Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways DLC review: The remake gets even better

Capcom’s sleek remake of Resident Evil 4In March it seemed like there was something missing. It was an impressive package of action-horror, but there were some moments that had been removed from the GameCube version. It was released on the GameCube in 2007. Separate WaysAda Wong is the enigmatic Super Spy in this new Add-on. Resident Evil 4 feels complete — and then some.

Separate Ways tells the events of Ada’s mission during Resident Evil 4’s main story. Her adventure runs parallel to, and frequently intersects with, Leon Kennedy’s. Ada sees key scenes from the first game. Ada battles the same foes and returns to many of Leon’s locations.

Ada’s mission remixes and recontextualizes some of those reprised encounters, in part thanks to her unique gameplay mechanics. Although she plays mostly like Leon and uses a mixture of weapons, stealth and melee attack, she also has a few gadgets which give her a little extra flair. It’s her grappling pistol that makes the biggest difference. With it, she can zip through environments while bypassing some of Leon’s puzzles. Ada’s grappling gun is also useful in combat. She can close the gap between her and the stunned opponent, gaining a tactical edge. The grappling-hook can be used to grab the shields of some enemies.

Capcom

Ada also has a gadget from Batman that is similar: A high-tech lens which allows her to spot clues such as footprints and puzzle pieces. The two items add a unique feel to her story, making it seem like she is moving through it very quickly.

Resident Evil 4Players will recognize the familiar rhythm in Separate WaysAs they return to story beats and enemies as well as key locations in some cases, it feels like a backtracking. Capcom has cleverly remixed some moments, like a battle against El Gigante that employs Ada’s grappling-hook acrobatics and another tense boss fight that spices things up with waves of enemies. However, after integrating the grappling gun into that boss fight to spectacular effect, it’s mostly absent in other encounters where it would feel naturally useful. It feels like the game underutilizes her new tool, and it would’ve been fun to see her rely on it even more.

The game has some new areas, but not all. A memorable boss fight has been removed from the game. Resident Evil 4Remakes are back in all their glory, albeit with a new look. Capcom restored even the wonderfully goofy laser security corridor. It now also has a narrative purpose.

Capcom

Narratively, the tweaks in Ada’s campaign also help to reinforce just how much more capable and confident Ada is compared to the put-upon Leon. She takes much of her mission in stride, and it becomes clear that Leon’s mission wouldn’t have been successful without her multiple interventions. She’s cool and dry, so deft at keeping her true intentions guarded that sometimes even the player isn’t sure what her true motivations are. Unfortunately, Ada’s enigmatic character is flattened by her stiff voice acting. Her dialogue is stilted and unnatural — at times, unrealistically devoid of emotion. I couldn’t help but wonder if her English-language voice actor was given bad direction, in an attempt to achieve a different style of cool to further distinguish her from Leon. Whatever the case, it wasn’t successful.

Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways greatly improves upon the storytelling and importance of Ada’s side story, serving as a template for future Resident Evil games’ expansions. It’s a condensed and accelerated version of the remake’s story that fleshes out behind-the-scenes events, and its ending enticingly teases the next possible remake in Capcom’s horror franchise. It can feel repetitive in parts, underrealized in others, but it’s a meaty piece of content that’s worth playing if the Resident Evil 4You’ll want more of this remake.

Resident Evil 4: Separate WaysReleased on September 21st for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. Xbox Series X was also included. The game was reviewed using a final “retail” PlayStation 5 download code provided by Capcom. The game can be found on the PlayStation 5 website. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.