Resident Evil 4receiving a remake was only a matter of time afterResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3. But whileResident Evil 2was beloved for how it reimagined its original title,Resident Evil 3was understandably criticized for how much it omitted and changed. Therefore, the same concern had been carried over toResident Evil 4, especially with how much content it has and how niche it is with idiosyncrasies and genre-bending mechanics that are unique to it.
Resident Evilpresented a showcase recently that centered almost entirely uponResident Evil 4, and it seems that those concerns have been largely relieved with new cinematics and gameplay shown. Still,as modern as this remake ofResident Evil 4is, there are surprisingly few changes. The remake looks to faithfully recreate the original’s narrative and story beats, and the changes that are being made are evidently significant.
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Ashley’s Plagas Infection May Play a Larger Role in Resident Evil 4
IntheResident Evil 4remake’s cinematic trailer, the most notable change to the original game’s narrative is that Ashley’s infection may turn her against Leon, at least unwillingly. The infection could be brainwashing her at the behest of Saddler, who may be whispering for her to kill Leon, as the trailer’s editing suggests.
Ashley was indeed infected in the original game, though her symptoms never displayed as severely as in the remake. Leon displays blackened veins throughout his body in a nightmare sequence, and it seems this is the same depiction the remake is alluding to exhibited by the Plagas parasite.
Resident Evil 4 Seemingly Has a Much Different Opening
Inthe extendedResident Evil 4remake gameplay trailerreleased recently, fans can see an area that looks completely new, and obviously lit differently than how they may remember the original, desaturatedResident Evil 4. This sequence looks like the beginning of the game, however, when Leon makes his way through the woods and enters into someone’s cabin.
The original game’s cabin is tiny, yet the cabin Leon enters into in the remake has an enormous subterranean section to explore. Here, the imagery is more evocative ofResident Evil 4with ritualistic memorabilia, bones, and nooses.
Resident Evil 4 Debuts a Knife Parry and Other Gameplay Mechanics
Perhaps the most notable changes in theResident Evil 4remake are apparent in gameplay. Leon now has a dedicated crouch, for example, insinuating that stealth will be a viable option unlike in the action-packed original. Gameplay is also shared from the iconic village ambush where players must survive a horde of local Ganados. The game’s HUD UI is thankfully on display for players to see, showing that players have a button-mashing “Break Free” option while grabbed or the option to defensively stab with Leon’s knife.
Moreover,Leon’s knife now has a parry that can defend against Chainsaw Man enemies. The original game’s mechanic of shooting an enemy and then kicking them while stunned is reprised as a button prompt. But instead of equipping the knife, aiming downward, and slashing at downed enemies, the remake debuts a satisfying ground stab kill prompt.
Resident Evil 4 May or May Not Kill Off the Friendly Dog
Another change in the remake that has been noticed regardsResident Evil 4’s friendly dog NPC. In the original game, this dog is whimpering and caught in a bear trap until players choose to release it, and in doing so they are rewarded later. However, fans were devastated to see that there is indeed a dog caught in a bear trap, but it is already lying there dead.
Many fans have been quick to believe thatResident Evil 4has simply killed off the dog, but others are confident that this is an intentional misdirect introduced in the remake, and that the friendly dog companion will appear later on to aid Leon once again. Either way, fans will have to wait and see which angle is true when the remake releases early next year.
Resident Evil 4releases on May 22, 2025, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
