Resident Evil 4 Remake, Worth to Buy?

In this spoiler-free review, we will be discussing the overall gameplay and combat changes, as well as our first-hand experience of playing Resident Evil 4 Remake.

Resident Evil 4 Remake, Worth to Buy?
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For those who haven't played the original, the game follows the story of Leon, a special agent on a mission to save the US president's daughter who has been kidnapped. This leads him to a remote village in Europe where something is definitely not right with the villagers. The game focuses on the rescue and the strange happenings of this remote village. The game does a good job of giving a little background about the whole situation, and while still part of the main story, it also provides additional pieces of information that help build a greater picture.

Players will enjoy the same third-person perspective as in the original game, and the remake has undergone a major graphics upgrade to suit all modern consoles. It has also been given much-needed updates to controls, including the use of quick turns, which are as stable as in the previous games. One noticeable absence is the lack of QuickTime events, which some players may miss, but we think it's not a loss at all.

In terms of combat, players have new mechanics to enjoy, such as the new knife interaction. The knife degrades over time, meaning you will have to use it sparingly or it will break. This is a great addition as it gives another option when it comes to combat, but adds a double-edged blade as the knife could be destroyed in the process. Mobs now work together to hold you in place while you mash down that X to get yourself free. If you're not careful, they can really pin you into a corner, especially if you break the first rule of an RE game, which is to spend too much ammo. This shakes up the combat and makes the fights feel much more dynamic.

Improvements to the weapon system Loadout make it easy to swap between guns mid-fight, so you don't have to worry about which gun to pick or which one to select. You can simply assign them to your weapons Loadout, which makes things so much easier than in the original game. Mini-bosses in the game, like the chainsaw guy, are unrelenting and running away from more challenging foes while being surrounded by a group of villagers really puts your skills to the test. Of course, you can upgrade your weapons to improve damage, reload speed, etc.

Puzzles have been revamped and still feel like the classic enigmas you know and love. These often lead to precious items that may be invaluable for your survival. There's nothing like being chased down by enemies while you try to locate parts of a puzzle or be on the lookout for items. This just makes the experience so much more unnerving, and the Resident Evil 4 remake does a great job of making very intense situations in certain places.

The game's graphics department has had a major boost, resulting in some gore that players should be prepared for. You can now see all the blood and guts in great detail, and the game's iconic moments feel even more gloomy and intense due to the rain cascading down.

Bosses, characters, and locations have all been given some work, and while the Mercury settings are still quite dark, it's a stark contrast from the original game. We played the game on PS4 and it ran really well, though playing on current-gen platforms like PlayStation 5 or PC will probably result in faster load times thanks to the SSD. The graphics are sharp, characters look more crisp, and the environments are highly detailed with some areas having been reworked to fit the gameplay. Marveling at the surroundings is a delight when you have time to catch your breath.

Voice acting is superb, with some new voice lines that fit in with RE4's cheesy humor at times. The merchant, in particular, is by far our favorite, and he always has some great banter to welcome you. The music, ambient sounds, and sound effects add to the tense moments in the game and take the horrors to new heights that you'll engage in.

Playing the game was a lot of fun, revisiting the locations, and seeing the same characters again. Resident Evil is one of those iconic franchises that you know you're in for a good zombie-filled time from the moment you start. RE4 is a classic title that needed just some love when it came to controls, and the remake does all that and more to satisfy those who are looking for a thrill ride of horror survival. For those experiencing it for the first time, you're in for a treat as the game now runs smoother and has great graphics.

For those revisiting RE4, gameplay feels much more fluid, and chapters seem to flow a little better. While the game has had a refresh, you'll still get that nostalgic feel from the original title, but with tweaks here and there, as well as some surprises. The overall feeling is that the game has been given more enhancements, reworking what could have been better and just adding to what already works. However, there's definitely enough to make the game feel up to date, refreshed, and worth playing.

In conclusion, this title is a great survival horror for those who like a challenge and for those who love the original. While we would have been more open to more changes, we understand why it's been kept close to its core. Overall, if you're a fan of Resident Evil and looking for a refreshed experience, you will have a great time. One thing is for certain: you're in for a wild ride!