With a large majority of the main focus narrowed down to Resident Evil 4 Remake's main story and campaign, the question remains as to whether Capcom will include the beloved 'Mercenaries' mode. Similar to the original Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries mode becomes available for players after beating the main campaign and contains unlockable characters and its own mini-weapon progression.
Whilst it is definitely possible that Capcom could decide to release this as DLC later down the line instead of coming with the game at launch, it is unlikely this will be the case going off of their track record, and there are multiple reasons as to why this mode is crucial to the game's 2023 release.
5 Replayability
Along with the surprises that the remake will have to offer with the changes to its tone and gameplay, Resident Evil 4 Remake's campaign will more than likely contain its own level of replay value. Not only will the drastic changes keep players coming back after completion, but the original's rewards such as the new outfits and weapons all play a part in its replayability. With this already present, the addition of the Mercenaries mode in its traditional standard after the completion of the game will be the most beneficial to the cause.
If Capcom wishes to keep players around for as long as possible and avoid the need to wait for a Mercenaries DLC, this would be the best way to go about it and with positive reception, it could open the door for future plans for other Resident Evil titles.
4 Content Update Opportunities
In light of Mercenaries being included at release, Capcom's chances of future updates for the mode will most certainly be present. While this could actually be a negative in the aspect of content that was available in the original being omitted to only then be added later at a charge, it is also a positive in the sense of new and unseen content arriving for players. New maps, new characters, and potentially even new story mission modes such as Resident Evil 5's 'Lost In Nightmares' can be used this time around.
With speculation regarding multiplayer potentially coming to the title with in-game purchases unlike its original, the prospect of Capcom increasing the game's longevity is very much present. This is currently the case with Resident Evil Village, as its Gold Edition includes the Shadows Of Rose DLC, along with updates to add a third-person mode and new characters to Mercenaries.
3 Chance For Multiplayer
As mentioned with the possibility of future DLC content updates adding in a new story mission that involves multiplayer, this opens up the chance of co-op coming to Mercenaries itself. The original title's Mercenaries was single-player only akin to the game's campaign and wiping out enemies without any help. This time around, multiplayer would be a perfect addition allowing for a completely new experience of Resident Evil 4.
With Resident Evil Re:Verse unsuccessful in eyes of many fans, this is the suitable time for developers at Capcom to showcase the potential of multiplayer in Resident Evil games.
2 Action-Oriented Mode
Considering the remake's clear shift and change in its tone to suit a more horror-focused and terrifying experience, there are many players who may not particularly be pleased with this based on the original. While there definitely will be action segments throughout the game, it appears to be that there is much less focus on the action this time around, and an attempt to fully grasp the intensity of the Las Plagas disaster. With a Mercenaries mode coming to fruition, it is a chance for Capcom to appeal to both sets of fans.
Those who wish to maintain the action see the remake follow in the footsteps of its original, the Mercenaries mode can do just that with the addition of special characters, attack sets with button prompts, and new weapons. This will enable an all-round complete Resident Evil experience and could set a precedent for every future project.
1 Buildup For Resident Evil 5 Remake
Despite there being any confirmation or discussion of this from Capcom whatsoever, it is only reasonable for fans to assume that Resident Evil 5 is next in store for a remake. Many had assumed Resident Evil Code: Veronica would come next after the Resident Evil 3 Remake, but Capcom appears to be sticking to mainline numbered installments instead. With an addition of Mercenaries in the Resident Evil 4 Remake and co-op within it, this would give Capcom a platform and style to work upon for a potential Resident Evil 5 remake.
In light of this actually taking place, it is also very dependent on whether producers decide to maintain Resident Evil 5's story and its companion style of gameplay. Resident Evil 4 may potentially see drastic changes in its gameplay segments which include Ashley alongside Leon, and while fans may not want it, it is not impossible for the same to be done for Resident Evil 5 omitting Sheva completely.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is out March 24th on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.