By Dean Moses
Game: Resident Evil 4 Remake
Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Rating: M for Mature
Cost: $69.99
On March 24th, the Resident Evil franchise released another remake from their vast back catalog—the fourth iteration focusing on Leon S. Kennedy which first hit video game shelves in 2005. The story follows Kennedy six years after he fought his way through death and mayhem in a virus ravaged Raccoon City. Now, thanks to Kennedy’s background and his years of training, he has been recruited to rescue the President of the United States’ daughter after she was kidnapped and taken to a secluded European Village.
The inhabitants of the village, like the biological disaster in Raccoon City, are being controlled and mutated by some strange virus. Kennedy must once again fight his way through a horde of the undead and monsters, while trying to bring Ashley Graham, the president’s daughter, back home safely.
Gameplay
It’s important to stress that Resident Evil 4 is not a port or remaster—which are just graphical and technical upgrades—but rather a full remake that albeit holds the same story. Overhauling the enemies, visuals, fighting mechanics, puzzles and even providing more depth to characters with upgraded scripts, RE4 looks to build on the success of its predecessors.
Some new mechanics include the ability to block attacks with his knife, yet this weapon can also break and will need to be repaired. Kennedy will also be able to take advantage of a whole host of firearms to take out the bad guys, such as shotguns, sniper rifles, machine guns, and more. Returning players shouldn’t expect an easy ride though, no matter how many times they have played through the original. Boss fights are vastly different to the original outing and could lose a threat to even the most seasoned players.
Graphics
Graphically, this is the best the Resident Evil series has ever looked thanks to the developers overhauling everything from the character models to the shadow-bathed and rain-slick environments. Capcom has also added tiny little details to moments, such as Kennedy slightly altering the way he holds his gun when in combat to him patting himself down after getting wet.
Conclusion
While Resident Evil 4 includes some slightly wacky and even slapstick moments that undermine the horror aesthetic, the gripping story, beautiful visuals, and addicting gameplay makes this another win for the long-running franchise.
