Resident Evil 4 is widely regarded as one of the best games of all time, and for good reason. It revolutionized the survival horror genre with its over-the-shoulder perspective, dynamic combat, and thrilling story. It also influenced countless other games that followed in its footsteps, such as Gears of War, Dead Space, and The Last of Us. But how do you improve on a masterpiece? How do you remake a game that is already near-perfect?
The answer is simple: you do it with the passion, respect, and creativity that Capcom has shown since Resident Evil HD Remake back in 2015. That's exactly what Capcom has done again with Resident Evil 4 Remake, a stunning reimagining of the 2005 classic that preserves its essence while enhancing every aspect of it. This is not just a faithful remaster with updated graphics and controls; this is a complete overhaul that redefines what a remake can be.
The story of Resident Evil 4 Remake follows Leon S. Kennedy, a former rookie cop who survived the Raccoon City incident six years ago. He is now a Secret Service agent working directly for the president of the United States, and his latest mission is to rescue Ashley Graham, the president's daughter, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult called Los Iluminados. Leon tracks her down to a remote village in Northern Spain, where he encounters hostile villagers infected by a parasite called Las Plagas. He soon realizes that he is in for more than he bargained for, as he faces deadly enemies, twisted bosses, and shocking revelations.
The plot of Resident Evil 4 Remake is largely faithful to the original game, but with some significant changes and additions that make it more coherent, immersive, and engaging. The characters are more fleshed out and have better voice acting and motion capture. The dialogue is more natural and witty, with some memorable lines and banter. The cutscenes are more cinematic and dramatic, with some new scenes that add depth and emotion to the story. The lore is more consistent and expanded, with more details about the origins and motives of Los Iluminados, Las Plagas, and the mysterious Ada Wong.
The gameplay of Resident Evil 4 Remake is where the remake truly shines. It retains the core mechanics of the original game, such as the over-the-shoulder perspective, the inventory system, the weapon upgrades, and the quick-time events. However, it also introduces new features and improvements that make it more fluid, responsive, and satisfying.
The controls are modernized and intuitive, allowing Leon to move and shoot at the same time, dodge attacks, use melee weapons, and perform contextual actions. The combat is more dynamic and challenging, with smarter enemies that react to your actions and environment.
The level design is more varied and interactive, with multiple paths, secrets, puzzles, traps, and destructible objects. The graphics are stunning and realistic, with detailed textures, lighting effects, shadows, reflections, and animations. The sound design is immersive and atmospheric, with crisp sound effects, ambient noises, music cues, and voiceovers.
The main story of Resident Evil 4 is approximately 15½ hours long, and if you're a completionist, you're looking at around 43 hours to obtain 100% completion. The game also features side missions, which will add another 4 hours to your playtime, bringing the total to 19 hours.
Resident Evil 4 is available on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is a third-person horror survival game, which will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire experience.
I launched Resident Evil 4 (2023) on my PC with its impressive specs and was immediately blown away by the stunning graphics and smooth gameplay. The game ran flawlessly on my Intel Core i3 10100 processor with a clock speed of 3.60GHz, an RTX 2060 6GB and 16GB of RAM, allowing me to experience the game without any lag or stuttering. Ray Tracing and AMD’s FSR are also supported, with custom mods bringing in Nvidia’s DLSS now available too.
The visuals of the game were simply breathtaking on my PHL 242E1GJ monitor, which supports a 144Hz refresh rate. The colours were vibrant, and the details were crisp, making every scene in the game come to life. Even the smaller details such as textures on objects and lighting effects were impressive.
The game ran at a stable 110fps on my system, allowing for buttery smooth gameplay, especially during intense combat sequences. I could see the game's detailed animations and fluid movements, and every gunshot or melee attack felt impactful and satisfying. Though, when I streamed on Twitch, the game’s frame rate drops between 48 to 95 fps but it didn’t affect any gameplay performance either.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is not just a remake; it is a celebration of a landmark game that has been lovingly recreated for a new generation of gamers. It is a testament to Capcom's dedication to quality and innovation. It is a masterpiece reborn. 10/10.