It’s been almost 20 years since Resident Evil 4 graced us with excellent gunplay and Ashley shouting “Leon” whenever she gets captured. People still claim that this is one of the greatest games ever made, and they have every reason to do so.
Some fans might think Capcom’s recent remake negates this game, but that’s not true. Despite the remake’s modern improvements, the original Resident Evil 4 is still a timeless classic, so everyone should play it.
Yes, even those who beat the remake. They’re completely different games.
Despite its more action-oriented focus, one of the original game’s greatest strengths is that it still has classic Resident Evil elements. Leon can’t move while shooting, so players have to think strategically when facing mobs of enemies. Inventory management also plays a significant role, as there are many items to collect and limited space to store them all.
Because this game still has classic RE elements, the blend of horror and faster-paced action gameplay feels unique. After years of going through those slow door-opening animations, Leon can kick them open and immediately shoot enemies. He can also knock down the ladders that enemies are climbing up and block windows with shelves to prevent them from overwhelming him.
Leon can also give enemies a Chuck Norris-esque Roundhouse Kick after a headshot, which always feels good to hit. He can also suplex them after specific situations, which is just as satisfying. We can see why DOOM 2016 implemented a similar groggy enemy system, because these takedowns feel amazing.
It might seem old hat now, but Resident Evil 4 was one of the first entries to ditch typical zombies as enemies. These villagers might seem slow at the beginning, but they eventually wield weapons, climb ladders, form mobs, and evade some of your gunshots. While they don’t provide Soulslike difficulty, players still have to be on their toes when fighting them, because getting overwhelmed can happen sooner than you think.
Enemies can be challenging, but the reward of killing them makes it all worth it. These foes can drop gold and ammo like a Final Fight enemy, letting Leon buy weapons or health items from the iconic merchant. Like the older Resident Evil games that came before it, this gives 4 an arcade-y element that’s fun and satisfying, even if it’s not exactly realistic.
Not gonna lie, getting multiple headshots with a shotgun and then picking up gold afterwards is the type of high few games can achieve.
Admittedly, the Resident Evil 4 remake still has a bunch of the original game’s features and more. You can now move while shooting. The knife parry feels extremely good to use, and everything looks prettier in the RE Engine, especially Ashley. But the focus on a more serious plot loses some of the original’s charm.
Many fans have said it before, but the original game has a B-movie action plot, and that’s a good thing. From the giant hulking henchman to the mysterious femme fatale helping, and even the plot beat of saving the president’s daughter, everything about this game screams camp horror.
While some of the changes made to Resident Evil 4 remake’s story are good, others are less enjoyable. I’m glad Louis gets to be a good character in this remake, but removing silly bits like the giant statue that chases Leon feels unnecessary. Also, the part where they confirm that Leon and Ada Wong have not interacted since Resident Evil 2 is pretty lame, especially since the original game teased that they met earlier in a previous mission.
Future Capcom games would learn the wrong lesson from Resident Evil 4’s focus on action. Resident Evil 5 gets away with it for the most part, since it has co-op and keeps some of that arcade-y gameplay. The sixth game is where this franchise jumped the shark, since it feels more like Gears of War with zombies, even if it still looks and plays well.
Both Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village had to relearn the horror elements from previous games, while also maintaining a good action feel. Village is inspired by the fourth game, down to references about the merchant, but its focus on variety is enough to differentiate it.
Luckily, even with the remake looming large, fans can still easily buy the original Resident Evil 4 on modern consoles. I’m playing it on the Nintendo Switch, and it runs remarkably smoothly at 60 FPS. Capcom has re-released this game more than Skyrim, showing just how confident they are with the work they did in this action horror shooter.
If you haven’t played the original Resident Evil 4, do it now. And if you have already played the original, you’re probably replaying it for fun.