Capcom's Resident Evil franchise has contained many different story arcs, characters, and enemies within each installment. One of the more recent remakes, Resident Evil 3, did not please many fans due to its many issues and mistakes, especially the game's cut content. This was unlike its predecessor, as the Resident Evil 2 remake stood as a massive success with how impressive its graphics and gameplay were compared to its original.
With the Resident Evil 4 Remake on the horizon and Resident Evil 2 potentially having more connections with the upcoming title, it would be reasonable for Capcom to take inspiration from 2's design and use this to take Resident Evil 4 to its premium level.
5 Eerie, Quiet Atmosphere
One of the most impressive and critical parts of the Resident Evil 2 remake's success was the level of terror the game was able to evoke and capture the true level of desperation of Leon S. Kennedy's situation. Given Capcom's clear intentions of linking the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes together in terms of story, it would be an obvious and suitable method to utilize the same atmosphere in the gameplay.
From trailers and recent showcases of Resident Evil 4, it appears as though Capcom is aiming for a darker and more sinister tone than its original. As such, it's an opportunity to double down on the horror factor that the Resident Evil 2 remake provided for fans.
4 Similar Stalker Role
While Resident Evil 3 Remake's execution of Nemesis as a stalker was done in a much more irritating and frustrating fashion rather than terrifying, the RE 2 remake got it right with Mr. X. This enemy often appears enough to where it does not become monotonous, and manages to maintain the tension and terror when players hear him approaching, rather than them finding him annoying.
The original RE 4 did not contain any sort of stalker enemy, with the closest thing to this being Salazar's right-hand 'Verdugo'. Considering both the RE 2 and 3 remakes continued their formula of stalker roles, there is no doubt that the upcoming title will see the same treatment, but this must be akin to Resident Evil 2 rather than 3 if it is to prove successful.
3 Limited Ammunition
In order to keep the tension and maintain the survival horror feeling, Resident Evil 2 knew when to give players resources to defend themselves, and also when not to. Without a balance here, it would turn into an easy action fest rather than one where players are on the edge of their seats. The level of difficulty also determines how many resources players have at their disposal in RE 2.
With the Resident Evil 4 Remake set for release, from what fans have seen, the game appears to stick to the format of the original in an even stronger fashion. It retains the whole idea of using ammo and resources wisely, especially in the lead-up to boss encounters. It is yet to be seen whether the game will keep its professional difficulty, which is only available to players once they complete the game the first time around.
2 More Interiors
Throughout Resident Evil 2's duration, players will find themselves within multiple interiors attempting to avoid the lickers, zombies, and the relentless Mr. X. The original RE 4 also has a plethora of interiors; however, there are multiple cabins and houses that seemed as though more had been planned for them, but they were not further developed considering the time period in which it was released.
Fortunately, the first showcase of the RE 4 remake gave fans a snippet of the monumental changes that have been made, and this was the first house that Leon stumbled upon. Rather this just being a small home with a set of stairs that lead to a window and nothing more, it seems as though it has been transformed into a full-fledged household. It looks as though it was full of peaceful villagers before Osmund Sadler's reign.
1 More Difficulty Modes (2nd Run Mode)
Capcom did a fantastic job with the Resident Evil 2 remake in the aspect of its replayability. Not only are there multiple outfits to wear and new weapons to use, but the opening section is shortened to a fast-paced scene, along with a new final boss and a real ending. Given the number of scrapped ideas for the original Resident Evil 4, this is the opportunity for the developers to showcase alternate endings, and new weapons, or even contain new playable sections for both newcomers and veterans.
Rather than the simple case of just the professional difficulty, it would be highly beneficial if Capcom created new difficulty modes. Alternatively, they could include modifiers to give players a greater challenge in the aftermath of its completion, similar to Sifu's next update. As fans prepare for its March release, it is likely Capcom has plans for a new trailer or gameplay showcase, or a potential demo release just like all the previous releases.
Resident Evil 4 Remake releases March 24th on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.