Resident Evil 4 receiving a remake was only a matter of time after Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. But while Resident Evil 2 was beloved for how it reimagined its original title, Resident Evil 3 was understandably criticized for how much it omitted and changed. Therefore, the same concern had been carried over to Resident Evil 4, especially with how much content it has and how niche it is with idiosyncrasies and genre-bending mechanics that are unique to it.
Resident Evil presented a showcase recently that centered almost entirely upon Resident Evil 4, and it seems that those concerns have been largely relieved with new cinematics and gameplay shown. Still, as modern as this remake of Resident Evil 4 is, there are surprisingly few changes. The remake looks to faithfully recreate the original’s narrative and story beats, and the changes that are being made are evidently significant.
Ashley’s Plagas Infection May Play a Larger Role in Resident Evil 4
In the Resident Evil 4 remake’s cinematic trailer, the most notable change to the original game’s narrative is that Ashley’s infection may turn her against Leon, at least unwillingly. The infection could be brainwashing her at the behest of Saddler, who may be whispering for her to kill Leon, as the trailer’s editing suggests.
Ashley was indeed infected in the original game, though her symptoms never displayed as severely as in the remake. Leon displays blackened veins throughout his body in a nightmare sequence, and it seems this is the same depiction the remake is alluding to exhibited by the Plagas parasite.
Resident Evil 4 Seemingly Has a Much Different Opening
In the extended Resident Evil 4 remake gameplay trailer released recently, fans can see an area that looks completely new, and obviously lit differently than how they may remember the original, desaturated Resident Evil 4. This sequence looks like the beginning of the game, however, when Leon makes his way through the woods and enters into someone’s cabin.
The original game’s cabin is tiny, yet the cabin Leon enters into in the remake has an enormous subterranean section to explore. Here, the imagery is more evocative of Resident Evil 4 with ritualistic memorabilia, bones, and nooses.
Resident Evil 4 Debuts a Knife Parry and Other Gameplay Mechanics
Perhaps the most notable changes in the Resident Evil 4 remake are apparent in gameplay. Leon now has a dedicated crouch, for example, insinuating that stealth will be a viable option unlike in the action-packed original. Gameplay is also shared from the iconic village ambush where players must survive a horde of local Ganados. The game’s HUD UI is thankfully on display for players to see, showing that players have a button-mashing “Break Free” option while grabbed or the option to defensively stab with Leon’s knife.
Moreover, Leon’s knife now has a parry that can defend against Chainsaw Man enemies. The original game’s mechanic of shooting an enemy and then kicking them while stunned is reprised as a button prompt. But instead of equipping the knife, aiming downward, and slashing at downed enemies, the remake debuts a satisfying ground stab kill prompt.
Resident Evil 4 May or May Not Kill Off the Friendly Dog
Another change in the remake that has been noticed regards Resident Evil 4’s friendly dog NPC. In the original game, this dog is whimpering and caught in a bear trap until players choose to release it, and in doing so they are rewarded later. However, fans were devastated to see that there is indeed a dog caught in a bear trap, but it is already lying there dead.
Many fans have been quick to believe that Resident Evil 4 has simply killed off the dog, but others are confident that this is an intentional misdirect introduced in the remake, and that the friendly dog companion will appear later on to aid Leon once again. Either way, fans will have to wait and see which angle is true when the remake releases early next year.
Resident Evil 4 releases on March 24, 2023, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.