Resident Evil 4's Ashley has undergone a significant transformation in the 2023 remake, emerging as a more complex and capable character. With updated dialogue and actions, Ashley has evolved from the traditional damsel in distress trope to a strong and intelligent partner who complements Leon's skills in the game.
From being more thoughtful in her approach to situations to actively helping Leon in fights and freeing him from traps, Ashley's modernized personality is a refreshing and welcome change. These are just a few ways Ashley has been transformed in the remake of Resident Evil 4 and how these changes have impacted the game's overall narrative and gameplay.
9 First Scene: More Fierce
When Leon finally makes his way to the church, he finds Ashley locked inside a room. Unlike in the original game, where she throws a piece of wood from afar and curls up next to some barrels, the remake portrays her as a more competent and brave young woman.
She surprises the intruder with a heavy staff and immediately flees the room, seeking to escape on her own. Despite not fully trusting Leon at first, Ashley remains level-headed and points out the imminent danger she sees outside the window. The very first scene featuring Ashley in the remake establishes her as a more assertive character, who can handle herself in difficult situations.
8 Different Commands: Tight Or Loose Formation
Ashley's behavior towards Leon has been significantly improved compared to the 2005 version. In the past, Ashley was prone to getting into danger and would follow Leon around closely. In the new version, Ashley has been given the ability to maintain a loose or tight formation, depending on the situation. When in a tight formation, Ashley follows Leon closely, so as not to get left behind or captured by enemies.
On the other hand, when in a loose formation, she will stay further away from combat to avoid harm. Although the ability to command Ashley to hide in a locker still exists in the game, it has been mostly removed. Additionally, the remake shows Ashley reacting differently to Leon's request to hide in a locker, as she is now offended and questions his suggestion, whereas, in the original game, she would always obey, regardless of where she was hiding.
7 No Need To Be Caught
The updated version of Ashley has something new that adds to her capabilities: the ability to jump from high places without assistance. In the original version, Ashley constantly relied on Leon to catch her when jumping, which became repetitive.
The remake introduces an independent Ashley, who can jump on her own if the player decides to leave the jumping spot. While she may still require Leon's assistance in some cases, the new feature demonstrates her increased agility and resilience in traversing the environment. Additionally, the new cutscenes still include Leon catching Ashley and delivering a cool one-liner, like "Skillz" or "My hero", but she can now manage the jumps by herself, highlighting her new level of independence.
6 No Health Bar
An interesting update to Ashley is that she no longer has a health bar, although she can still be killed by gunshots. While she cannot die from her health getting too low, she will need Leon's help to get up when attacked. This new game mechanic makes it easier for players to focus on protecting Ashley from being kidnaped or collapsing, rather than constantly monitoring her health levels like in the original game.
The removal of Ashley’s health bar is seen as an improvement in the game’s mechanics, as players can now be more strategic in their approach to protecting her.
5 Different Appearance
Although Ashley's physical appearance hasn't undergone major changes, players can easily spot differences in her character design. Firstly, her haircut has been updated to a modern version of her previous straight-hair-with-fringe cut. Another departure is her attire, as the remake's Ashley wears a green checkered skort - a combination of shorts and skirt - and elegant high boots that are less bulky than those worn by the 2005 Ashley.
During the beginning of the game, she wears an orange coat that is later removed after being kidnaped. Her signature orange turtleneck sleeveless top is still present, but she no longer has the knitted blouse tied around her shoulders that was present in the original game. Fans have commented that her new outfit is more fitting for a president's daughter.
4 Different Dialogue - No More “Leon, Help!”
The remake of Ashley's character includes noteworthy updates, including her dialogue lines. Unlike in the original gameplay, Ashley no longer repeatedly screams for Leon's help, which was a complaint of many fans. Instead, she requests assistance only when necessary, and when kidnaped, she demands her attacker release her rather than shouting for Leon.
After almost every encounter, she expresses concern for Leon's well-being and asks if he's hurt. She exhibits greater thoughtfulness regarding her situation, as evidenced by her response to Leon's comment about the sewer's smell. Leon says that “it smells pretty bad” and asks her if she’s OK. She answers very honestly “Yeah. Before, this would’ve killed me, though.” Rather than falling apart at the slightest sight of something disturbing, Ashley appears to be transforming into a survivor, which has been well-received by fans.
3 More Helpful
Ashley Graham's character in the remake of RE4 has become more helpful, with new cutscenes showing her taking an active role in aiding Leon. In one example, during the fight against Mendez, she watches closely and breaks a window to create an escape route for Leon once the building catches fire. This is a departure from the original game, where Leon had to jump out of a boarded-up window and meet up with Ashley.
In another instance, while in the sewers, Ashley holds a bridge for Leon and can release it at the right moment to kill the dreadful Regenerator, also delivering the victorious “How do you like this?!” line. These moments showcase a more capable and resourceful Ashley, who actively assists Leon rather than being solely reliant on him.
2 More Capable
In the sequence where players control Ashley after Leon is trapped in the castle, fans have observed a noticeable difference in Ashley's character between the original game and the remake. In the remake, Ashley exhibits greater courage and competence than in the original. She initially leaves Leon behind but quickly realizes that she cannot run anymore. Navigating through the creepy corridors, she avoids encounters with menacing armor monsters and ultimately frees Leon. Though she is kidnaped immediately after, she demonstrates her capability and proves to be a valuable asset to Leon.
While the 2005 Ashley also fares well in this sequence, the primary issue with her portrayal is that she is not motivated by the desire to rescue Leon, but rather by a desire to find him for protection. Thus, the difference between the two iterations lies in what drives the characters to persevere through the horrors of the castle, with the remake's Ashley displaying thoughtfulness and exceptional assistance to Leon. By the end of the game, Leon himself tells Ashley that she doesn’t need him because she proved that she can take care of herself just fine.
1 Stronger Personality
Ashley Graham's modernized personality is one of the most significant changes in the remake. Throughout the game, she transforms from a damsel in distress to a courageous and intelligent woman who states in multiple scenes that she wants to be a team with Leon, not only someone who needs saving. She expresses her desire to become an agent like him and to help protect the United States from threats.
Her strong personality is also evident in the scene where Saddler tries to control her body to shoot Leon, but she resists and wastes the bullets on enemies instead. Ashley's contributions go beyond just protecting herself, as she assists Leon in unlocking doors, holding up bridges, and even controlling a wrecking ball. Overall, the remake's Ashley is a significant departure from her original 2005 character, and fans appreciate the modernized and more independent personality that suits her well.