Resident Evil 4 remake—a whole reimaging of the basic 2005 survival horror recreation out now on consoles and PC—follows Capcom’s earlier Resident Evil refreshes. Following the considerably standalone Resident Evil 1 remake, we obtained the wonderful Resident Evil 2 remaster. After that, we obtained the great if a bit brief remaster of Resident Evil 3. And whereas followers could have wished Capcom to remake Code Veronica subsequent (and I nonetheless hope they do…), most assumed the writer would hear the siren’s name and as soon as extra return to Resident Evil 4. It’s a recreation Capcom has re-released again and again. I used to be, admittedly, nervous about it. After Capcom’s earlier remasters, HD ports, and a VR model, did we actually want a remake of such an excellent recreation? Would it not even be price it? Properly, I’m glad Capcom ignored me and different followers and made the RE4 remake, a recreation that’s higher than the unique.
Remaking this beloved Resident Evil installment can be completely different that Capcom’s previous initiatives. Not like RE2 and 3, RE4 wasn’t a sluggish horror recreation with tank controls and static digital camera angles. It was the entry within the collection the place Capcom ditched all that and added extra motion and capturing into the method, full with a now-famous (and infrequently imitated) over-the-shoulder digital camera. So the room for modernization was narrower, and the locations the place Capcom might “enhance” the sport have been much less apparent.
So as a substitute of tossing all of it out or slavishly sticking to the unique, the builders neatly pruned and tweaked it, as if the sport was a fragile plant that would topple over if fucked with an excessive amount of.
At its core, that is nonetheless the identical fundamental recreation. You continue to play as good-looking good man Leon S. Kennedy, just a few years faraway from that horrible evening in Raccoon Metropolis. Within the time since RE2, he’s change into a badass federal agent and is shipped on a mission to save lots of the President’s daughter, who has been kidnapped by some creepy cult in the course of rural Europe. As soon as Leon arrives and begins blasting and kicking his manner throughout the realm, he uncovers a disturbing secret, involving harmful parasites and non secular zealots. Veterans of the OG RE4 can affirm none of that has modified. Even the campy tones and tacky dialogue—like Leon yelling out one-liners earlier than killing bosses—largely stays intact.
It’s within the particulars and execution the place Capcom has tweaked and edited the narrative and total recreation. Some boss fights are lacking, changed both with new ones or simply left off the desk solely in an effort to maintain the story transferring. Ashley continues to be a younger girl, with an analogous outfit, however you now not can search for her skirt, and characters aren’t continuously hitting on her in uncomfortable methods. Leon can now transfer, intention and shoot on the identical time. Oh, and QTEs are gone from cutscenes!
Added up, all of those tiny tweaks and adjustments do make the sport really feel noticeably completely different than the unique. This can be a quicker, extra aggressive, and extra modern-feeling Resident Evil 4. My first few hours have been spent being knocked round a ton whereas getting cornered by giant teams of enemies. But, I didn’t thoughts this in any respect. In reality, fashionable enhancements to controls make it simpler to battle huge waves of baddies. And all of this—together with the way in which the remake higher handles its characters and narrative—felt like they have been applied by individuals who actually, actually cared about this shit.
That is extra noticeable within the methods Resident Evil 4’s remake doesn’t change issues up. There’s nonetheless a mysterious service provider who will promote you varied upgrades and weapons and purchase your undesirable gadgets, although you possibly can now not kill him. The opening village battle stays an intense baptism by hearth. The Regeneradors within the latter sections of the sport are nonetheless scary as hell. You possibly can shoot crows to get cash prefer it’s 2005. You possibly can as soon as once more abuse Leon’s huge kicks when attacking a surprised enemy. And should you shoot the lake, you’ll nonetheless get your ass eaten by the large monster hiding beneath the murky floor.
It’s clear the devs knew what could possibly be tweaked, eliminated, or closely altered and what wanted to stay. It’s a balancing act that appears unbelievably exhausting to tug off, and but all through the complete 16 hours or so it took me to beat my first RE4 remake playthrough, I by no means stopped and shook my head over some tweaked mechanic or lacking piece of content material.
Properly, that’s not fully true. After I found the Ada Wong-focused facet marketing campaign “Separate Methods” wasn’t a part of this remaster, I did get unhappy. However fortunately, it appears Capcom could have plans so as to add that facet journey sooner or later. Equally, The Mercenaries mode is absent at launch however will probably be added by way of a free replace on April 7.
Nonetheless, even with that stuff lacking out of the gate, the RE4 remake appears like a whole bundle. The sort of recreation we don’t get anymore. After beating the sport as soon as, you’ll unlock enjoyable extras and new costumes. Beat it once more on a more durable problem or with a quicker time and also you’ll unlock extra highly effective weapons and cheats. All of that great stuff is right here and identical to within the unique recreation, it makes RE4 remake exhausting to place down and straightforward to get misplaced in. I actually began up a second playthrough by way of New Game+ the second the credit ended.
If it wasn’t clear earlier than, this isn’t a 1:1 recreation of Resident Evil 4. This recreation is a bit darker, a bit quicker, and simpler to regulate. It cuts some bosses and annoying elements however has additionally expanded on fan favorites, just like the attache case stock system and merchant-ran capturing galleries. (The capturing galleries are extra elaborate now and the case could be modified, granting bonuses and perks.)
Actually, as a substitute of recreating the basic title, Capcom has as a substitute seemingly dug into my mind and pulled out the model of the sport I keep in mind enjoying in 2005 and slapped that onto a disc to promote again to me. Artful bastards, I’ll give them that.
I didn’t suppose we wanted a Resident Evil 4 remake. I guessed that Resident Evil 4’s remake would look good and play effectively, simply as the opposite latest remakes. However what I didn’t count on was a recreation that not solely recreates the unique but additionally builds on it in sensible and attention-grabbing methods to create one thing completely different and higher than the basic.
In reality, after I return and replay Resident Evil 4 once more sooner or later within the not-too-distant future, I feel it will likely be this new model that I’ll return to as a substitute of the unique. And I really can’t consider greater reward to put upon the remake than that.