Review
Played on: Xbox Series X
Released: 2023
Capcom have been busy with the Resident Evil franchise since Resident Evil 7 broke a bad spell. Going back to what made it a successful franchise in the first place, with remakes of the classics, in-between main releases. After the excellent RE2make, review here, and the missed opportunity that was RE3make, review here, we now arrive at RE4make.
There’s no denying that Resident Evil 4 was a massive turning point for the franchise when it launched back on the GameCube in 2005, further proving its success on the PS2, later the same year. It completely changed the direction of the series and opened a new experience by crossing horror and action together with the now famous, over-the-shoulder, third person view. Inspiring later action titles like Gears of War, massively.
The original RE4 has since been released on multiple platforms, most recently in VR for the Oculus Quest 2, but it's aged a lot and not for the better. Hence a remake was the way to go, leaving behind the awkward walk or shoot mechanics, for fully modernised, third person shooter controls. It’s a large title to remake, much so compared to RE2 and RE3.
So, let’s take a look at this last remake from Capcom, while also keeping in mind that RE4 originally divided RE fans. Those that prefer the old, slow paced, camera angle based, survival horror and those that prefer the action focused RE4 style, which continued into RE 5 and 6.
Released: 2023
Capcom have been busy with the Resident Evil franchise since Resident Evil 7 broke a bad spell. Going back to what made it a successful franchise in the first place, with remakes of the classics, in-between main releases. After the excellent RE2make, review here, and the missed opportunity that was RE3make, review here, we now arrive at RE4make.
There’s no denying that Resident Evil 4 was a massive turning point for the franchise when it launched back on the GameCube in 2005, further proving its success on the PS2, later the same year. It completely changed the direction of the series and opened a new experience by crossing horror and action together with the now famous, over-the-shoulder, third person view. Inspiring later action titles like Gears of War, massively.
The original RE4 has since been released on multiple platforms, most recently in VR for the Oculus Quest 2, but it's aged a lot and not for the better. Hence a remake was the way to go, leaving behind the awkward walk or shoot mechanics, for fully modernised, third person shooter controls. It’s a large title to remake, much so compared to RE2 and RE3.
So, let’s take a look at this last remake from Capcom, while also keeping in mind that RE4 originally divided RE fans. Those that prefer the old, slow paced, camera angle based, survival horror and those that prefer the action focused RE4 style, which continued into RE 5 and 6.
Personally, I was never a huge fan of the original RE4, preferring the older RE style, but have the quality of life improvements of this remake changed my mind?
Let's take a Leon for a forest stroll.
When it comes to representing the original, while at the same time modernising itself cleverly, RE4make does a fantastic job. We’re talking RE2make quality here. Sure, there are some rooms removed here and there, but mostly just excess and forgettable stuff, not the kind of severe cutbacks to whole areas RE3make suffered from. We’re still talking a 15, or more, hour playthrough here.
I’ve only played the original RE4 once, yet I found myself being reminded of scenes, areas and specific rooms throughout my playthrough of this remake. As such, it’s a faithful recreation of the original, while at the same time, there’s been a lot of changes.
Obviously, the graphics are in a completely new league, with a substantial changes to colour usage. However, it retains some of the grey and brown look of the original, thus tricking your mind to remembering it as “that’s just how the original looked”. When comparing directly with the original, however, it was dull and colourless. Sure enough, impressive for its time, considering the number of areas to explore, enemies onscreen and effects, but the remake just outruns it completely. There's far more visual variation here, with no filler or less attractive areas.
This remake runs on the fantastic RE Engine, which we've seen excellent results from in other Capcom releases. Highlighting some beautiful, CGI-like, character models, great animation and a lot of focus on small details. Running at 60fps on current consoles, with a number of visual options to adjust it to your liking. With lots of sparks, dust, foliage, fire and so on, spicing up the whole visual package alongside the detailed textures on the varied environments.
I’ve only played the original RE4 once, yet I found myself being reminded of scenes, areas and specific rooms throughout my playthrough of this remake. As such, it’s a faithful recreation of the original, while at the same time, there’s been a lot of changes.
Obviously, the graphics are in a completely new league, with a substantial changes to colour usage. However, it retains some of the grey and brown look of the original, thus tricking your mind to remembering it as “that’s just how the original looked”. When comparing directly with the original, however, it was dull and colourless. Sure enough, impressive for its time, considering the number of areas to explore, enemies onscreen and effects, but the remake just outruns it completely. There's far more visual variation here, with no filler or less attractive areas.
