The Resident Evil 4 remake is scheduled to arrive at the end of March, and even excited fans are sure to have their concerns. The Resident Evil 2 remake received a positive reception, while the Resident Evil 3 remake was nearly the polar opposite. Longtime fans of the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis were disappointed with how much content was cut in the remake, and there are fans of the original Resident Evil 4 who are now worried that the same could be said for its own remake.
Resident Evil 4 may not feature quick-time events or other mechanics the original game introduced, but fans of how Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes play may be pleased with modern changes to Resident Evil 4. Next month, Resident Evil Village’s Winters’ Expansion adds a third-person mode, which could be a wonderful preface for how Resident Evil 4’s remake will look and play. Because of Resident Evil Village’s explicit Resident Evil 4 inspiration, playing this third-person mode may be a great lead into the Resident Evil 4 remake.
Resident Evil Village Shares Similarities With Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil Village is one of the most campy and outlandish Resident Evil installments, but its European horror lands because of Resident Evil 4’s influence. Resident Evil often toes the line between campy, creepy, and absurd, but Resident Evil 4 managed to bundle that together to make a fun experience with creative third-person shooter mechanics.
Features such as arranging items in an attache case or purchasing armaments from a charismatic Merchant are iconic parts of Resident Evil 4, and that same atmosphere in a rural European landscape was the blueprint for Resident Evil Village. Specific imagery is also reflected in Resident Evil Village, such as Salvatore Moreau’s mutated amphibian form mirroring that of Resident Evil 4’s Del Lago.
Now that Resident Evil Village will have a third-person mode, this experience will be echoed even more saliently, and it could have an effect on the inevitable Resident Evil 9 and future installments. For example, it could imply that Resident Evil 9 may choose to either abandon the first-person perspective, or let players select between the options of a first- or third-person view. Regardless, the Resident Evil 4 remake will be in third-person, and fans could learn a lot about what it will play like by first playing Resident Evil Village’s third-person mode.
Resident Evil Village Can be Resident Evil 4 Remake’s Template
IManeuvering through RE4 remake’s rural Spain in search of Ashley Graham may be more reminiscent of Resident Evil Village than Resident Evil 4. Considering modern Resident Evil games' fidelities and gameplay, it would be surprising if the Resident Evil 4 remake reprises all the original game’s mechanics, such as tank controls, downward knife-slashes, or suplexes.
Modern controls from the Resident Evil 2 remake should be expected, but Resident Evil 3 remake did include a dodge mechanic like in its original game. With that in mind, the Resident Evil 4 remake may plan to reprise some of its original mechanics too. That said, not much has been showcased for the remake beyond a few atmospheric scenes.
As a result, it is unclear how faithful the remake will be to the original. Some fans will surely play through Resident Evil 4 again before its remake releases in March 2023, which will be a good way to discern what changes have been made. But fans should consider playing through Resident Evil Village’s third-person mode beforehand too, if for no other reason than to see what the Resident Evil 4 remake may play like if Capcom decides to fully modernize it.
Resident Evil 4 Remake releases on March 24, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.