Resident Evil 4 has looked highly faithful to its original counterpart since its gameplay was revealed. Many fans of the original Resident Evil games rejoiced when that was acknowledged, especially after how loose of an interpretation Resident Evil 3 was compared to its original game. Thankfully, more news has ensured that Resident Evil 4’s enduring iconography will be reprised, though some fans may actually find this to be a detriment if done poorly or if it adheres to the source material too closely.
It was recently confirmed that Resident Evil 4 will feature the original game’s island setting. This makes sense due to how faithfully the remake looks to be adapting the original, but this may have actually been a divisive choice with regard to how some fans perceive this part of the game. It is true that the island is crucial to the narrative, but in its time, it was regarded much more poorly than the rural village and castle areas that came before it. Because the island is returning for the remake, it could potentially bog the game down with the same mundane shift in tone.
Resident Evil Rarely Sticks the Landing on Its Third Act Settings
The Resident Evil 4 island problem isn't unique; Resident Evil games often have lackluster third acts, typically due to a tonal shift in location that is underwhelming and starkly opposite to the installment’s primary locale. Indeed, the main setting for each Resident Evil game is incredibly important to its iconography—Resident Evil Village demonstrated this through a subtitle that points to a nondescript location, making its setting a character itself and the indisputable star of the game as a result.
That said, Resident Evil seems unable to help itself when it comes to shifting that focal point to a different location in the final act of the game. Thus, that location becomes divisive because it essentially plucks players from the setting, atmosphere, and gameplay they were enjoying. Resident Evil 7 has perhaps the most divisive third act setting of any Resident Evil game, taking place on a wrecked ship and a mine tunnel after having players explore a dilapidated, disgusting estate.
However, Heisenberg’s factory in Resident Evil Village was also not remarkable or favorable in comparison to the explorable village that players spend most of their time in. Resident Evil 4 had the same concerns before either of these games, where its island setting was a drastic change from the rural Spain setting that makes the game iconic.
Resident Evil 4’s Island Section Has a Lot to Live Up to
The island is divisive because it tonally shifts Resident Evil 4 from a survival-horror game to an action-oriented game, complete with rooms of military Ganados and explosions, which disrupts its established atmosphere. Although it diversifies the gameplay, it's an unfavorable change when compared to earlier locales that have much more personality and nostalgia. Players may not have had such a mixed reception toward Resident Evil 4’s island setting if the game’s earlier settings were not as paramount and rich as they are. Of course, Resident Evil 4’s island is where players find Los Illuminados’ Regeneradors and Iron Maidens, but that is likely the most meaningful addition that sequence provided to players.
There is much to enjoy about each setting in Resident Evil 4, and the island being in the remake gives it an opportunity to be presented uniquely. If Capcom is going into this remake with all the knowledge of what fans adored and disliked about Resident Evil 4, there is a lot of potential for what this reimagining of the island could produce.
Resident Evil 4 is scheduled to release on March 24 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.