Resident Evil 4 Remake: A Masterful Reimagining of a Classic
In 2005, Resident Evil 4 revolutionized the gaming landscape by introducing the over-the-shoulder camera, forever changing the course of third-person shooters. Capcom took a gamble with this shift from static camera angles, which could have easily backfired. But the risk paid off handsomely, as the game went on to sell a staggering 12.3 million copies across multiple platforms. Now, Capcom faces a daunting challenge: how do you reimagine a game lauded as one of the greatest and near-perfect video games ever created? Critics argued that a remake was unnecessary, but having experienced the captivating remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, we had faith in Capcom’s ability to deliver another stellar experience. And we were right.
Six years after the disastrous events in Raccoon City, seasoned agent Leon S. Kennedy finds himself on a perilous mission in rural Spain. His objective? To rescue the US President’s daughter, Ashley Graham, who has been kidnapped and held captive in a creepy and unsettling village. While the Resident Evil 4 Remake broadly follows the original story, it significantly deepens the lore and heightens the chilling atmosphere. Every path evokes a haunting folk horror aesthetic, with ravens pecking at decaying carcasses, bone charm decorations, and the unsettling chants of the nearby cultists. These noises, however, originate from the villagers themselves who have pledged their allegiance to the Los Iluminados, a neo-pagan cult worshipping the Plagas – mind-controlling parasites. Gone are the familiar, sluggish zombies of previous games; in their place are the pitchfork-wielding Ganados, mercilessly guarding every inch of the village.
These villagers, once ordinary people, have been transformed into formidable adversaries. Their remarkable resilience to pain elevates the danger, making every encounter a heart-pounding battle of survival. The Ganados attack with aggressive and unpredictable tactics, relentlessly swarming Leon, forcing him to make quick decisions. They throw axes and Molotov cocktails from a distance, charge with vicious fury, and even employ surprise grabs, jamming their claws into Leon’s unsuspecting eyeballs. This raw and chaotic combat is infused with classic Resident Evil gameplay elements. Disorienting enemies with a headshot and finishing them off with a spinning roundhouse kick becomes a satisfying and exhilarating routine.
Adding to the unpredictable nature of the combat, unique enemy encounters constantly keep players on their toes. The imposing Dr. Salvador, wielding his terrifying chainsaw, lumbering towards you with deadly intent, or the hulking brute with a bovine head helmet, swinging a sledgehammer with brutal force, pose formidable threats that require immediate action. To overcome these mini-bosses, players must think quickly and aim for their kneecaps, effectively disabling their movement before finishing them off. Even the seemingly overwhelming hordes of religious zealots and Ganados can be brought to their knees, allowing for a comical German suplex.
The moment-to-moment gameplay in the Resident Evil 4 Remake consistently surprises with its unpredictability. Fallen enemies may come back to life with eerie parasitic growths, while others undergo a terrifying head replacement, where the leech wields its deadly tentacles as a whip, capable of impaling the unsuspecting Leon. On the challenging Hardcore difficulty, facing hordes of enemies with limited resources, players are forced to make strategic retreats and rely on quick, precise movements to eliminate their opponents. However, the game responds to these tactics with its own bag of tricks, often placing rusty bear traps effectively concealed within the environment. Stepping on these triggers slows Leon down, exposing him to a devastating chainsaw attack.
The Combat Knife, a faithful companion from the original game, triumphantly returns with enhanced capabilities and a few limitations. Inspired by the RE2 Remake, the knife now features a durability meter. Its value as a last resort weapon becomes even more apparent. Leon can use it to slash and stab enemies, break free from grapples, evade rabid wolf attacks, and most importantly, parry incoming assaults.
This new parry mechanic, borrowed from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, adds a brand new dimension to combat. By timing your deflections perfectly, you can stun enemies, leaving them vulnerable to devastating attacks. The ability to parry incoming hatchets and torches further elevates this intricate skill. When ammunition dwindles, the knife becomes a lifeline, allowing for swift takedowns while desperately searching for additional resources. The option to stealthily creep behind enemies and execute a quick and silent throat stab provides an efficient method to secure resources without alerting the masses.
In the world of Resident Evil 4 (2023), encountering the familiar purple flames signals the arrival of the ever-so-sly Merchant. Dressed in a mysterious long black coat and mask, this intriguing character offers tempting deals, making it nearly impossible to resist leaving his shop completely empty-handed. Here, players can exchange Pesetas, scavenged from defeated enemies, for new firearms, healing items, and valuable resources. Alternatively, they can sell unwanted items from their inventory or trade Spinels for treasure maps, leading to thrilling exploration opportunities and a satisfying Indiana Jones vibe. The Tune Up option allows players to repair and upgrade their worn Combat Knife or enhance weapons by increasing their reload speed and ammunition capacity.
