It’s been a long time coming, but ever since Capcom announced that the first Resident Evil was getting a remake, and then we got the fantastic Resident Evil 2 remake, it was just a matter of time until a remake of what many consider to be the best Resident Evil game of all-time is released, and I’m of course, talking about Resident Evil 4. Did Capcom’s remake manage to deliver? The short answer is yes, but it also solidifies why RE4 is one of the best games of all-time. Curious Read on for our Resident Evil 4 remake review.
If you haven’t played the 2005 original, don’t fret, we won’t spoil anything and will instead focus on the core improvements and changes made to the remake and factoring in how it’ll fare for newcomers as well.
Viva Las Plagas
In case you aren’t familiar with Resident Evil 4’s story, it’s basically a rescue mission. Supercop Leon S. Kennedy must retrieve the US President’s daughter, Ashley Graham, in Spain, but things aren’t what they seem, as Leon encounters zombie-like villagers hellbent on killing him, with the story taking a turn for the crazy with religious cults, a parasitic virus and more.
As far as the remake goes, RE4’s story relatively remains untouched, which is good or bad depending on how you ridiculous you think it is.
What has changed, however, are the character’s themselves. While there’s no major story changes from the original to the remake, Leon and the rest of the cast not only get new dialogue in the game, but they’re even voiced by new actors as well. The RE4 remake has a lot less campy one-liners in it compared to the original and has an overall more serious tone.
Regardless if you’re a veteran player or a newcomer to RE4 remake, its story is definitely worth experiencing. You might not agree with some of the story choices or how it’s presented, but it is a compelling tale nonetheless.
What Are Ya Buying?
Aside from the visual and dialogue changes, the RE4 remake has introduced a host of gameplay changes that greatly help the game’s overall feel. Chief among these changes include the knife, which now acts as not only a utility tool to escape enemies, but also as a way to insta-kill and block incoming attacks.
In RE4 remake, Capcom introduced a way for the player to parry enemy attacks using the knife at the cost of its durability. Needless to say, this makes combat a lot more fast-paced, and adds a layer of depth that wasn’t there before. You can even insta-kill enemies with Leon’s knife by sneaking up on them and just stabbing them outright in the neck or head for an insta-kill. The melee mechanic which was very useful in the original was expanded as well, as Leon can now integrate the knife into it, thus making combat a whole lot more fun and varied.
Outside of the knife, there are also quality of improvements added to the game that just makes things a wee bit better. Most aren’t super big changes, but they are significant enough that it just makes sense to do so. You can now store weapons and first aid sprays (though not anything else) in your virtual locker via the typewriter. There are also new suitcase perks and suitcase charms that affect gameplay as well, though not in a way that the game feels easier because of it.
Now, if you’re a newcomer to the game, you won’t notice these little additions, but they’re something you’ll appreciate all the same, as it lets you add a little more personalization in your own playthrough. RE4 isn’t an RPG in terms of customization, but the changes do add a little more layer of customization; add in the fact that you can still upgrade all your weapons, and you won’t be left wanting in the “progression” aspect of combat.
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It’s not just the visuals, audio, and combat that got improvements, as Capcom has also introduced side missions to the RE4 remake as well. These are missions tasked by the merchant, where you’ll be rewarded Spinels upon completion, which you can then trade for weapons, treasures and more. It’s a huge addition that not only lengthens the game organically, but also adds a bit of variety the overall main story.
A Visually Nightmarish Feast
There are a lot of changes that RE4 remake brings to the table, but undoubtedly the big one that players will take notice of are the massive visual upgrades over the original. That’s unsurprising, considering that the game is running on an updated RE Engine; the same engine that was used to bring both Resident Evil 2 and 3 back to life with their own remakes. However, given the scope of RE4, and how much more open it is than the two previous titles, the visual bump and art style set a new standard for remakes for the studio.
RE4 remake is absolutely gorgeous, and with the power of modern technology, the game is even more terrifying than it has ever been. The opening act is brooding, and while I don’t want to say the game is scary, the art design certainly helps convey the horror aspect that we’ve come to love from the original, even during the more action-packed sequences.
Resident Evil 4 2023 isn’t just all about a visual bump either, as areas have been expanded greatly to offer a larger scale than in the original, as well as refining not-so-good parts. The castle in the latter portion of the game, for example, has been expanded in size, though it remains faithful at the same time, maintaining the same set pieces, only in a grander scope. It was an amazing feeling entering the castle the first time, but Remake takes it up a notch with its improved visuals, structures, and layouts.
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As for the monsters, they all boast fresh new designs that are fleshed with new details, amplifying their grotesque features.
Animations, of course, have all seen a major overhaul, and in comparison to the original, Remake feels more up close and personal, with a cinematic direction.
For performance, players on both the PS5 and Xbox Series can expect a smooth 60FPS running the framerate mode, while quality is locked at 30FPS. It’s a very optimized experience overall on the two consoles, though for you PC players who may fear this may yet be another rushed port, worry not. On nearly all types of hardware, RE4 Remake runs superbly. Those who have the hardware for it, you’ll want to crank everything up to ultra, as the visual jumps are easily some of the best we’ve seen in a video game.
This Is How a Remake Should Be
Resident Evil 4 Remake may not be the 1:1 remake that fans may have been hoping for, but for all that Capcom has accomplished with it, it certainly does manage to recapture the very same magic we experienced decades ago. It’s what I remember playing, even though I know how different it actually is, and that, to you, should tell you enough just how good of a remake this ended up being. And sure, there are some changes that fans may not be too fond of, but overall, Resident Evil 4 remake ends up remaining faithful, elevating the original vision to new heights with its overhauled gameplay, improved visuals, and refined story.
If it’s even possible, Capcom has made an already excellent game even better, and as it stands now, Resident Evil 4 remake is now the gold standard when it comes to remakes.
Score: 10/10
Pros
- Visually stunning and faithful to the original vision.
- New gameplay mechanics add another layer of depth to combat
- New side quests help make each chapter more varied
- Improves upon the original in almost every conceivable way
Cons
- New Ada Wong voice actress feels flat
Resident Evil 4 review code was provided by the publisher. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.