Resident Evil 4 Review - Peak Resident of Evil

Capcom has been at it with its remake tour of the Resident Evil series, and for the most part, it has paid off, as multiple generations can now experience the series’ best qualities in a new light. We’ve got the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and now Resident Evil 4, which marked a turning point for the survival horror series, perhaps the most significant since its 1995 origin. This remake is important to fans for a variety of reasons, and it’s great to be able to say that it succeeded in meeting all of my expectations. 

Evil cult is evil

The Resident Evil franchise has always been an absurd series, with its crazy narrative of an evil corporation spreading a deadly virus that evolves humans and animals into deadly monstrosities. Resident Evil 4 continues this trend by navigating the balancing act between being a survivor horror and an action shooter. You play as a now more experienced Leon S. Kennedy, trained in Special Forces, tasked with rescuing the USA president's daughter Ashley from a remote rural place in Spain.

The story is rather simple and doesn’t try to bombard you with details, which isn’t so bad as anybody can go in with no prior knowledge and have a good time with the game. Leon is flashy and does unnecessary movements to avoid danger. He’s a cliche hero with one-liners that made my eyes roll but left me with a smile on my face, as he somehow fit the overall tone and feel of the game. The villains are one-dimensional, but the presentation gives them a lasting impact. One character that came to mind was Ramon Salazar, as the remake provided a vast improvement, from the character design to the voice actor’s performance. His presence and interactions were on point, and elevated my anticipation of the eventual face-off between Leon and Ramon, which I enjoyed. This also goes for Jack Krauser, as this boss fight was one of my favorites in the game thanks to the inclusion of the new parry system in the remake. Knife fights will never feel the same in a Resident Evil game.

Visually, the game looks amazing and really highlights the RE Engine's best qualities, as this is the first remake that isn’t limited to enclosed buildings and streets. We have vistas to look at, various locales that take you from a village surrounded by forests and caves to a complex castle, and then to a remote island that’s armed to the teeth. If you compare Resident Evil 4 with the previous remakes, it’s not leaps and bounds better in character design and detail. In fact, some can argue that the quality and detail are somewhat similar, but that’s okay in my book as these remakes still look great by today’s standards.

Everything about RE4 is over the top. You go against a giant sea monster with infinite spears on a small fishing boat and wander around a creepy castle that has statues and levers as mechanisms to unlock doors. You even have a shop vendor that is always at the right booth at the right time, ready to offer you new gear for a price and buy treasure from you. Everything in this game contains the best elements of why I like the Resident Evil franchise. It’s a mix of horror, action, and absurdity that knows no bounds. I can’t get enough of it.

Leon (and Ashley) against the world

Naturally, Leon faces impossible odds alone as he infiltrates a religious cult that worships parasites that infect residents and transforms them into hideous creatures. The undead are a thing of the past as Leon goes against crazed villagers equipped with pitchforks and throwing axes, capable of grabbing you from behind for others to finish him off or going nuts with a giant hammer or chainsaws by running straight at you. The normal infected stay relevant all throughout, as you need to pay attention to what they are equipped with, as that will tell you how deadly they can be. You face giant flying insects, ravenous dogs, giants, the list goes on. Halfway through the game, I was rather appreciative of the fact that Resident Evil 4 is filled with a variety of enemy types that make each encounter feel alive and dynamic. I always felt overwhelmed and I always needed to use everything I had to get out of there as efficiently as possible, even on Standard difficulty.

The game will feel generous at giving you ammo and resources, but it always felt like just enough for the next encounter as you go through your inventory pretty quickly, especially in your first playthrough. The basic crafting system is still around to alleviate this, as you can combine certain resources to create useful items on the fly, such as ammo, a stronger healing item, or utilities. You then have to worry about inventory management as you can only carry so much (a typical hurdle for most Resident Evil games) as Leon will slowly gain access to an array of weaponry ranging from shotguns and sniper rifles to a crossbow that can even shoot remote mines. These can all be upgraded, so there’s a lot to think about in between fights.

The great thing about Resident Evil 4’s combat is that there’s always something you can do to get an advantage. You can shoot the head or legs of the villagers to stagger them, then get close for a melee attack to either finish them off or knock them off their feet. You can perform a parry at the right time or shoot the weapon in their hands to stop their advance (if they are holding dynamite, it’ll go off). You can even pay attention to the environment as there are exploding barrels or lanterns that can set the area on fire. Bridges can also be taken down, killing those on them, or you can go through a window for either a quick escape or as a means to funnel incoming enemies. The game’s combat mostly feels like you’re in an arena filled with tricks, as even in my second playthrough I witnessed new ways to deal with threats in certain areas more effectively. 

Eventually, Leon meets Ashley and she follows you around - an added ‘protect the VIP’ element to combat, as she can be taken away or injured if you’re not keeping an eye on her. You can give her simple orders such as ‘stay’ or ‘follow’ but that’s mostly it. Thankfully she isn’t as much of a pain to have around as you might think, and her assistance is sometimes needed to reach new places in certain areas for resources.

An honorable remake

When comparing the original with the remake, a lot has changed for the better. Many scenes don’t play exactly the same, but the broad strokes hit, and the tone and feel of Resident Evil 4 are intact enough to do justice to its legacy, reminding me why this game is so beloved and often replayed to this day. There are likely changes that will annoy some of the hardcore fans, but the overall crowd will appreciate this iteration of a classic. There are also new additions such as knife durability and side quests. These requests are scattered around the game world, but are rather dull as a distraction, as most of the time you are killing rats, selling snakeskins, or shooting blue medallions hanging in certain areas. There are challenging requests for you to take on unique encounters, but that’s about it for the highlights.

Resident Evil 4 is another example of why I appreciate remakes, as it revitalizes the love for a beloved title. This game was delivered in such a way to not only appease veteran fans but also to welcome those who have experienced the series only through the previous remakes. This is Resident Evil at its best, as everything about it works in tandem to deliver a 16-18 hour campaign that will entertain a player from start to finish. I was hesitant when this was first announced, as I wondered if maybe Capcom was losing its grip with the remakes, but after going through Resident Evil 4, I wouldn’t mind more like it.

---

9/10 (BUY)

---

PROS

• Every major beat from the original is intact, with just slight changes

• Combat is satisfying in any difficulty

• Absurd puzzles and crazy boss fights

CONS

• Leon’s movements can feel sluggish at times

• The new side quests are forgettable fodder 

What I’ve Played

• Beat the game on Standard difficulty with a clear time of 18 hours (relaxed run)

• I replayed the game again on Hardcore difficulty

• Did most of the side activities (shooting range, blue requests)

*This review is based on a PS5 copy provided by the game’s publisher*

---