For the past few years now, Capcom has seen tremendous success in remaking Resident Evil games, and if rumors are to be believed, Resident Evil 4 will be Capcom's next remake. At the moment, Capcom has already reimagined some of the first games in the Resident Evil franchise, allowing players to take a nostalgic trip back to Resident Evil's classic period in the late '90s. While the Resident Evil remakes have been successful so far, none can compare the praise given to the Resident Evil 2 remake.
Ever since its release back in 2019, the reimagining of the 1998 classic game has become a massive success for Capcom, with the Resident Evil 2 remake selling more copies than the original. Although Capcom has expressed its interest in remaking another Resident Evil game, many believed that Resident Evil 4 is the title that Capcom plans to reimagine next. While Resident Evil 4's popularity will surely guarantee some level of success for a remake, Capcom has the insurmountable task of developing it in a way that would live up or even surpass the success of the Resident Evil 2 remake.
Why Resident Evil 2 Remake is Hard To Beat
One thing that the Resident Evil 2 remake did best is to recreate the events of the original game faithfully. It is worth noting that the reimagining of Resident Evil 2 is not a shot for shot remake of the original. Capcom added new plotlines and expanded some minor characters, such as Robert Kendo, HUNK, and Marvin Branagh. Despite this, the major events that transpired in the remake are mostly the same as the original, which is why it is both a nostalgic and fresh experience for veteran players of the game.
Additionally, Capcom also included new locations in the game, such as The Orphanage, and an expanded sewer, which allowed players to explore even more of Raccoon City and truly understand its tragic fate. The remake also upgraded the game's enemies with the infamous Mr. X designed to be more menacing and threatening to the player. Even zombies, which are the game's basic enemies, received a major overhaul and are more threatening to the player, especially when encountered in tight corridors. Overall, the Resident Evil 2 remake's success all boils down to its faithfulness to its source material while adding minor elements that enhance the experience.
How Capcom Should Approach Resident Evil 4 Remake
Should Capcom remake Resident Evil 4, the studio should learn some of the elements that worked in Resident Evil 2 and those that did not do so well in Resident Evil 3. While the latter's remake was also a success for Capcom, it did not have the same level of reception, given that it changed the game too much. It is worth remembering that Capcom also removed some locations and key events in the Resident Evil 3 remake, which disappointed some fans. Given this, the rumored Resident Evil 4 remake should take inspiration from Resident Evil 2 and add new storylines on top of the original story without taking anything away from its source material.
It has been rumored that Resident Evil 4 will expand on the story of Dr. Salvador, who is widely known as the Chainsaw guy in the original game. At the moment, it is unclear how Capcom will approach this expanded story, but it is likely to be the origins of the iconic enemy. Capcom may develop the Chainsaw Guy's origin story similar to that of Lisa Trevor from the original game's remake. In the end, Resident Evil 4 is already a popular title among Resident Evil fans, and a remake of it will surely bring some level of success for Capcom. However, one important thing that the studio should remember is the outcome of the first Resident Evil remakes, focusing on all the elements that worked in Resident Evil 2.
Resident Evil 4 is rumored to be in development.