Resident Evil is going through something of a renaissance right now. While new entries like Resident Evil 7 and this year's Resident Evil Village have played a role in revitalizing the series, Capcom's successful remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3 have proven just as important in helping the series bounce back following an ill-received string of games. As the series moves forward, rumors have continued to pop up regarding a possible remake of Resident Evil 4, and should they pan out it'd hardly be a surprise given how well the previous two Resident Evil remakes did.
In the event of Resident Evil 4 receiving a remake, one can only wonder how it would differ from the current version of the game. RE2 and 3's remakes make some pretty big changes, and it's fair to assume an RE4 remake could see similar alterations. Improvements like modernizing RE4's antiquated tank controls or giving Ada Wong a larger in-game role would surely be welcome sights, but it would be nice for Capcom follow the old mantra of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" when it comes to some of RE4's more defining features.
Resident Evil 4's Merchant
The enigmatic, raspy-voiced Merchant is a fan-favorite RE4 character, despite his lack of involvement in the story. He's little more than a smooth-talking shopkeeper who spontaneously shows up to sell Leon Kennedy weapons at various points throughout the game, and nothing about this mysterious fellow is explained. However, his iconic lines and strangely friendly demeanor make his presence an oddly comforting one in RE4's campaign; he feels like the closest thing to a friend that Leon has in the village.
It's hard to think about RE4 without imagining this hooded figure asking what one would like to buy and/or sell, and it'd be a shame if he wasn't around to pose the same questions in a potential remake.
Ashley as RE4's Resident In-Game Companion
Ashley is perhaps RE4's most contentious character due to how she is incorporated into the game. As Leon's objective is to rescue her, several gameplay sequences require players to carefully escort her through dangerous areas. For some, keeping Ashley safe is easier said than done.
If an RE4 remake were to be announced, a portion of the Resident Evil community would surely hope that Ashley be omitted or given nigh-invincibility akin to companion characters in The Last of Us, but such avenues would only make the gameplay less varied. Plus, Leon is tasked with saving the President's daughter; it wouldn't make sense for such a key story element to not be reflected in gameplay. Some subtle tweaks to Ashley's AI, more options to defend her, and maybe some less annoying voice lines should be more than enough to satisfy critics while retaining RE4's unique escort missions.
The Wacky, Weird, and Campy Tone of Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is a very strange experience. Here, roundhouse kicks are an effective means of crowd control, players face off against literal giants, Leon constantly spouts action movie one-liners, and the story revolves around rescuing the US President's daughter from a super-powered cult leader. Suffice to say, it's incredibly cheesy and over the top, but that's part of the charm. It's effectively the video game equivalent of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, and like that movie, RE4 wouldn't be as fondly remembered were it not for its more extravagant elements. One can only hope this rumored remake, should it exist, doesn't feel inclined to take itself too seriously.
Resident Evil 4's Mercenaries Mode
Several Resident Evil games have taken a stab at the Mercenaries challenge mode introduced in RE3, but none have quite hit the mark like RE4 when it launched. The series' first attempt at a fast-paced, third-person shooter paired nicely with the action-packed nature of Mercenaries, and the large number of playable characters added reasons to keep coming back.
One big criticism directed toward Resident Evil 3 was its lack of content beyond the campaign, so retaining this classic RE4 mode in a remake and improving on it by adding more maps, characters, and weapons could be a good way for Capcom to make amends.
A Resident Evil 4 remake is rumored to be in development.