The game has now sold over 10 million copies, outselling the original, and won ‘Ultimate Game of the Year’ at the 2019 Golden Joystick Awards.įans soon turned their attention to the Resident Evil 3 Remake, eagerly awaiting the return of the terrifying Nemesis enemy, rendered with updated technology for a greater fear-factor. Resident Evil 2 Remake brought the classic 1998 game to a modern audience with improved graphics and gameplay but the same tense atmosphere. In 2019, it appeared that Capcom had perfected the art of the remake. But Capcom regained its footing by distancing itself from action, and returning to its survival horror roots with the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 7 (my own personal favourite in the series). After Resident Evil 6, the series was floundering and declining in popularity. I will never scoff at Capcom’s ideas for a remake again.The Resident Evil series has had a resurgence in the last six or so years, despite the catastrophic failures of its Netflix adaptation and mediocre CGI films. This is what a true reimagining looks like, giving us a whole new side of beloved environments and characters. Not only am I comfortable definitively stating Resident Evil 4 Remake is superior to the original, but it proves that even recreations of games that hold up to modern standards aren’t superfluous. (And you know how I feel about the dangers of modern video game graphics.) Resident Evil 4 Remake is the perfect companion piece to an already amazing title, but it also takes the experience to new heights and perfects many of the original’s greatest flaws. After all, it’s essentially the same game just with modern graphics. Even Demon’s Souls (2020), an experience I wholeheartedly adored due to its phenomenal spectacle, was unnecessary. Rarely does a remake justify its existence. Launching a game that plays great day one is something that rarely happens nowadays, even with the best PC games, so I’m glad Capcom didn’t let bugs consume it. So yes, while this isn’t necessarily in comparison with the original Resident Evil 4 (which also runs great on PC), it’s still a point in its favor. The major set piece here: A stone dragon breathing fire. This portion of the game has Leon ride a gondola into a hidden part of the Castle where he goes to battle with enemies perched upon sniper towers within the confines of a massive underground city. We could talk about how some of the side objectives feel a little tacked on, yet what bothers me the most is the omission of one of the original’s most exhilarating sections. Okay, yes, Resident Evil 4 Remake is better in many ways than the original, but it’s not perfect. But I have one nitpick: Where’s my dragon? Whereas Resident Evil 4’s story is a massive weight holding down a great game, the Remake offers a solid narrative that bolsters the dark atmosphere of its world. Capcom didn’t shy away from revisiting each character and making them appeal to modern standards. Similarly haunted by the mistakes of his past, there are several phenomenal conversations Leon has with him detailing his regrets and lack of action up until now. And instead of the narrative being treated like a joke, Leon himself seems to use his sense of humor as a coping mechanism to combat the trauma he’s endured.Īnd one of the most prominent side-characters, Luis Sera, is given importance in the story. We see him struggling from the events of Raccoon City, haunted by the mistakes he made that day. Resident Evil 4 Remake opens in a way that immediately suggests things are changing, but it doesn’t quite get rid of Leon’s snarkiness. I wasn’t looking forward to the remake’s rendition of it, and I had no reason to believe it would shatter expectations. Beyond being an obnoxious mess of loud explosions, bombastic music, annoying enemies and simple level design, it lacks the subtle tension that makes these games shine. Resident Evil 4’s helicopter section is easily the worst aspect of the original. A believable dynamic between the two is something the original game never delivered. Leon asks if she’s okay, with Ashley responding with something along the lines of “yeah I’m fine, but this would’ve killed me before.” That growth we see from her, shifting from sheltered to hardened by the events around her, was enough to be sold on her character. One line as Leon and Ashley descend into deep brown murky waters still sticks with me. You can feel that being trapped in this terrible situation has forced them to become actual friends. Yes, you can still tell Ashley probably has a bit of a crush on Leon, but his responses to it are mature. The two begin the game as proper strangers, yet at the end of it there’s a sort of silent supportive bond that isn’t there in the original. With a fresh face, new outfit, and a wildly different relationship with Leon, it is significantly more mature. Resident Evil 4 remake’s Ashley might as well be a new character.
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