If you are looking for a first hand review of Resident Evil 4 Remake then you are in the right place. We've come a long way in the Resident Evil series of games. After years of pleas for a Resident Evil 2 remake, we finally got it, and it was such a resounding success that Capcom did the same with sister game Resident Evil 3. Now, a complete remake of perhaps the most significant part of the series has arrived: Resident Evil 4. The game that not only pushed the franchise in a new direction, but also influenced third-person gaming for years to come. I confess, being a big fan of the original game, I was wary of such a prospect. I was recently allowed to get my hands on a demo of the game, and I can say that I am now convinced of the potential of this remake.
My Resident Evil 4 Remake demo started with Leon starting to explore ultra-atmospheric caves. These zones are in stark contrast to the gray and open spaces of the village and seem to indicate that Leon will have several claustrophobic encounters with Ganado. In my demo, Leon was forced to grapple with a mutating ganado while the other stayed at a distance and continued to throw sticks of dynamite at him. Luckily, Leon is well equipped this time around and can assign weapons to the d-pad for a quick change. It's nice to see him take a few shots from his legendary pistol and switch to a powerful shotgun without having to open his inventory. Leon's melee skills are also improved from his GameCube incarnation, being able to run up to downed enemies and quickly stab them while lying on the ground. Overall, Resident Evil 4 seems to take combat to a level never seen before in the series.
The caves Leon explores are also home to a boat that appears to have signature paths that intersect each other and create short cuts, allowing exploration and backtracking. At one point, Leon mentions that the door is locked, which means that players will have to look for keys to get through certain areas. While exploring, Leon will also encounter puzzles, and while I didn't see how the one I was shown was solved, I'm looking forward to the return of puzzles in the remakes after their absence from Resident Evil 3.
While exploring the dock, Leon has access to a merchant and a "save" typewriter, which acts as a storage box for items that don't fit in the inventory. With the help of a merchant, he can upgrade and customize his weapons, allowing players to capture the upgraded feel of the original, as well as swapping out the typewriter's inventory drawers. In the new expansion, Leon can even attach amulets to his inventory that grant passive buffs. There seems to be a lot of freedom of choice here when it comes to how the player wants to set up their inventory. A nice addition, to say the least.
Perhaps the most exciting part of my Resident Evil 4 Remake demo was seeing the iconic castle rebuilt from the ground up in impressive detail. It's hackneyed to say that the remake looks just like your brain remembers, but the Capcom team put an impressive amount of effort into creating the environments. It evokes gothic and spooky thoughts at its best; I was very impressed with what I saw. It was also where I first saw Ashley, a fan-favorite character from the original game. Leon and Ashley seem to have a traditional experience: he can force her to follow him or stay put, and there are a few gameplay surprises that I won't reveal here. This time, Ashley appears to be a more elaborate and genuine companion, rather than just a tedious escort mission. Don't worry, it can still be picked up and carried away, but with Leon's new set of tricks, I wouldn't want to be on the recipient's side.
My Resident Evil 4 Remake demo ended with Krauser's iconic fight recreated in brutal detail. Capcom recently stated that this remake won't feature any real-time events like the original, and so far they seem to be living up to that promise. Leon is fully controlled by the player during his encounter with the famous villain from Resident Evil 4, they exchange vicious blows, stabbing and slashing each other in spectacular bloody detail. Leon can also parry and defend against blows in this fight, which gives the impression of cinematic gameplay. If every boss fight in Resident Evil 4 has been so carefully crafted, then old fans and newcomers alike are in for a terrifying, adrenaline-filled experience.
I hope you enjoyed our review of the game Resident Evil 4 Remake and we have exhausted all your questions about the game.
Recommended: Thymesia: A kingdom stricken with plague
