The Resident Evil franchise hasn't had the greatest track record when it comes to representing women. For every hardened survivor like Jill Valentine, there is a character like Ashley Graham that routinely needs to be looked after. This is troubling considering that the latter character is slowly becoming more relevant again now that Capcom's planned Resident Evil 4 remake is just around the corner.
Thankfully, the Resident Evil remakes have done a better job than their original counterparts when it comes to fleshing out the cast; women included. Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Ada Wong are just as capable (if not more so) than Leon Kennedy. With this recent trend of strong female characters, there is a high chance that Ashley will no longer be a burden in 2023's Resident Evil 4.
The Orignal Resident Evil 4 Had Some Nightmare Escort Objectives
2005's Resident Evil 4 is often remembered for its good points. The campy writing, the shift to the now popular (and sometimes overused) over-the-shoulder camera, and the blending of survival horror and action are just a few things players look back at with fondness. It is because Resident Evil 4 has so many good things going for it that people often overlook its shortcomings.
Enter Ashley Graham - the daughter of the United States president and Leon's charge throughout most of the game. Unlike most Resident Evil protagonists, Ashley cannot fight due to her lack of combat training. Because of this, she relies on government agent Leon S. Kennedy to protect her at all times. Once players rescue Ashley for the first time, they must either hide her or have her stay close to them while they take care of the game's myriad of enemies.
Gameplay-wise, Ashley can easily be killed or carried off by humanoid enemies like the Los Illuminados cult members to the nearest door - with both scenarios leading to players losing the game. There are certain segments where players must protect or control Ashley while she either escapes or activates some contraption that allows them to progress the story, and these sequences can be just as frustrating due to her slow walk cycle and inability to defend herself. When it comes to her character, Ashley does little more than scream for Leon to save her whenever she's in trouble.
The Resident Evil Remakes Bode Well For Ashley
Past Resident Evil remakes have done a great job when it comes to making their characters more capable. Resident Evil 2's Claire Redfield survived most of the Raccoon City outbreak without Leon's help and even commandeered the train that the two used to escape. Ada Wong was more capable than Leon as well, as she taught him how to deal with the outbreak and helped him out of some tight spots (she shot a zombie dog that was attacking Leon and even gifted him the rocket launcher he used to defeat the Tyrant and William Birkin's final mutated form). Even Sherry Birkin, who was but a small child during the events of Resident Evil 2, was able to hurt the corrupt Chief Brian Irons when she was captured. That's nothing to say of Resident Evil 3's Jill Valentine, who knew more about the Umbrella Corporation than Carlos Oliveira and could handle both the zombies and Nemesis as well as he could.
Seeing as Ashley Graham is central to Resident Evil 4's plot and gameplay, there is a high chance that protecting and controlling her will be easier in the remake. She might get a weapon to defend herself this time, as is normal for anyone caught in a hostile situation. Ashey could also have better A.I. that allows her to react accordingly to threats. This means that she could smartly avoid traps and enemies if they get too close to her. If all else fails, the very least Capcom can do is make her run just as fast as Leon can.
Ashley's capability could further extend to the game's story. Seeing as the Resident Evil remakes have taken liberties with the original stories, Ashley could serve more as just a damsel in distress. She could help Leon and Ada when the two are preoccupied or unable to do something. Ashley being in the Spanish village longer than the two protagonists might also lend to her knowledge of the area. Whatever Capcom decides to do with Ashley, she will most definitely play a bigger part in this year's Resident Evil 4.
Resident Evil 4 will release on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 24.