Though Resident Evil is well known as Capcom's zombie franchise, the undead are far from the only enemies players face. Biomutants, failed experiments, and power-hungry megalomaniacs are but a few foes that have made appearances throughout Resident Evil's 27-year history. The enemy variety is what helps keep the franchise fresh and provides Capcom with new ways to scare players.
The Ganados in the original Resident Evil 4 were a breath of fresh air when the game was first released. Instead of fighting brain-dead zombies once again, the fourth mainline entry had Leon fighting more human-like enemies that allowed both the developers and players to make full use of the game's new game systems. Just as the original game improves upon previous titles. so too do the Resident Evil 4 remake's Ganados feel like refinements of the past remakes' zombies.
The Ganados Still Carry Some Zombie DNA
Not to be confused with the lore, the Ganados share a few similarities with Resident Evil's zombies in terms of their A.I. behavior. They still shamble around their pre-determined routes and will bolt toward Leon whenever he gets too close to them. The Ganados also tend to grab Leon when in close range - which is the distance where they are most effective. Rather than taking a bite out of the cocky Raccoon City survivor, however, Ganados attack Leon with whatever makeshift weapon they have on their person. If players somehow manage to disarm the Ganados beforehand, they will resort to pummeling them with their fists instead.
The Ganados Feel Like Evolved Zombies
This is where the similarities end. While zombies prefer to wait around for Leon to enter their aggro range, Ganados are more active. They will shout at Leon whenever they spot him, attracting players' attention as well as other nearby Ganados. The shout will also spur them on as they increase their pace towards their prey, making it feel as though the Ganados adopt a pack mentality. Most Ganados won't even wait to get into melee range and will often throw their weapons at Leon to deal some initial damage. While these ranged attacks aren't on par with an actual firearm like a Sniper Rifle, their main purpose is to distract and stun Leon while other Ganados move in close.
To keep up with Leon's new moves, the Ganados have a couple of extra moves the standard zombie fare doesn't have. They will bust through fortified doors and set up ladders to enter areas Leon has blocked off. Leon can also be grabbed from behind and become prone to frontal attacks if players don't mind their surroundings and quickly break free. Should players manage to elude capture, the Ganados will actively search for them. These environmental and situational moves make the Ganados feel more of a part of the world as they will use anything at their disposal to get to Leon.
The Chainsaw Demo Was Just The Beginning
Chainsaw Demo players have already come face to face with the chainsaw-wielding Ganado that can kill them with one swipe of his iconic weapon, but if the original game is anything to go by, the Resident Evil 4 remake will have more Ganado variants in store. One of the most iconic Ganado evolutions appears a short while after exploring the village. Shooting these evolved Ganados in the head will cause the Las Plagas in their body to erupt, creating a deadly scythe-like appendage than can easily kill Leon. This variation of the Ganados makes performing headshots riskier and will make players change their tactics accordingly. The Ganados are but one of the many enemies Leon will face in the Resident Evil 4 remake, but they make a great first impression in this new adventure.
Resident Evil 4 will release on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 24.
