Resident Evil 4: Remake, a review.
Resident Evil 4 was a masterpiece and still is. The original garnered praise from fans and critics alike and is probably the best game in the series. After the remake of Resident Evil 2, there was hope that more of them would be remade, and four seemed like an obvious choice. They went on to remake Resident Evil 3 and, though it is a beautiful game, was a step back on what had been achieved with Resident Evil 2. There was worry that they would be unable to remake 4 in all its glory. Thankfully, that proved to be an unfounded fear. This is one of the best games they have ever made, an improvement on the original in many ways. With the recent release of mercenaries mode, the gaming experience has expanded and proven to be a great addition to the single-player experience.
Opening up six years after the events of Raccoon City, Leon has been sent to track down the President's daughter, Ashley Graham, in Spain. It's not a spoiler to say that things don't start well for our hero and inevitably get worse for him. The game's story stays close to the original, with minor alterations, a missing boss, and changes to some level designs. The gameplay and graphics have been updated, and it now plays like any modern title. And speaking of the graphics, this game is beautifully made, and even on my near potato of a desktop, it runs brilliantly. I experienced no issues with the game, no bugs or stuttering that has become commonplace in recent releases. There have been several changes to the gameplay, with the use of the knife now a vital part of your playthrough. A well-placed parry can keep you alive, staggering your attacker and leaving them open to a melee counter. Thankfully the shooting is fluid, and the ability to actually move whilst aiming makes it easier than I remember. All the guns return from the original, though some of their specs have changed, and there are different ways to find or unlock them now. The merchant returns with his familiar catchphrase still in use and proves as handy as ever. The most obvious change comes with how Ashley now plays. No longer the pain that made the game frustrating in some sections. She feels like a real character now, with decent voice acting and better writing. Leon remains his witty self, with many of his one-liners still in place. The voice actor is the same as the Resident Evil 2 remake, and though I prefer Matt Mercer's version, he does a great job. Some characters have had redesigns and have improved on what was done in the original. In most ways, the game is a significant improvement on the game released in 2005. The bosses remain a highlight of this game, with Salazar and Sadler being chief among them. I would have preferred they kept in some of the previous dialogue between them and Leon, but that is a nitpick on my behalf. There have been complaints about the new voice actor for Ada, but I saw no issue with her performance.
I have sunk many hours into the game, though I lack the skill to become one of the many speedrunners posting videos on youtube. I loved the game the first time, and I feel the same about this version. It is instantly replayable with a new game plus, using all you have unlocked in your first playthrough. This was one of the best things about it the first time around. And with them adding Mercenaries mode back, there is more fun to be had. And we will be getting Ada's campaign at some point which was a great highlight of the initial release. Replayable has remained a core element of this entry.
This game is easily 10 out of 10, and I recommend it to any gamer, not just fans of the original. This is a great game that hints at the next entry in the series heading for a similar remake, which is something I look forward to. I hope that they continue the series after Village, taking lessons from the process of making these remakes. With recent successes, it appears that they have hit on a winning formula. Though 3 was a bit of a disappointment by comparison. I will continue to enjoy playing this entry, racking up more game time, and hoping that Resident Evil 5 is in development.
