Resident Evil 4 (2023): Reinvigorating a Timeless Classic with Terrifying New Twists

In 2005, with the release of Resident Evil 4, Capcom revolutionized gaming by introducing an over-the-shoulder camera view, which quickly became a benchmark for third-person shooters in the years that followed. Transitioning from fixed camera viewpoints to a dynamic one was a bold move, signifying a substantial shift for the Resident Evil series, which could have easily resulted in a failure. Nevertheless, fans welcomed these action-packed modifications, leading to remarkable success, with 12.3 million copies sold across multiple versions. Now, Capcom faces a significant challenge once more: how to reinvent a classic recognized as one of the finest and nearly flawless video games ever made? The pressure on Capcom’s development team was palpable, especially as a vocal portion of the community insisted that a remake was unwarranted. Having thoroughly enjoyed their recent adaptations of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, I had great confidence in their capacity to recreate Resident Evil 4 in a similarly thrilling manner. And boy, was I correct!

Six years following the events at Raccoon City, players once again take on the role of brooding special agent Leon S. Kennedy as he dons his tactical boots and firearm to embark on a rescue mission to Spain. His objective is ‘Baby Eagle’, or Ashley Graham, the daughter of the US President, who has been kidnapped and held captive in a rural, sinister village. The Resident Evil 4 remake stays true to the original narrative while enriching the backstory and enhancing its dark atmosphere. Every corner now emanates a folkloric horror vibe, with ravens pecking at decaying corpses, animal skulls and bone trinkets adorning the surroundings, and ominous cultists chanting in the distance. Upon further examination, we discover that the unsettling sounds originate from the villagers themselves, who have sworn loyalty to the neopagan Los Iluminados, infamous for venerating the Plagas, a mind-controlling parasite. The familiar slow-moving zombies from past installments have been replaced by the ferociously aggressive Ganados, who prowl every inch of the village.

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Initially presented as a typical mob, the villagers’ extraordinary pain tolerance provides them with an unnerving rush, prompting them to attack in wildly unpredictable manners. Battling through hordes quickly escalates into a nerve-racking experience as they close in on Leon, pressing you to make quick judgments as you take down foes. They might hurl axes and Molotov cocktails from a distance, rush at you wielding pitchforks, or even ambush you unexpectedly before jamming their filthy fingers into your eye sockets. The fundamental combat remains as exaggerated and cartoonish as ever, allowing players to momentarily stun foes with a well-timed headshot, seamlessly following up with a spinning kick to finish them off. This combo never fails to entertain, and the game continually refreshes its roster of enemies to maintain new challenges.

Every so often, you may come across the menacing chainsaw-wielding Dr. Salvador making his way towards you, or a muscular foe adorned with a cow skull as a helmet, swinging a heavy sledgehammer. Such encounters require you to act fast and aim for their kneecaps to incapacitate them, followed by sending them crashing into a throng of snarling villagers that topple like bowling pins. Both the religious fanatics and Ganados can also be brought down on their knees, giving you the chance to execute a hilarious German suplex. I distinctly remember choking on my drink and laughing when I first witnessed this move — it was absurd yet classic Resident Evil flair.

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The Chainsaw Man poses a significant threat in the early stages of the Resident Evil 4 remake
Photo Credit: Capcom

The gameplay experience in the Resident Evil 4 remake constantly keeps you on your toes. Some defeated foes will revive with ominous parasitic growths on their necks, while others will undergo a complete transformation, using deadly tentacles as whips capable of impaling you. Faced with overwhelming numbers on Hardcore difficulty, I frequently found myself retreating into dark tunnels, hoping to stall for time and take them out one by one.

What I didn’t see coming was the game’s clever responses to these evasive maneuvers. Villagers often set rusty bear traps that camouflaged well with the environment, which could slow Leon down when triggered, leaving him susceptible to a chainsaw strike resulting in gruesome consequences. I would occasionally walk into tripwires, experiencing humiliation as my body took the brunt of the ensuing explosion. Of course, you could pull off clever tactics by baiting an enemy into the traps or stealthily disarming them, but once chaos begins, it’s sheer pandemonium and utterly chilling.

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Equipped with his trusty Combat Knife, Leon can slash and stab enemies, as well as escape grapples
Photo Credit: Capcom

The beloved combat knife from the original returns, now with new features and limitations. Inspired by the RE2 remake, knives now come with a durability meter that diminishes with use, establishing it as a last resort option. With the knife, Leon can slash and stab foes, break free from grapples or wild wolf attacks, and, crucially, deflect incoming attacks.

I always felt that my 125 hours spent on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice would someday be of use, but I never imagined it would be for a Resident Evil game. The new mechanic allows for deflecting melee assaults by parrying them at the right moment, immediately stunning the opponent and leaving them open to a fierce attack. And if you’re quick enough, you can also deflect any axes or torches thrown in your direction. When ammunition is running low, the knife is a lifesaver, helping me take down a few enemies as I desperately hoped they had life-restoring items. Stealthily approaching foes and quietly slicing their throats was a great tactic for conserving resources without alarming the larger groups.

