Devil’s residence And Resident Evil 2 came from another time. Resident Evil 3 anemic and disappointing but deserving of a second chance. But Resident Evil 4 is a classic that reinvents an entire genre and revitalizes a series with gameplay loops so satisfying that they still require replays every few years or even nearly two decades later. The first three make a case for their remake – which is rooted in their age – but Resident Evil 4 can’t claim to be geriatric when it still beats most of its competitors to submission. That Resident Evil 4 the remake, however, is a carefully considered reimagining that more than justifies its existence by retaining the original framework and seriously improving it without sacrificing the brilliant heart-ridden Las Plagas at its center.
Resident Evil 4The combat is one of his more persistent legacies and serves as an effective example of the kind of smart changes Capcom has made extensively with this remake. The original revolutionized the series’ horror style by injecting more adrenaline into the mix, which retained the signature amount of tension but dialed up the action and pacing. Enemy and resource management is still very important Resident Evil 4after all, players simply have to make decisions faster and with more skill to overcome stronger and bigger hordes of enemies.
This remake still has the general flow of managing the hastily incoming hordes and the thrill is not to be underestimated. Fights are always frenetic, nail-biting affairs that test a player’s instincts and reaction time amidst all-encompassing chaos. The ever-present chaos stems from the resources that the corpses dynamically drop, the forms of Las Plagas that appear, what ammo is available, the types of enemies that appear, and which parts of the arena the player funnels. With a wide variety of enemies, a constant supply of unique scenarios, and an extensive tree of weapon upgrades, encounters never lose their edge as there are so many different variables at play that delightfully balance player choice and the unexpected fuss that keeps it interesting. It’s an amazing array of systems on its own and surpasses when put together.
Translating it from the original was no small task, but Capcom was also able to go a step further by adding the circle to this remake. A quick select feature — which has been a series staple ever since Evil residents 5 – finally took out the annoying menu-based weapon switch from the original. It’s not always as instantaneous as it should be due to multiple animation priorities, but it’s far less jarring than slowing down the game to draw a gun. Being able to move and fire simultaneously also makes him Resident Evil 4 it’s more fluid and doesn’t suck up tension as it just allows for more frantic maneuvers and a close shave.
The new Parry also helps with this close shave, as Leon can counter almost any melee attack. While it may initially seem to limit parrying with blade durability, it’s an excellent nuanced system that works hand in hand with his aggressive nature while also making for a more mechanically advantageous defensive option. A bad parry execution will still stop attacks (except on Professional), but well-timed will stun enemies and open them up for a quick boot to the face. Unfortunately there’s no way to parry catches and some of the enemies are very useful, but being able to do a quick counter stab to break free at the cost of a lot of durability is a decent compromise. This is another naturally suitable skill-based option Resident Evil 4complex interweaving system.
And while the battle changes it accentuates what makes Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil 4, some of the other tweaks evoke other aspects of the series’ DNA. While there are a few annoying exceptions that unexpectedly tie up previous areas, it’s much more open-ended than the original and has locked boxes and side missions that encourage players to retreat and split from the main path.
Dead Space has been drifting aimlessly through space since 2013 after Electronic Arts simply severed its umbilical cord. He died on…
As shown in Dead space remake, this addition rewards those who want to explore with valuable resources, some unexpectedly challenging combat, and a more intimate sense of place. Going through areas multiple times adds to the sense of familiarity that some of the best video game hubs have Resident Evil 2Raccoon Police Station and USG Ishimura from mentioned above Dead space remake. Redesigned levels that neatly loop around each other and the lack of loading screens also make going backwards a painless exercise. Combined with more intuitive puzzles and a new unlocked treasure merging mechanic, Resident Evil 4 much closer to before Devil’s residence game while not abandoning its own identity as an action-oriented entry.
It’s a wonderful balancing act that also extends to the series’ horror roots, as a radical leap in technology allowed it to use darkness to create even scarier scenarios. The reworked Ashley section benefits greatly from this visual change as Capcom uses this to create an anxiety-inducing key hunt with a unique mechanic at its center, which takes full advantage of the improved lighting. By overhauling entire segments and doubling down on the horror, playing Ashley is less of a boring diversion from the main star and is instead a welcome change of tense thrills.
Capcom again upped the horror element with their Regeneratoradores by bathing the island lab they call home in dim, flickering lights and creating elaborate scenarios that test the player’s ability to act under pressure when enveloped in darkness. Figuring out where to go and when to shoot the tiny Las Plagas parasites at moving targets with little room for error is the kind of intensity that succinctly sums up the game’s best features. While their unsettling elongated arms, bloodshot eyes, and ominous asthmatic sighs were creepy in the original, they’re downright terrifying in the remake because of the way they’re made to accentuate those terrifying features better.
This part of the game is triumphant not only because of its clever design but also because of the way it deviates from the proper course. Subverting expectations works so well in the context of horror and why its scarier bits are so effective, but it’s also what makes the game interesting as a whole.
Capcom seems to have analyzed every inch of the original and found a way to bring out the special tone of a piece or implement a completely new idea. Iconic enemy encounters have been cleverly remixed, action sequences are bigger and more bombastic, parts have been relocated, old enemies have new functions, boss fights (which benefit greatly from improved gameplay) have been streamlined across the board, and some stretch fillers have been given interesting new mechanisms or spins.
Even the stories are significantly more coherent as the team adds context and the connective tissue that ties everything together better. Ashley and Luis get the biggest upgrade, as they are no longer making dweebs, but capable characters with actual arcs and a lot more agency. Leon also has more emotional range and thankfully not only treats Ashley with disdain, but he still retains his signature one-liners and acrobatic skills that are among the best. Ada, on the other hand, delivers a remarkably lifeless performance with a stiff line reading that aims to be effortlessly cool, but just effortlessly looks. It’s confusing why Capcom brought back actor Ada from being maligned Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City when the character is so well portrayed in majesty Resident Evil 2 remake.
Apart from Ada’s low voice, almost every other adjustment is in Resident Evil 4 remake is a great achievement that makes one of the best games of all time even better. It’s not even just about the quality of these changes, but also how many of them occur during the meaty 20 hour campaign. Capcom basically understands why Resident Evil 4 is a classic and used that knowledge to develop a more terrifying and action-packed version of the game that also respects the puzzle-oriented nature of the other installments. The harmonious blend of these pieces makes it the best Devil’s residence games, top-tier remakes, and overall masterpieces.
SCORE: 10/10
As explained in ComingSoon’s review policy, a score of 10 equates to a “Masterpiece”. This is a rare release that transcends genre and should be experienced by all media fans.
Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a copy of the PlayStation 5 Resident Evil 4 re-review. Reviewed at version 1.002.000.