Though theResident Evilfranchise is mainly remembered for its blend of action and horror, there’s one key component to just about every belovedResident Evilgame that occasionally goes overlooked: puzzles. While they may not always be a highlight of the experience, usually being incredibly simple, puzzles are a major element ofthe entireResident Evilfranchise. Thankfully,Resident Evil 4 Remakegives them the respect they deserve.
Theoriginal 2005 version ofResident Evil 4had its fair share of environmental puzzles, and while none would take an average player longer than a few minutes to work out, they provided a temporary distraction from the game’s otherwise relentless action-horror focus. BeforeResident Evil 4 Remakecame out, many fans were curious about how it would approach the original’s puzzles, and the end result is a lot better than people were expecting.
RELATED:How Resident Evil 4 Remake’s Varied Enemy Design Breeds New Horror
How Resident Evil 4 Remake Switches Up Its Puzzles
Some ofResident Evil 4’s most iconic puzzles return in the remake, though each one has been shaken up in one way or another. This shake-up is often related to the puzzle’s position in the world, or how it’s resolved. One of the best examples ofan early-game puzzle that’s been refreshed inResident Evil 4 Remakecan be found in the Village Chief’s house. In the original game, players simply needed to rotate a green orb in order to reveal an insignia and gain entry to the Chief’s room. In the remake, players first need to find a crystal ball downstairs, which is locked behind its own combination puzzle, and then rotate it in the door to reveal the insignia.
While the Chief’s room puzzle is essentially the same idea with a few extra steps, the iconic church stained-glass window puzzle has a more intricate redesign. In the original game, players would need to rotate three different colored stained-glass panels and combine them to create one clear image. InResident Evil 4 Remake, the image is already combined, making it a little harder for the player to work out where each piece of the puzzle should fit.
In some instances, a memorable puzzle from the originalResident Evil 4has been removed, but its essence has been carried over into something new, such as in thepuzzle to unlock the Serpent’s Head statue piece. In the original game, players could shoot out a bottle of wine in a portrait to open a door. In the remake, this puzzle has been replaced with a dining room challenge wherein the player must use the portraits at the end of the hall to determine where to place Leon and Ashley at the dinner table. The puzzle itself is different, but the essence of the original is still there in its core design.
ButResident Evil 4 Remakedoesn’t just refresh old puzzles, it brings new ones to the table as well. These puzzles will often be placed in locations that otherwise had no real purpose in the original game. Right at the start, players will encounter a farm with a windmill located in the back. Those who have played the original game will recognize the area immediately, but its windmill is completely new and houses a brief puzzle. These brand-new puzzles do a great job of not only giving players something new to experience, but also fleshing out these iconic areas more than ever before.
Resident Evil 4is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:How Resident Evil 4 Remake’s Shotgun Compares to Other Classic Video Game Shotguns