Finding purple flames was always a soothing sight in Resident Evil 4 (2023), as it meant the presence of a sly merchant with a variety of goods. Dressed in a long black coat and a mask for flair, this merchant consistently compliments our decisions, making it hard not to leave his establishment without purchasing anything. Here, you can trade Pesetas (the in-game currency) collected from defeated enemies for new weapons, healing supplies, or other resources. Alternatively, you could clear out unnecessary items from your inventory or exchange Spinels for treasure maps to enhance exploration and satisfy that Indiana Jones craving. Among his offerings is the ‘Tune Up’ option, which allows for the repair and enhancement of your combat knife, or quick upgrades for weapons that boost reload speeds and increase ammo capacity.

You can visit the cloaked Merchant to purchase and enhance your weapons, or repair the damaged knife
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

It’s certainly a plus that the keyboard and mouse controls have been streamlined from the original, eliminating the former struggle with tank-like camera movements. The updates to mechanics in the RE4 remake now allow for rapid weapon switches with just a tap of the number keys — or the D-pad on the controller — instead of having to access the inventory each time. Likewise, conversations with field support agent Ingrid Hunnigan are now integrated into the HUD via a small digital window, enhancing the gaming experience without interrupting the flow of play, akin to the format in Batman: Arkham, where the Dark Knight can navigate environments while discussing mission progress with Alfred.

At the conclusion of Chapter 4, Leon finally reunites with Ashley, but extracting her from the terrifying village proves to be a challenging endeavor. While she fits the role of a damsel in distress, Resident Evil 4 remake depicts her as a more resilient character; on their initial meeting, she isn’t shy about wielding a candelabra as a means of self-defense against Leon. The whiny girl with irritating screams from the original is now absent, replaced by someone capable of evading threats independently.

Though lacking specialized skills, her predicament feels more relatable thanks to realistic dialogue and authentic facial animations, powered by the impressive visual fidelity of Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine. Ashley’s introduction helped me realize how much the writers have toned down the characters’ over-the-top responses and cheesy one-liners — a significant improvement. In place of sexually suggestive lines and exclamations, her exchanges with biologist Luis Serra are now more appropriately met with a respectful “Señorita.”

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Ashley Graham is given a more resilient personality in the Resident Evil 4 remake
Photo Credit: Capcom

Throughout the escort mission, Ashley remains close to Leon, actively participating in tasks such as dropping down ladders, solving puzzles, and crawling into hard-to-reach spaces. In the original RE4, she could be instructed to stay behind at a safe location while Leon cleared enemies ahead. While that was practical, it contradicted her character, who realistically wouldn’t want to be alone in a perilous environment.

The remake rectifies this by ensuring she consistently follows you, while allowing you to instruct her to either stay close or maintain a safe distance. Additionally, Ashley no longer has a health bar, meaning you won’t have to waste healing herbs on her. Instead, should she take too much damage, she’ll fall into a downed state, compelling you to stay vigilant and revive her. Naturally, enemies will still try to capture her, which you must thwart as her protector.

Moreover, the environment in Resident Evil 4 is rich with complex puzzles, the Blue Medallion hunting tasks, and the freedom to explore cabins and hidden spaces by navigating in a motorboat. Exploring pitch-black caves offers a heightened sense of fear, relying heavily on your flashlight and the sounds of echoes to plan your route. The sense of claustrophobia truly intensifies when confronted by villagers armed with dynamite, leaving you with limited options other than blowing up the explosive devices before they can unleash them.

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Target practice in shooting galleries offers a great way to refine your skills while collecting rewards
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar

Players can also sharpen their aiming abilities by stopping by shooting galleries located in select Merchant shops or by searching for Gold Chicken Eggs that restore full health. It’s easy to get distracted by other activities or take the time to explore every nook and cranny of the secluded village, but it never feels like a waste. There’s always a treasure chest, crate, or barrel waiting to be broken for valuable loot — ensuring you never feel guilty about ‘over-exploration’.

The only critique I had regarding the game was Ada Wong’s voice acting; it felt rigid and conveyed a sense of disinterest or boredom. Additionally, Capcom has yet to announce any details on the Assignment: Ada and Separate Ways minigame, allowing players to control the femme fatale on her intertwined journey. Here’s hoping these additions arrive as DLC in the near future.

Resident Evil 4 remake review: Verdict

The aesthetic enhancement alone makes revisiting one of Capcom’s timeless masterpieces worthwhile; the Resident Evil 4 remake introduces a plethora of new adjustments that significantly contribute to a flawless reimagination. Even with deeper character development and extended gameplay, it preserves the original’s allure through intense frights and wonderfully cheesy B-movie-like moments that never feel dated. The refined knife mechanics tighten the core gameplay by injecting a layer of resourceful survival horror into an otherwise frenzied action-centric experience. With the free wave-based Mercenaries mode set to release next week, there’s no better time for both longtime fans and newcomers alike to experience the terrors awaiting in the claustrophobic European village of Resident Evil 4.

Pros

• Visually impressive and well-optimized
• Significantly improved controls
• Characters are more in tune with contemporary sensibilities
• Ability to parry incoming strikes
• Knife durability introduces resourcefulness
• Over-the-top action sequences
• Gory combat scenes

Cons

• Ada Wong’s voice acting is somewhat lacking
• Some shadows may become excessively dark
• A few bonus modes have been omitted

Rating (out of 10): 9

Resident Evil 4 (2023) was released on March 24 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Pricing begins at Rs. 3,599 for the Standard Edition on Steam for PC and Xbox Series S/X. The PS4/PS5 version is priced at Rs. 3,999.