to some characters and making the whole story more credible.
If Leon has gone from rookie cop to highly trained soldier, it’s not without reason. Similarly, the rivalry between certain characters is much better developed; the pacing of the writing changes, with some characters appearing at more logical moments, while some of the original game’s narrative shortcuts are avoided here.
While the story remains fundamentally the same and we can’t escape its black-and-white morality, simplicity, or even its slightly kitschy charm, it’s clear that work has been done to make the adventure a bit more orderly while remaining extremely faithful to the original material.
We find iconic lines of dialogue, legendary scenes, and other deeply beloved characteristics, but updated for today. The direction also gains tremendous fluidity compared to the original game, which is undeniable and, frankly, exactly what we hoped for.
Resident Evil Village before its time
To say that atmosphere is crucial in the Resident Evil series would be an understatement: the original Resident Evil 4 wasn’t about horror and fear but offered an unsettling, dirty, and truly impactful world. For this remake, Capcom has relied on its now near-perfect mastery of gloomy atmospheres for a deliciously eerie experience. Yes, this RE4 is darker, grittier, and even more mature.
It remains an action-horror (not a survival-horror, mind the difference!) and delights in revising its color palette for a subtle balance between gloom, sunset, and pure darkness.
Ultimately, we often find ourselves in total darkness, flashlight in hand, or under pouring rain with the only glimmers of light coming from deranged villagers who are out for our blood. The stress of certain situations, the tormented aura of the enemies, and the subtly paced tempo make the atmosphere of this new Resident Evil 4 Remake one of the most successful in recent times.
We also notice a better-managed pace than in the original game, especially towards the end, which, despite its deliberate dose of action, is more believable and less drawn out. Not to mention the boss fights and levels, revamped as we hoped, with some sections entirely remodeled (or even cut) but never disrespectful to the 2005 title. There’s no doubt; we’re dealing with a real remake that offers an authentic… and contemporary experience.
Resident Evil 4, or the quintessential action-horror
Since Resident Evil 4’s gameplay literally broke video game conventions in 2005, we had high expectations for its remake in this regard. Unsurprisingly, this new iteration is gripping, with deepened gameplay built on Capcom’s experience with the latest entries in the series.
Among the new features, we can now aim/shoot while walking or equip up to eight weapons in our case, switching them in real-time without going through the menu. It may seem simple, but it adds a new dimension to Resident Evil 4, making it significantly more intense.
As a result, the enemies are faster, more aggressive, and harder to manage, increasing the stress on the player. However, if we were to point out a small flaw (which was honestly our concern), it would be the risk of “bottleneck” situations: some rooms are still as narrow, but with equally numerous opponents who now move more quickly, we can sometimes find ourselves stuck, and the action can become overwhelming. It’s quite rare, but it can happen, like in the village phase at the very beginning, for example.
Suffer to be good
Four difficulty modes are offered. The easy mode lives up to its name, with the option to even automatically recover health in critical situations. The Standard mode, in which we played our first game, has a well-tuned balance. The Hard mode (officially for those who have already completed the original Resident Evil 4) further increases enemy aggression, and some items are more expensive.
Once the adventure is completed, you unlock the famous Professional mode. In this mode, enemies are entirely unhinged (as well as more resilient) and don’t let you breathe for ultra-charged battles, while auto-save is disabled.
Puzzles also become more challenging, as do some level design aspects at times, making them more ambiguous. Additionally, enemies appear in new locations. In short, you’ll have plenty to keep you entertained.
Knives out
Don’t worry, RE4 is still a delight to play. Capcom has also changed the knife mechanic, which was used for everything and anything in the original game. Now, there’s no need to use it to break crates or vases, as a simple interaction button allows Leon to break them with a hand or foot (making it infinitely smoother). Moreover, the knife now has vulnerability. Making the melee weapon destructible was daring, but the gamble paid off, adding intensity and strategy.
Again, hitting an enemy at a critical point offers the chance to stun or directly stab them with a knife. In the latter case, the finish move allows for execution: it’s very useful, but it will gradually drain the “health bar” of your blade. The same goes for parries, which cause a stun when perfectly executed. You can still upgrade and repair your knife at the merchant or find others in the levels.
It’s also impossible not to mention the stealth aspect, a significant novelty in this Resident Evil 4. While it may seem like a strange addition to a game in the series, it ultimately fits well into the action and never predominates: on rare occasions, we can sneak behind an enemy to take them down with a knife, but these sequences remain infrequent and not necessarily imposed. In any case, the knife has durability, so it’s hard to abuse.
Finally, Resident Evil 4 manages to greatly expand its gameplay. It’s a real action game, yes, but with more enjoyable gameplay than ever before, featuring tricky enemies that players must learn to fight and eliminate at the right times.
The weapons’ progression is also smoother and more logical, and a new accessory, the crossbow, makes its appearance. However, we would have liked a shortcut for healing in real-time, without having to constantly go through the menus.
Is there anyone to save the President’s daughter?
A small mention goes to Ashley, who, when accompanying us, no longer proves to be a potential burden. First of all, she no longer has a health bar and her functioning is different: if she gets hit, she falls to the ground and Leon must pick her up before she gets hit again (resulting in a game over). We no longer have to heal her or increase her health.