This remake runs on the fantastic RE Engine, which we've seen excellent results from in other Capcom releases. Highlighting some beautiful, CGI-like, character models, great animation and a lot of focus on small details. Running at 60fps on current consoles, with a number of visual options to adjust it to your liking. With lots of sparks, dust, foliage, fire and so on, spicing up the whole visual package alongside the detailed textures on the varied environments.
Ranging from dark, muddy woodland roads, to dusty, stone-built villages and beautifully shiny, marble coated, castle halls. With lots of focus on smaller detail, in beautifully decorated dining halls, vintage rooms, castle hallways and worn-down cottages. It’s a very pretty title and far more memorable than the original ever was visually.
Gameplay is somewhat different from the recent RE2 & RE3 remakes, here the enemies don’t grab and eat at you like a zombie, but gather around like mad villagers, hitting or melee attacking with anything from axes to knives. Forcing the player to hastily fend off hordes of enemies at a time, while dodging sharp objects being thrown at you. It’s less about zombies and more about lunatics.
Gameplay is somewhat different from the recent RE2 & RE3 remakes, here the enemies don’t grab and eat at you like a zombie, but gather around like mad villagers, hitting or melee attacking with anything from axes to knives. Forcing the player to hastily fend off hordes of enemies at a time, while dodging sharp objects being thrown at you. It’s less about zombies and more about lunatics.
RE4, both the original and this remake, clearly are built for action, with a looting system to not only get more ammo, but also coins and treasure. These valuables allows you to buy upgrades for your weapons. Knife combat is heavily encouraged and the guns vary from powerful shotguns, long range sniper rifles or rapid machine pistols. Distancing itself clearly from the older RE titles which are slower and less action focused.
This remakes modern, third person, shooter controls make the stiff and cumbersome walk or shoot mechanics of the old game stand out like a sore thumb. Here, it flows nicely, juggling firing your gun on the move and running away from attacks. However, there’s still that annoying fact that you can’t hip fire in a modern RE. Why can’t you just pop off some shotgun shells from the hip as I retreat, it would make that gap up to Gears of War’s excellent shooting mechanics, even smaller.
The story feels far more professionally conveyed this time around, less cheesy and with serious reworks of some of the characters. The super annoying, kid-like, Salzar is remade like an older man and toned down considerably in his goofy personality. Sherry is less helpless, removing the annoyance when escorting her around.
This remakes modern, third person, shooter controls make the stiff and cumbersome walk or shoot mechanics of the old game stand out like a sore thumb. Here, it flows nicely, juggling firing your gun on the move and running away from attacks. However, there’s still that annoying fact that you can’t hip fire in a modern RE. Why can’t you just pop off some shotgun shells from the hip as I retreat, it would make that gap up to Gears of War’s excellent shooting mechanics, even smaller.
The story feels far more professionally conveyed this time around, less cheesy and with serious reworks of some of the characters. The super annoying, kid-like, Salzar is remade like an older man and toned down considerably in his goofy personality. Sherry is less helpless, removing the annoyance when escorting her around.
In general, the whole story, while still absurd in its premise, locations and boss designs, feels more matured and suits modern times better. While still retaining some of the tongue in cheek dialogue and boss encounter absurdity.
I enjoyed myself immensely, more so than I did back in 2005, where I found the controls cumbersome. Having that element of annoyance removed completely changed my opinion, making the remake far more suited for its action approach. This time it just works, while at the same time feeling and looking like how I remember the original, but it in a fonder way.
It's a challenging game for sure, newcomers should consider the easy option. It's a game that I highly advise thoroughly exploring, making sure to pick up enough treasures to have the money to upgrade and buy better weaponry. Thus making the odds better and enemy encounters easier.
Capcom have hit remake gold again, in the same quality RE2make did. This time, I feel they've outdone the original in every way, leaving it behind as nothing necessary to play for newcomers as time passes by.
I enjoyed myself immensely, more so than I did back in 2005, where I found the controls cumbersome. Having that element of annoyance removed completely changed my opinion, making the remake far more suited for its action approach. This time it just works, while at the same time feeling and looking like how I remember the original, but it in a fonder way.
It's a challenging game for sure, newcomers should consider the easy option. It's a game that I highly advise thoroughly exploring, making sure to pick up enough treasures to have the money to upgrade and buy better weaponry. Thus making the odds better and enemy encounters easier.
Capcom have hit remake gold again, in the same quality RE2make did. This time, I feel they've outdone the original in every way, leaving it behind as nothing necessary to play for newcomers as time passes by.
Now go and enjoy yourself like it's 2005 again, only better!
