Resident Evil 4 Remake is a 2023 action survival horror video game developed by Capcom. It is a remake of the 2005 game Resident Evil 4. Players control the US agent Leon S. Kennedy, who must save Ashley Graham, the daughter of the United States president, from the mysterious Los Illuminados cult.
Resident Evil 4 is one of Capcom’s most prominent and recognized titles. Not only that, but it is also one of all-time favorite games. The good blend of action and horror, the well written characters, and the polished gameplay not only makes this game a must for fans of the franchise but also makes it difficult to not find it on best games of all-time list. But having said that, did Resident Evil 4 need a remake and is the remake good? Yes.
Much like the original, Resident Evil 4 Remake follows Leon Kennedy who’s on a mission to rescue the president’s daughter, Ashley, from a religious cult called the Los Illuminados. And in good Resident Evil fashion our hero is thrown into a world of crazy. Like stated earlier, the story is much the same but there are some tweaks here and there. The cult of the Los Illuminados, feels more like a cult. With shrines and religious symbols placed throughout the game, there’s a true sense that Leon’s facing an actual cult as well as the plaga threat. The Los Illuminados lore is further explored. There are tons of additional content that can be collected and tid bits of information that give more depth to the characters and backstory of the village.
The characters themselves are great, Leon is as badass as ever. Characters like Luis, Krauser and Ashely feel more fleshed out. We see more from Ramon and Mendez. Sadly, Osmund Saddler, the game’s main antagonist doesn’t really show up until the third act of the game, though his presence is ever felt throughout the story. The campaign itself is solid with enough exploration, side missions, and increasing difficulty to push it gameplay time and keep players wanting more. (5 out of 5)
Gameplay is the best that it’s ever been. Though you can’t sprint into a slide like in Resident Evil 6, the game does offer maneuverability. Crouching allows players to dodge enemy attacks. Knife mechanics are changed to make close combat more effective, not only for attacking but for defending. Parrying enemy attacks allows for some sweet counter attacks. The controls feel refined and responsive.
There are elements that help change the gameplay experience including different briefcases and charms with different effects such as increasing ammo drops and herb collecting. Weapons can be upgraded with Pesos collected in-game or selling treasure. Improved enemy AI are challenging as utilize more strategic behavior allowing them to attack, defend, and even dodge your attacks. Unfortunately, the AI for Ashley can be wonky at times. It’s understandable that Ashley is out of her element and doesn’t know what to do but she doesn’t have to be useless. Take a look at Moira Burton from Resident Evil: Revelations 2 or Elizabeth from BioShock Infinite. I’m sure there could’ve been some way to make her more useful. Possibly have her aid in the battles or gather items.
Replayability is at an all-time high. There are plenty of unlockables to be had, some must be found while others are unlocked by specific goals being met. Multiple playthroughs unlock even more items. Artwork and models can be unlocked through points collected through gameplay. Costumes can be changed after the initial playthrough. The Mercenaries Mode offers a fun and challenging experience, allowing players to play as their favorite characters including Leon, Ada, Wesker and even HUNK. There’s a mini game in which Leon participates in a shooting gallery which opens up more unlockables. At the time of this review, I haven’t played the Separate Ways DLC but hopefully soon. Though I’m interested to see if they’ll make a Luis Separate Ways because there’s room for it. I’m disappointed at the DLC because most of it should’ve been unlockable especially the costumes. (5 out of 5)
Visually the game is just beautiful. There’s a grittiness to the world that makes it feel real, everything looks old and rundown, rotted food in homes and rotted carcasses on the ground. There’s atmosphere, there’s immersion. Graphics are highly detailed and fluid, both in-game and in cutscenes. There’s plenty of blood and gore. Seeing Leon blowing an enemy’s head, arm, or even leg off will be gory, and even reveal the dying remnants of the plagas creature within. The creature designs are gross and cool, the characters look absolutely great.
The soundtrack itself is really good, and the overall sound design is polished to a T. Creatures have their own unique sounds, the environment feels lively, and changes based on location. This gives the location atmosphere and a deep sense of immersion. While fighting the sea creature, it’s roars are menacing while the sound of the water acts as continuous reminder of Leon’s isolation. Weapons sound unique and realistic. The voice performances are phenomenal though there was bit of controversy involving Ada’s voice actress, Lily Gao, who I personally didn’t have a problem with though some of her lines could’ve been written better. Personally, I like Jim Ward’s performance of Krauser compared to Mike Kovac’s though Kovac does a solid job. (5 out of 5)
The Verdict: In the end, Resident Evil 4 Remake is not only one of the best games of the year but one of the best Resident Evil games. It takes the formula of the original and elevates it to new levels, introduces new mechanics, and explores more of the lore. Despite the BS with the DLC, there’s still so much that the game offers. Not only is the gameplay solid, but the characters are also great, the graphics great, the performances are great. This is definitely a game for the fans of the franchise and will also appeal to those who love horror games. Resident Evil 4 Remake gets 5 out of 5.
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