The Resident Evil 4 Remake is out, and by all accounts it's exactly what fans were hoping it would be. While Resident Evil 4 Remake adds plenty of new mechanics, enemies, weapons, and additional quests, it doesn't change the essence of the original Resident Evil 4 experience, and nowhere is that more evident than in the game's opening sequence.
The original 2005 version of Resident Evil 4 is considered to be one of the greatest horror-action games of all time, marking the series' first real departure from its fixed-perspective survival-horror roots. As is the case with any franchise reinvention, its opening moments are some of the most important, introducing players to the tone and mechanics that they can expect for the rest of the experience. Thankfully, Resident Evil 4's opening sequence hits these nails on the head, and the Resident Evil 4 remake takes things a step further.
Resident Evil 4's Opening Sequence Is Still One of the Best in Gaming
Resident Evil 4's iconic opening village sequence is nearly perfect in almost every way. After a brief intro cinematic that gives players the rundown on Leon Kennedy's backstory, players are given control of the special agent with a clear goal: find Ashley Graham, the President's daughter, who is believed to be in a nearby village. After a strange encounter with a few village residents, the player makes their way to the main village square where Resident Evil 4's real opening sequence begins.
From the second Leon Kennedy is noticed, he is bombarded with villager enemies. The enemy force seems manageable at first, being about five or six villagers armed only with torches and rudimentary weapons that slowly walk toward him. The player should be able to dispatch them easily, but as they do, more villagers join the fray. Eventually, the player is forced to move around the village square to avoid being overwhelmed, and after a brief second of refuge in a nearby house, the iconic chainsaw villager forces Leon to keep moving.
This sequence immediately sets the tone for Resident Evil 4, while also giving the player a gameplay tutorial in subtle ways. Without being directly told to do so, the player learns not to back themselves into a corner, and to use Resident Evil 4's more open-ended level design to keep a safe distance. Movement and positioning are key, as is collecting as much ammo as possible. Players also quickly learn that aiming is a pivotal part of gameplay, as Leon can't simply unload a clip into an enemy's body. He needs to carefully aim for the enemy's head, legs, or arms to either disarm them, stop them, or put them down. This sequence also lays down the tone for the rest of the game, immediately showing players that they can be put in mortal danger in an instant, with the only way out being to persist and overcome.
Resident Evil 4's opening sequence is made even better in the remake. While the general structure is almost identical, Resident Evil 4 Remake seamlessly introduces its own new mechanics. Before Leon is spotted by the villagers, he can choose to take a side route into the square, where players can take down an unsuspecting enemy with a stealth kill. During the remake's opening sequence, it's likely that players will be prompted to use Resident Evil 4's new parrying feature as well, either to knock an enemy's projectile out of the sky or avoid an oncoming melee attack. But aside from adding those subtle tutorials, Resident Evil 4 Remake's opening sequence remains largely unchanged, proving how timeless the original sequence is.
Resident Evil 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.