RESIDENT EVIL 4

The debate about whether a game needs a facelift is never-ending. Opinions are divided, all the more so when it comes to a title that is still easily playable today. The game in question is Resident Evil 4, which reinvigorated Capcom's classic series and is objectively one of the most influential in the genre, but also one of the best in terms of overall quality. So I am delighted to say that adapting the game to the present day is extraordinary.

The original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005, initially as a Nintendo Gamecube exclusive, followed by versions for the Sony PlayStation 2 and PC. Since then, it has been released for almost every available platform out there (in the meantime, there was an enhanced PC version), and is probably one of the few games that rivals Bethesda's Skyrim in terms of number of releases and re-releases. To some ardent fans of the series, it didn't leave the best impression, but for the majority of them, and the new audience it attracted, it is considered one of the best action (or to be more precise action-horror) games of all time. Its over-the-shoulder-camera defined an entire genre, and many of its sequences are still remembered to this day.

Considering the track record of the developers so far, i.e. the excellent previous remakes and the good - but could be better - third part, I don't think there was much room for doubt about the quality of the 4th part that we will discuss in this presentation. The real question was whether such a remake was necessary.

The story, even by Resident Evil standards, is corny. The daughter of the President of the United States of America has been kidnapped, and government agent (now) Leon S. Kennedy is tasked with finding her and bringing her back. The intel leads him to a small village in Spain. From there he finds himself embroiled in a nightmare involving villagers infected by a parasite and members of a cult that worship that organism. As we progress through the game, the villains' motives are linked to Ashley's kidnapping, but one shouldn't expect a deep scenario with shocking twists and turns. In fact, in the original script, there were moments of humor (which usually involved cheesy dialogue), and where the characters themselves didn't take things too seriously or even satirized action movie clichés. This of course did not detract from its primarily serious tone.

In 2023's Resident Evil 4, quips and humour have no place. Leon is fully aware of the danger he's in, despite now being more experienced. He lacks the sarcasm and the overconfidence he had in the 2005 game. He realizes that his opponents are numerous and will do anything to see him dead, with no hesitation about their own safety. By all accounts, he's acting in a more realistic manner. The other characters, whether they are enemies or allies, are in the same vein. This serious, down-to-earth writing of the dialogues, shouldn't surprise anyone, especially since Capcom had taken the same approach in their previous efforts, leaving out any over-the-top and campy moments coming from decades past. Finally, new lines of dialogue and notes scattered around patch up some of the gaps that existed in the original, in the backgrounds of certain characters.

These changes are not limited to the story, but extend naturally to the gameplay as well. Sections and cutscenes that contained Quick Time Events have been removed or altered. Most of the intense action moments have received similar treatment and been adjusted to the new standards of this modern iteration of Resident Evil 4. What are these? That the scales are tipped far more towards horror and tension so that it can be classified - beyond a shadow of a doubt - as survival horror. The ammunition is more limited than the original title, but this is somewhat balanced by the crafting system by which we are able, with the right resources, to create various types of ammo. Stealth adds some variety to the gameplay, but in no way we can eliminate every enemy with being spotted. Essentially, it can place us at a better vantage point when the carnage begins or enable us to take out pesky opponents carrying crossbows etc.

The most important change however, and the one that gives a fresh air to the encounters is the parry mechanic. The knife played an important role in the original title and perhaps for the first time in the series it was actually useful. Now, it can fend off a wide range of attacks, even from some bosses, leaving our opponents exposed. Therefore, using parry-kick-finishing move (with a knife or other weapon) tactics, we can firstly, save ammo and secondly, create openings when we find ourselves cornered. The timing of the parry takes some time to get used to but is by no means too stringent as to discourage the player. My advice is to upgrade the durability of the knife as soon as possible, as it wears out with every use, whether it's attacks or parries. This is done in the revamped merchant (I love his heavy British accent), where in addition to weapon upgrades, we can return quests we've completed to access unique rewards that money can't buy, such as scopes, treasure maps, etc.

Overall, the feel of controlling Leon is excellent. Having played a fair number of games with a 3rd person perspective, I can say that the control of the characters in the RE Engine is really something special. The combination of the weighty movements (aiming a gun, running, etc.) with the instant response to our inputs, is an element that in my opinion makes every playthrough a blast. The animations also contribute to this to a great extent. The turning of Leon's torso when he tries to dodge attacks, the extension of his arms when he is near a wall to avoid colliding with it, etc. are just some of the nice little details, in this canvas of plausibility and high quality standards. The difficulty has gone up a bit compared to the original game, however, there is a fair balancing in most areas, for example, our protagonist can now move while shooting, but his opponents are also more agile.

The remake gives off the smell of mould, rot (sometimes manure) and a sense of grimness. The dull colours provide a pointer to the foreboding vibe. A once peaceful village, where people lived off the land and fishing, has become a hellhole of unwilling creatures and a death trap for those who venture nearby. The same is true in the next chapter, the medieval castle, where despite the glamour and carved, alabaster sculptures, time seems to have stood still. The atmosphere of 2023's Resident Evil 4 surpasses that of the original title with ease, even if it wasn't for the creepy, body horror moments. Capcom's graphics engine once again rises to the occasion and renders the environments and character models in terrifying (see what I did there) detail. The optimization is also excellent, with enough adjustments to bring the performance up to snuff. The sound is at the same level of quality, with the music - aside from some ambient compositions - being present at moments of tension and the effects perfectly complementing the game's presentation.

The Japanese creators once again deliver lessons in how to reintroduce a game to today's audience. Resident Evil 4 is a remake rich in content, surprises and well-crafted set pieces. I've deliberately avoided detailing any more than necessary, where changes have been made, as the beauty lies in discovering them for yourself. Perhaps the only blemish is the absence of the extra modes that unlocked after the end of the main campaign, of which The Mercenaries has already been announced to be made available as a free DLC in a few days. Action, moments of anguish and pure terror comprise a package that is straight up game of the year material. Now please give us the remake of Code: Veronica, Capcom...

We would like to thank CD Media for providing the review code.

Go to discussion...