I don’t like the original RE4. I know I know, string me up like a policeman on a pyre.
Originally this hatred stemmed from it “taking RE away from me”. I adore the original trilogy, and RE4 changed the series substantially. No zombies and no scares. QTEs sucked, and with RE2 being my least favourite of the Raccoon City trilogy (it’s still great) I wasn’t too fussed about Leon and Ada returning. I know the series needed to change, and that CV already introduced non fixed angle situations. I also know that RE3 was never meant to be a numbered title. So yeah…I know! At least there was a dog.
But everyone treated RE4 like a second coming, and I just couldn’t get on with it. Ultimately I played it once on PS2, and subsequently blamed it for encouraging Capcom to make RE5 and RE6.
But much like the many BOWs of RE, my love for the series is undying, so last year (2022) I wondered if my exposure to so many RE different experiences may have loosened me up. So I tried to play RE4 again.
And it sucked! It felt clunky, and it was so damn brown. I lasted an hour. 2005 RE4 just isn’t for me.
Fortunately Capcom have been on a roll for a few years now. After several titles which fell far below the best RE has to offer, the introduction of the RE Engine has seen a significant upward shift in the quality of the games. They’ve juggled new entries alongside remakes to great effect.
I’m happy to report that they’ve kept up this streak when it comes to RE4. Because whilst I don’t like the original RE4, I’m quite keen on RE4R.
Initially I thought this review was going to be me telling you all how RE4 has bounced hard, and how it’s now a top-tier RE game for me. But having spent a bit more time with it, I’ve realised that personally, whilst it’s a good RE, it’s not quite top tier. And that’s due to how I play Resident Evil games.
I enjoy my initial survival horror run. But after that, I want some fun. No worries about ammo or items or even the enemies, hence my love for RE3R.
When it came time to play through again though, which I usually do straight away, I ran out of steam. Even the lure of retained equipment didn’t put any extra gas in my tank. I’ve given it some thought, and I think this boils down to two things; RE4 being naturally action orientated, and it’s characters. Once the controls clicked into place I didn’t feel scared or any under particular pressure. So though RE4R has improved it’s looks, and gameplay, it’s characters and and story don’t fundamentally change. And they don’t grab me like Chris and Jill do, or even Ethan.
It did give me a new strong RE memory though. Trapped in a room with three enemies, I used up all my ammo on the first two. Leaving me, a knife, and the strongest of the three. I swore a lot, but I persevered, and it was great! This is testament to how well the game plays; in terms of movement, attack, and even blocking, this is the best RE has been.
Special mention goes to Ashley for her not being a complete chore to deal with. She didn’t get in the way much, and she isn’t annoying. That I only even considered the aspect of gameplay which means protecting her as I’m writing this it testament to how well implemented the mechanics are.
To give the story some credit, it does feels more coherent and lined up with the rest of the series now, so the lore-nerd in me is happier (Las Plaga = Nemesis?). I’ve never been a fan of Krauser, and especially him coming out of nowhere. This time around there’s a bit more mention of him, and his story seems to make a bit more sense. His boss fight is decent (learn to block!) but he still isn’t integrated into the story well enough for my liking.
If you’re in the majority and love RE4, you’re in for an absolute treat with his remake. It’s likely going to be one of the best games you’ve ever played, ironing out all sorts of wrinkles as it goes through a big update without leaving behind what made it amazing.
Capcom’s newest remake once again proves they’ve got a good handle on it all. The run continues.
Look out for my Resident Evil Ranked article too, to see where this one sits overall!
But wait…there’s more! The Separate Ways DLC!
I’ll get to the point on this one, as the DLC doesn’t muck about. Originally, Ada’s story was included with the main game, but you’d be naïve to think it’s not prime DLC nowadays. Rather than be angry about paying £8, think of this. At £8 and six hours, it compares very favourably in a pounds to minutes ratio when put next to say…RE3R. Take that as you will.
We don’t need the whole story, so Ada can zip through similar areas and get to the action. And she sure does! With her grapple gun allowing melee and traversal, her fighting feels even more fluid than Leon’s. It’s like a greatest hits, running from action sequence to tense chase to big finale. All nicely intertwined with Leon’s story.
Separate Ways is an entertaining DLC that nicely showcases modern RE. Great mechanics and decent intensity. Ada’s voice may be a bit too monotone for my liking, but I never felt as though I was being short-changed.
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