The keyboard and mouse controls in the Remake are significantly more streamlined compared to the original, eliminating the frustrating struggle with the clunky camera movements. This modernization extends to other gameplay elements, like the incredibly useful quick weapon swapping, where a single tap on the numeric keys (or D-pad on the controller) is all it takes to change weapons on the fly, removing the need to constantly access the inventory menu.
Conversations with the field support agent Ingrid Hunnigan are integrated into the HUD through a discreet digital window, eliminating the disruption of exiting to a codec-style communications screen, a move reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham games, where the Dark Knight effortlessly navigates the surroundings while exchanging information with Alfred.
As the story progresses, Leon finally reunites with Ashley, but the task of safely escorting her out of the terrifying village proves to be far from easy. While still considered a damsel in distress, the Resident Evil 4 Remake presents a slightly tougher version of Ashley. Upon their first encounter, she stands her ground, defensively brandishing a candle holder to protect herself. The whiny, squealing character from the original game is nowhere to be found. In her place, a more capable and resourceful individual emerges.
While Ashley lacks any genuine combat skills, her portrayal has been significantly improved through believable dialogue and realistic facial expressions, thanks to the remarkable visual fidelity achieved by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Her interactions with biologist Luis Serra, previously characterized by a cheesy and suggestive tone, are now presented with a respectable “Señorita” – a noticeable improvement in the game’s writing.
Throughout the escort mission, Ashley diligently follows Leon’s every step, occasionally assisting him by climbing down ladders, solving puzzles, and maneuvering through tight spaces. In the original RE4, players could order Ashley to remain in a designated safe spot while they cleared out enemies ahead. While convenient, this mechanic directly contradicted Ashley’s character who, realistically, would never willingly choose to be left alone in a dangerous situation.
The Remake rectifies this by having Ashley constantly follow Leon, allowing players to command her to stay close or keep a safe distance. Ashley no longer has a dedicated health bar, eliminating the need to spend valuable resources on her. Instead, after taking substantial damage, she’ll fall into a downed state, forcing players to be extra cautious and revive her promptly. Of course, enemies continue to grab and carry her away, requiring constant vigilance from her steadfast protector, Leon.
Beyond the exhilarating combat and captivating storyline, the world of Resident Evil 4 is brimming with intricate puzzles, intriguing Blue Medallion fetch quests, and an added level of freedom to explore secluded cabins and hidden areas by utilizing a convenient motorboat. Traversing pitch-black caverns is significantly more unsettling, as players must rely solely on the faint glow of a torch and the sound of echoing footsteps to navigate the dark and treacherous paths. The claustrophobic atmosphere intensifies during encounters with homicidal villagers armed with deadly dynamite, leaving players with limited options and a race against time to extinguish the fuse.
Players can sharpen their aiming skills by visiting strategically placed shooting galleries located within certain Merchant shops. The thrill of finding Golden Chicken Eggs, which fully replenish Leon’s health, adds another level of depth to exploration. It’s incredibly easy to get distracted by the allure of exploring every nook and cranny of the village, but none of these diversions feels like a waste of time.
Every chest, crate, and barrel presents an opportunity to discover valuable loot, further encouraging exploration and rewarding players for their curiosity.
The only drawback to the Remake, unfortunately, lies in Ada Wong’s voice acting, which lacks any real passion or emotion, sounding rather dull and lifeless. Adding to the disappointing experience, Capcom has not yet announced any plans to include the Assignment: Ada and Separate Ways minigames, which provided players with the thrilling opportunity to control the mysterious femme fatale on an intriguing journey. Hopefully, these captivating modes will be released as DLC in the future, offering even more value to this exceptional Remake.
Resident Evil 4 Remake: Verdict
While the Remake’s visual fidelity is impressive enough to warrant revisiting this cherished classic, it offers a wealth of new additions and improvements that contribute to an expertly crafted reimagining. The game retains the original’s charm with its heart-stopping scares and over-the-top B-movie humor, while enhancing the character development and gameplay. The introduction of the Knife Durability system adds a refreshing layer of resourcefulness to the already frenzied action-packed gameplay. With the exhilarating Mercenaries Mode becoming available next week, offering a wave-based survival challenge, there’s no better time for veterans and newcomers alike to immerse themselves in the chilling world of Resident Evil 4 and confront the horrors that await within the isolated European village.
Pros:
- Exceptional Visual Fidelity and Optimization
- Significantly Improved Controls
- More Realistic and Engaging Character Portrayals
- New Parry Mechanic Adds Depth to Combat
- Knife Durability Encourages Resourceful Gameplay
- Exaggerated Action Sequences
- Visceral and Gory Combat
Cons:
- Ada Wong’s Voice Acting Lacks Emotion and Convincing Delivery
- Shadows can be excessively dark, hindering visibility
- Omission of Certain Bonus Modes
Rating (out of 10): 9
Resident Evil 4 (2023) released on March 24 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
Pricing starts at Rs. 3,599 for the Standard Edition on Steam for PC and Xbox Series S/X. The PS4/PS5 version is priced at Rs. 3,999.
