Resident Evil 4 (Remake) Review – Refinement, Not Reinvention

There are two entirely different audiences for the Resident Evil 4 remake: those who have played the original game, perhaps multiple or even dozens of times over the last 18 years, and people who have never played it, but want to know what the fuss is all about. We’ll start with the first: if Resident Evil 4 is your favorite, you should play its remake. Not only is it one of most exciting action games, but the remake also features the greatest Resident Evil 4 game since… well, the original Resident Evil 4. 

The remake is overwhelming you from the start. It’s difficult to navigate the “village”, which is faithfully recreated, and you will be faced with dozens of enemies. This opening is exactly the same as it was 2005. It’s an aggressive, punch-in-the face type of opening. You will soon get used to this. My life was at stake as I raced for it, fearful of the chainsaw-wielding maniac following me through a crowd of criminals. It is amazing that the game keeps this tightly-gripped action going until the credits roll. Resident Evil 4 has been terrifying me for the first time in five years. It’s incredible. 

Gameplay has been expanded – namely, you can walk and aim your gun at the same time now, as well as the aforementioned parrying and new melee options – which makes the already-great bones of RE4 feel modern and fresh. Despite the constant anxiety I felt, I found it so enjoyable that I was happy to face any major combat situation. Especially by the time I unlocked the more powerful weapons – shoutout to my semi-automatic shotgun – blowing through scores of enemies felt fantastic. The game has a horrendously gross gore system. I was able to blast off my enemies’ heads and armour and even shoot them in the head as their blood comes out like pinata confetti. Resident Evil 4 was a treat for me. 

Resident Evil 4’s remake is both visually and in level design. Being a long-time fan of Resident Evil 4, seeing my favorites levels and combat areas recreated on the PlayStation 5 was exciting and enjoyable. Although I had a feeling that the next room could be an entirely new or reworked area of another level, it kept me guessing. It was as if the subject matter of the painting was known, all details were completely different. However, every new addition was welcomed as warmly as my old favorites. 

Although the story beats remain the same, it was a laborious task. As Leon Kennedy, a US president special agent, you travel to remote Spanish villages in search for Ashley Graham’s daughter. All hell breaks loose at that remote Spanish village. The game’s antagonist, Las Plagas, quickly confronts you with scores of angry, paralysed locals. They are easy for him to manage without completely losing their minds. Leon is taken through a remote village to find himself in the clutches of Las Plagas, a parasite that has infected a number of locals. Then he finds himself trapped inside a castle built by Napoleon’s wannabes, before finally reaching the coast of a military fortress. Monsters, death, and gore follow him all the way. 

The book is fun, silly, and outrageous. It retains much of its charm, though it has been enhanced with more sharp writing and better characterisation. Ashley is now an authentic character, with intelligence and emotions. This is in addition to the fact that Ashley’s sexual harassment by other characters has been reduced. Across the board, the cast has received an overhaul, making the protagonists more likable, the enemies more menacing, and the twisting threads of the plot somewhat more coherent – all the while never losing what made the original story so fun in the first place. 

You could probably write an entire book on all the reasons I love Resident Evil 4, but I think it would be easier to just say that you’ll love it if this score is at the bottom. Period. It’s that simple. It is an affectionate letter to a beloved game. A faithful recreation of the best moments with modern sensibilities and expert refinements, it’s also a tribute. This is a fun and exciting game that reimagines one of the most beloved games ever made. 

It lacks context. That’s what makes it so important. 

It is not hard to find discussion about the camera in Resident Evil 4. The original game used fixed camera angles, but instead of them being behind Leon’s head like the predecessors. He was also slightly to the left of center. You could see directly above his right shoulder when he was aiming. This view is the basis for nearly every other third-person game. Resident Evil 4 was a game changer. 

As great as this remake is – and let me reiterate, it’s incredible – I do not think it will show you why Resident Evil 4 was so groundbreaking. It simply can’t. This game is the most important in all of universes. It cannot be published in the same context, time and space as Resident Evil 4. Ironically, the game is only as good now that it exists in a post Resident Evil 4 universe. And so, while I think it can show you why Resident Evil 4 was fun, goofy, and endearing, if you’re someone interested in just why this old game has such an enduring legacy – especially one strong enough to warrant such a massively expensive remake – your best bet is to still play the original, to try and put your mind in a pre-Resident Evil 4 world to understand how that game could change everything. You can also watch the Let’s Play video or browse through one of thousands of articles. This will give you a richer experience when playing the remake. You can view decades worth of industry lessons about making a third-person action video game exciting, entertaining, and efficient, all reapplied back to the original source material. The remake is not an invention, but a refinement. This is where the remake has to be. 

Resident Evil 4’s remake has everything that I could have hoped for. It doesn’t replace its predecessor, which is important. This new Resident Evil 4 version is not only a great game, but it also reinforces the reasons why Resident Evil 4 should be played, or at most watched and learned about. The new Spanish adventure through the countryside serves as an affectionate letter to Resident Evil 4, and as a historic artifact, it reinforces the reasons why this game is so great.