In general, the video game industry is keen to push forward with new technology, new innovative ways of telling stories, and visuals that are constantly pushing the boundaries of hardware. But there are those who like to turn the clock back a little bit, even on modern titles. Recently, it was announced that a PS1-style demake of Bloodborne will be out next year, and there are others keen to recreate games with a retro look. With that, another fan is imagining what Resident Evil 4 would look like if it was made a couple of decades ago.
In a video uploaded to YouTube recently, the Residence of Evil channel introduces a new demake, which takes Resident Evil 4 and rebuilds it as a PlayStation 1 title. The game is being made by Rustic Games BR who has made other PS1-style demakes in the past. Essentially, what this fan creation does is take the fourth installment in the RE series and imagine what it would look like if it was placed in the same era as the first game. This includes the tank controls, menu system, and fixed camera angles that are synonymous with the first three in the series.
The very opening of the video shows Leon Kennedy inside one of the cabins at the beginning, fighting and dodging Resident Evil 4's infamous chainsaw guy. Other footage includes him firing at, and knifing, some of the infected villagers. The locations and enemies are very much in keeping with the fourth game, just with that retro mid-1990s look. According to the commentary, the developer is not intending to create the entirety of the game and the footage is simply a "taste" of what it would look like as a PlayStation 1 title.
For whatever reason, modern games reimagined as PS1 titles is an intriguing trend that seems to be catching on. More up-to-date releases such as The Last Of Us: Part 2 have been given the demake treatment. In an industry that is driving technology forward, these anachronistic fan creations are a neat idea, not only as a fun experiment, but perhaps also to just how far gaming technology has come over the years.
With Resident Evil 4 VR coming out recently, it seems that the studio and the community is not done with this installment. Given that it's considered one of the best Resident Evil games out there, it's perhaps not too surprising that fans are keen to tinker with it, giving it a new lease of life that is equal parts refreshing, and nostalgic.
Resident Evil 4 is available now for GameCube, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, PC, Switch, Wii, Xbox 360, and Xbox One, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices.