After months of waiting, fans have finally gotten the chance to see some uncut gameplay for the Resident Evil 4 remake. This reimagining of one of gaming's all-time classics is generating a ton of hype, and Capcom has only stoked the flames by releasing new gameplay, details, and a story trailer. It's the gameplay that fans have been looking forward to the most, and it seems to be delivering. While a lot of things are brand new, many others have carried over from the original title. Much like the other Resident Evil remakes, Resident Evil 4’s remake will be its own distinct entity while calling back to what made the original release great.

There's a lot going into that famed greatness, and Resident Evil 4 still stands as one of the most influential third-person shooters on the market. The gunplay was far above what many other game developers were putting out at the time, and the highly interactive enemies offered lots of room for player improvement. Resident Evil 4 has been played and replayed many times, and those who love it know it inside and out. The Resident Evil 4 remake will be under heavy scrutiny by them, and a lot of finer details are already proving to be different. Only the final release will confirm if these are truly better or worse, but it's definitely clear that RE4’s remake is giving combat a major overhaul.

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Leon Is More Mobile In Resident Evil 4 Remake

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One of the first things that veteran Resident Evil 4 players will notice is that Leon can now shoot and move at the same time. In the original Resident Evil 4, aiming locked Leon in place and displayed a red laser for accurate shots. It's archaic by modern standards but definitely helped at the time, and made the game more accessible on Nintendo consoles. The laser sight on Leon's pistol has, at least for the game’s opening, been replaced with a standard reticle, but there’s more to do than just steady one’s aim. Battles have ramped up in speed and complexity, with the gameplay trailer showing Leon running all over the Ganados’ village. It's packed with enemies, and the player will need to use every tool they have to avoid being overwhelmed.

Fortunately, the supercop-turned-government agent has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. The sprinting and vaulting of the original Resident Evil 4 is back, and he can also jump off of roofs to ensure that players will rarely be cornered. What's new is the amount of interactivity in the environment. The big one shown involved Leon shooting a lantern over a cow to send it charging into encroaching foes, complete with a context-sensitive one-liner. Even enemies can get in on this, as the chainsaw-wielding Dr. Salvador is shown destroying the wooden supports above a path and carving through a barricaded door. News outlets with access to a demo have also reported that the iconic tower in the center of the village isn't safe, as Salvador can collapse the structure and finish off a downed Leon.

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Resident Evil 4 Remake Is Full Of New Abilities for Friends and Foes

Ganados church

General enemies are even more intimidating than they were in the original Resident Evil 4. New hardware means it's possible to spawn more at once, and the hordes in the base game could already feel quite large. Without Leon's iconic head or leg shot followed by a roundhouse kick, these angry masses would be too much. As it stands, Ganados can still grapple with Leon from the front to strangle him and from behind to restrain him.

Unarmed Ganados can now also use quick punches at short range, meaning Leon is never truly safe when next to an enemy. It remains to be seen how other Ganados have evolved, but considering that variants in Resident Evil 4 only had a couple attacks apiece, there's a lot of room for improvement.

While fans worry about the empowered parasitic cult, they can at least take solace in a couple new methods for defense. Leon can crouch, and reportedly has access to stealth takedowns when foes aren't aware of him. This won't always be an option, and it's unclear if stealth can be re-established in areas meant for combat. Even so, Leon has gained the ability to parry any enemy that's about to attack him. It appears that Capcom has tried to retain the usefulness of the dodge and the infinite knife of Resident Evil 3 remake, with both combined as a parry with normal and perfect timings. Skilled use can prompt some classic RE4 cheese, particularly when Leon rams his knife into an oncoming chainsaw in a shower of sparks.

RE4 Remake’s Knife Opens Up A New World of Possibilities

The Leon and Krauser fight in Resident Evil 4

The window to parry enemies seems generous, and there's a good reason for it. Leon's knife has taken on a life all to its own in the Resident Evil 4 remake, allowing him to quickly dispatch enemies grabbing him, parry many attacks, and even instantly kill downed enemies. This seems like an upgrade from the static swipes of original RE4, but it all comes at a cost. Leon's knife has durability like the knives in the Resident Evil 2 remake, and he will need to repair it using scavenged materials. Observant viewers have noticed that perfect parries only drain a bit of durability, so players need to manage their personal skill and resources to make it through the Spanish countryside.

Ammo and meter management has always been a part of Resident Evil, but the Resident Evil 4 remake will make things a bit easier for players in combat if they prepare for it. Resident Evil 4's iconic hooded Merchant is back, and his store is more robust than ever. Players can once again buy and sell items, as well as upgrade their weapons.

Even the knife is included this time around, and those in love with its utility will want to focus on improving durability. If the Resident Evil 4 remake covers as much ground as the original, players can expect rewards for knife mastery late in the game. Thanks to the diversity Capcom has put into RE4, there's bound to be plenty more setpieces and mechanics in the full release, and fans can't wait to get their hands on it.

Resident Evil 4 will release on March 24, 2023, on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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