After experiencing the horrors that occurred in Raccoon City, Leon Kennedy would be forgiven for hanging up his badge and settling for an easy life. His first day on the job had him fighting off the reanimated corpses of those he was supposed to protect as well as uncovering one of the many secret plots of the Umbrella Corporation. To add insult to injury, Leon wasn't even paid for his work.
Soon after escaping the city with Claire Redfield and Sherry Birkin, Claire split from the group to continue her search for her brother, Chris. Leon and Sherry were eventually apprehended by the United States military, and while Sherry was taken into protective custody, Leon was recruited and trained as a government agent. Those familiar with the original Resident Evil 4 remember Leon fondly for his one-liners and snarky attitude. There has been some skepticism that the remake's version of Leon cannot stand up to the original, but the recently released Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Demo puts these fears to rest.
Turning Leon From Rookie Cop To Government Agent
As mentioned, Leon S. Kennedy was recruited by the U.S. government specifically for his experiences during the Raccoon City incident. His knowledge of combatting similar biohazard threats is a quality that cannot be taught easily nor one that many people possess. Leon also had his reasons for becoming a government agent, as joining the organization ensured Sherry would be protected against those who wished to use her for her unique reaction to the Golgotha Virus (G-Virus) created by her father, William Birkin. While there was still a chance the U.S. government would experiment on Sherry, Leon figured he would much rather work for them and keep an eye on Sherry than have her be captured by an unknown organization.
Thus began Leon's training. It is shown during the Chainsaw Demo's introduction cutscene how Leon endured and completed the arduous training required to become a government agent. He can be seen following orders from an unknown commander and fighting hand-to-hand against Jack Krauser - a major in the U.S. Army and an integral character in Resident Evil 4. While Leon wasn't particularly fond of the training, Sherry's safety and the knowledge that he was attaining the skills to prevent something like the Raccoon City incident from escalating spurred him on.
Leon's Experience Gives Him Confidence
While Leon is anxious about investigating another possible outbreak (his inner monologue during the intro confirms this), his attitude changes when it comes time to spring into action. He holds his weapons like a trained professional and uses everything he has at his disposal. Kicks, knife attacks, and even the surrounding environment are just some of the impromptu things Leon makes use of with the speed and precision of a man who knows what he's doing.
Leon is more capable than he used to be, and he knows it. No longer the rookie cop he once was, Leon's experience has afforded him to be cockier towards his situation and foes. While not exactly on the same level as the original game, the Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw demo has Leon performing flashy moves while spouting lines that could be considered dad jokes. A good example of such a situation is when he is surrounded by Ganados in a second-story room. Instead of fighting his enemies, Leon simply tells them he will show himself out before jumping through a window and landing outside the ground floor.
Another example of the new Leon's cockiness can be seen during the iconic opening of the game. As the villagers stop attacking Leon to respond to the summons by Osmund Saddler, Leon surveys the now-empty village before asking if everyone had gone to bingo. Apart from being a nice nod to the original game, the line reassures veterans that the remake will retain the same tone as the original. There are still some horror tones, but the Resident Evil 4 remake will mostly be about fighting tons of infected enemies while looking good doing it. Leon will no doubt have more quips in store in the final release, and it's glad to see Capcom keep the spirit of such an iconic game alive.
Resident Evil 4 launches on March 24 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
