The upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake is looking to improve upon Capcom's 2005 original, genre-defining title in every possible way. Everything from the graphics and gameplay to the overall atmosphere and Shinji Mikami's writing is getting a complete overhaul so that players both old and new will find themselves immersed in an updated adventure. The Resident Evil 2 remake was an overwhelming success, and while the Resident Evil 3 remake didn't fare as well, fans are hoping the Resident Evil 4 remake will take after the former rather than the latter.
But while fans are busy picking apart all the footage shown at Capcom's recent Resident Evil Showcase, it pays to take a closer look at what's going on at the surface level. Almost all the characters in the Resident Evil 4 remake have received glow-ups that make them look more realistic and fashionable to the point that some of them look like completely different people. Not all of the characters are given the same love and attention, however, and while some look almost identical as they did 17 years ago, this just goes to show how timeless their designs are.
The Unwanted American
Before moving on to the bigger character design changes in the Resident Evil 4 remake, one must first look at those that look identical to their original counterparts. It all starts with protagonist Leon S. Kennedy, who looks like a mix of his Resident Evil 4 model and his Resident Evil 2 remake model. The Leon shown in the trailers is still modeled after Romanian model Eduard Badaluta but now sports his iconic attire from Resident Evil 4. Leon wears blue pants and a tight black shirt which he covers with a sheepskin bomber jacket. As with the original game, it looks like Leon loses his jacket once again not too far into the remake.
The Crazy Locals
Next up are the iconic enemies of Resident Evil 4, the Ganados - all of whom have updated character models thanks to the RE Engine. Even with the increased graphical fidelity, the Ganados still wear the same drab commoner garbs from the original, which consist of an assortment of shirts, dresses, vests, and pants. The clothes worn by the Ganados are as dirty as ever, but they still give players insight into the lives they once led before the Las Plagas took over their village.
The Imposing Village Chief
Leading the crazed citizens of the village is Chief Bitores Mendez, who is as tall and imposing as ever. Clad in a long trenchcoat and a new hat, Mendez hides his true form from onlookers. While the majority of his body is corrupted by the Las Plagas, Mendez's face still holds some of its key features, the most important and striking of which are his long beard and artificial left eye (the latter of which becomes a key item for players to progress through the game).
Did Someone Call For Back-Up?
The last of the minor character updates are for U.S. government agent Ingrid Hunnigan, who can be seen in the Resident Evil 4 remake's extended gameplay trailer. Hunnigan looks just as she did in the original Resident Evil 4 and can be seen wearing a black business suit over a white business shirt. Since Hunnigan spends all of Resident Evil 4 providing Leon support from an undisclosed location, her appearance didn't need too many changes for the remake.
The Striking President's Daughter
Now on to the bigger character designs, starting with the second protagonist of Resident Evil 4, Ashley Graham. Ashley has received substantial changes to her character design and is now modeled after Dutch model Ella Freya. Ashley now sports an asymmetrical bob as opposed to her short bob haircut in the original game. She also wears a practical orange coat over her iconic orange turtleneck sweater and green plaid skirt. It seems as though Ashley looks much older than she does in the original game, but whether this correlates to an increase in her capabilities or maturity remains to be seen.
The Questionable Luis Sera
Dr. Luis Sera looks completely different from his original character design on the Nintendo GameCube. His parted hair and devil-may-care appearance still seem to be intact but in place of his obviously Spanish mug is a face that looks more foreign than local. Fans are still divided about Luis Sera's face model, but he still sports the same Spanish-inspired clothing he wore in the original Resident Evil 4.
The Return of Ada Wong
Just like Leon, Ada Wong made her return to the Resident Evil franchise in Resident Evil 4. Her face looks the same as it did in the Resident Evil 2 remake since it is still modeled after real-life model Adriana. Her clothing has changed, as she has thrown away her red dress in favor of a red turtleneck sweater - a more fitting attire for her spy escapades. If the Resident Evil 4 remake aims to honor the original, there is a high chance that Ada's playable segments, namely Assignment: Ada and Separate Ways, will be included in the game at some point.
The Castellan of Salazar Castle
The Last big character change shown in Capcom's Resident Evil Showcase was that of Ramon Salazar. Despite being only 20 years old, Salazar's exposure to the Las Plagas has made him look older than he actually is. The removal of his tricorn hat exposes his white hair, which looks more like a powdered wig than actual locks. But thanks to his short stature and purple garb, it becomes fairly easy for viewers to grow accustomed to his new look.
There will undoubtedly be more surprises for fans as the Resident Evil 4 remake nears its release date. Gameplay reveals, map changes, and new characters all play a part in drumming up the hype for the return of one of the video game industry's biggest titles. Horror has changed, and Resident Evil 4 has changed along with it.
Resident Evil 4 releases on March 24, 2023, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.