We can also give her orders with a simple button press or ask her to hide in designated spots; however, these mechanics seemed rather superficial, proving that Ashley has become a far less annoying NPC. Moreover, if an enemy grabs her, it is finally possible to strike with a knife to free her. This is a day and night difference compared to the first Resident Evil 4.
In search of the green diamond
Resident Evil games are known for their level design, often masterfully executed, and skillfully blending action and puzzle-solving. As mentioned earlier, RE4 sometimes recreates entire levels, while other environments are crafted more realistically and modernly, and still others are simply removed.
If you have the original game in mind, you won’t risk getting bored, as the title will surprise you with new sections and some original or reimagined puzzles.
These puzzles are quite basic, and indeed, there is less head-scratching than in some more Metroidvania-like flagship installments. No player is left behind, and Capcom still masters backtracking and item management, with some missable items leading to diverse and valuable treasures.
Here, more than ever, exploration is emphasized and contributes to gameplay. The famous merchant returns, occasionally offering side quests, some of which repeat in each environment – “kill the rats in this area” or “destroy the blue medallions in that one” – while others are more unique.
Completing these quests not only provides a challenge but also a precious reward: spinels. In this remake, spinels serve as a special currency that can be exchanged for items such as weapons, special objects, treasure maps, etc. Players have a real incentive to take risks to complete these missions, as their rewards help upgrade the arsenal.
Of course, it is still possible to buy weapons and other trinkets from the merchant using “pesetas” collected from enemy corpses and crates. It’s worth noting that you can also sell your items to the merchant if you wish: the treasures found are by far the most interesting to sell, as once combined with jewels (also found throughout the levels), you can get very attractive prices.
A remake to play and replay
You’ve probably realized it: the Resident Evil 4 Remake doesn’t break the mold in this aspect, but relies on all of Capcom’s expertise in level design… and content.
In “Normal” mode, taking our time to explore everything and complete all side missions, we finished our playthrough in just over twenty hours, which is quite respectable. It’s worth noting that the game lends itself particularly well to speed-running with an architecture designed for it, and it’s then possible to complete the adventure in just a few hours. So, it will depend on the player’s profile.
A quick word about the new game +, which is obviously present with some outfits and accessories to unlock based on the many challenges to complete. For example, you can get cat ears if you finish Professional mode with an S+ rank, which allows for unlimited ammunition.
Once again, Resident Evil 4 is a game to master to its core and whose potential continues to be exploited well beyond our first playthrough.
On the other hand, we expected to see Ada Wong’s Separate Ways campaign, which was introduced in the PS2 version of Resident Evil 4. But it’s not included in this remake, and this entire section is missing, although it’s likely that Capcom will add it as an expansion later.
Similarly, the famous Mercenaries mode is not included in the game but has already been confirmed as a free DLC in the near future.
The devil is in the details
This remake is once again powered by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine, which debuted with Resident Evil 7. As one might expect, the Japanese company has a great mastery of its tool, and this iconic adventure is enhanced with stunning environments and lighting effects, combined with a darker, more credible, and more refined art direction.
Sure, the rain effects are debatable (they are supposed to be improved post-launch via an update), and some textures are a bit blurry upon closer inspection. The ray tracing on consoles is quite discreet, but that’s probably the price to pay for a smooth framerate without any drops. Even in performance mode with ray tracing enabled, we’re almost reaching sixty frames per second on PS5!
In reality, it’s in its polish that RE4 Remake abounds with details that make a difference.
For example, you can notice in certain situations that elements can collide in mid-air – a grenade against an axe, or even two enemy axes with each other – that enemies duck when one of them throws a projectile, that Leon holds his pistol differently depending on his distance from the opponent, that it’s possible to load one extra bullet in a weapon’s chamber despite its full magazine, that he breathes differently depending on the length of his sprint, or that he dismembers his enemies depending on his knife attacks or the power of his firearms.
There’s no doubt, Capcom has paid particular attention to detail in its creation.
This attention to detail can also be found in the soundtrack, which remains of high quality. It includes some reworked themes (such as the iconic save track) and some new ones: some masterfully emphasize stress, while others opt for lyrical and orchestral flights, especially for boss battles. There’s not much to complain about on this front.
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Conclusion
Strengths
- Even more polished gameplay
- Truly intense and thrilling sensations
- An artistic direction that hits the mark
- Often very beautiful and filled with small details
- Solid replayability
- Better controlled pace and storyline
- Satisfactory game length
Weaknesses
- Beware of enemy overload in some areas
- Some minor graphical effects need revisiting
- Ada Wong’s campaign missing (possibly as a future extension?) Editor’s rating
Editor’s Verdict
There’s no doubt: Resident Evil 4 Remake is simply an excellent horror action game, and Capcom proves once again its ability to deliver a masterful and impeccably finished adventure. The foundations of the original game were rock solid, but the company has managed to modernize the whole experience, making it more intense, deeper in its gameplay systems, and even more exciting.
Was a remake necessary? Perhaps not, but it’s hard to turn down this impressive version that pays tribute to the original material while giving it a highly relevant facelift. In the end, if there’s one thing that makes you want to finish Resident Evil 4 as quickly as possible, it’s the desire to start it over again immediately.
