Resident Evil 4 was a big departure for the franchise. It went in a more action-oriented direction and ditched the idea of zombies. There were parts of the game that were still scary, but in more intense ways like when random traps could almost kill Leon and Ashley.
The Resident Evil 4 remake still puts the survival horror gameplay notes to the side, although the atmosphere is certainly more spooky thanks to the great lighting effects. Capcom seemingly doubled down on the action, making what was already a great game to play even better. These are the biggest innovations in the gameplay with some story spoilers.
8 The Knife Rules
The knives in Resident Evil games have always been a backup resort to guns. The remake made an effort to make players feel empowered by the knife. Leon can find smaller knives that can break when he fights enemies. The standard Combat Knife will lose durability too, but it can be repaired and strengthened via the Merchant.
Players can also parry enemies with the knife in the Resident Evil 4 remake, giving them more defensive maneuvers. Finally, the coolest knife addition of all is stealth kills and Leon being given the ability to crouch accompanies that.
7 Spinels And Quests
There was one major side quest in the original release of the game. Players could shoot Blue Medallions to unlock some in-game bonuses. Blue Medallions return in the remake but they are just one quest in a series of side quests.
These new side quests include selling certain items to the Merchant, killing a certain amount of enemies, fighting mini-bosses, and so on. Players will be rewarded with Spinels, a gem from the original game. However, unlike the first edition, Spinels in the Resident Evil 4 remake can be traded for secret prizes from the Merchant.
6 Making The Most Out Of Gems
Spinels are not the only gem that changed in the remake. Rubies, emeralds, and the like return and can be sold for sweet cash. However, if players are patient, they can add jewels to certain items they find instead. A crown, for example, could be equipped with three gems.
Certain patterns will increase the value further like having three different colors in the crown. The remake gives players more ways to make money fast if they pay attention, which is great for upgrading things with the Merchant.
5 Crafting Ammo
The remakes for Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 gave players the ability to craft ammo. It’s a mechanic that the series has experimented with over time and has thus gotten better with every release.
In the remake of Resident Evil 4, players can use gunpowder and other materials to make bullets. Non-bullet-related items can be crafted too, such as bolts for the Bolt Thrower using knives. Players can also craft certain herb concoctions, although that is not something new in the remake.
4 Boat Exploration
In the original game, players could take and control the boat in the lake. Once they got about halfway through the water, the boss fight with Del Lago would start. This time, the boss fight starts automatically as soon as Leon hops into the boat.
However, afterward, players can drive the boat. They have to find two things that will lead players to the key that will unlock the church, but there are a few side activities too. For example, in the Resident Evil 4 remake players can hunt fish in the lake for the Merchant.
3 Suitcases And Storage
There are a plethora of changes made to suitcases in the game. First, suitcases are no longer the only storage facility in the game. Players can now store weapons, weapon parts, and some healing items at save points.
Players can also auto-sort suitcase inventory, which saves a lot of time. There are other suitcases players can purchase which can increase drops for certain items like ammo. Finally, in the Resident Evil 4 remake players can attach charms that will affect drops and other things such as crafting.
2 New And Reimagined Puzzles
No puzzle is the same in this new game. They have either been reimagined or new puzzles have been added. For example, in the village section in the valley, the Merchant had players look for two pieces of a medallion to fit inside a door.
This time around, however, the medallion is already forged. There is also the church light puzzle in the Resident Evil 4 remake, which is a bit harder to decipher this time around. An example of a new puzzle would be the marble key lock in the village mansion.
1 Ashley And Luis Partners
Where Ashley follows Leon around has changed. For example, one new section is in the garden maze inside the castle. Her commands are also different. In the original game, players could tell Ashley to stay put and she would. There were also more storage facilities, like dumpsters, she could be placed inside.
In the Resident Evil 4 remake, players can tell her to stay back but she will still follow. More interesting than Ashley, Luis gets one new section. He now gets to follow Leon around in the horde-like mode inside the random house. Luis also becomes an AI partner inside the mine.
The Resident Evil 4 remake was released on March 24, 2023, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One.