As one of the most influential action games in any genre, Resident Evil 4 is still considered one of the best games of all time. Since its release, other major hits like The Last of Us and Gears of War adopted and modified the over-the-shoulder shooting mechanics and set pieces into their own horror-themed games.
The fourth entry continues the series' survival horror roots, but there is a heavy emphasis on the action. The horror is still there, but the focus on action moved the genre in a different direction for a full console generation. So how does this genre-defining classic hold up on arguably the most immersive gaming platform available, virtual reality? It’s still a classic, but here’s what we loved and didn’t love about the Resident Evil 4 VR remaster.
10 Love: Great Set Pieces
Another mechanic that Resident Evil 4 popularized was the use of quick-time events in cinematic cutscenes. While this didn’t always land well in other games that overdid it, Resident Evil 4 manages to keep the player feeling immersed. Its great set pieces helped with this too.
Resident Evil 4 was one of the first games to make the player feel like they were immersed in a cinematic experience. Thankfully, none of this is lost in the transition to the Oculus. The inventive set pieces are just as impactful now as they were back on the GameCube.
9 Love: The Boss Battles
Resident Evil 4 excels in areas where excitement matters, whether it’s being attacked from all directions by hordes of infected chainsaw-wielding Ganados, or the grotesque boss fights. The boss fights in particular feel amazing especially from the perspective of a VR headset.
Resident Evil 4 has never been considered the most terrifying game, but playing through a VR headset, one can get a scope of just terrifying these monsters are. Even human-sized enemies can frighten the player.
8 Don't Love: Immersion Breaking Cutscenes
This version of Resident Evil 4 may be the most immersive yet. Experiencing the action through Leon's eyes is unmatched when it comes to some of the game's most iconic moments.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of cutscenes that the player views from a cinematic perspective. This is far from a dealbreaker, but it's less than ideal as it can interrupt the sense of immersion that VR has created for the players.
7 Love: The B-Movie Plot
The Resident Evil franchise has always portrayed cheesy plots with a schlocky dialogue, reminiscent of the straight to video VHS horror movies in the 80s and early 90s. Thankfully, the fourth entry continues this tradition with its performances, without ever being wooden or outright bad.
The characters are also in a cheesy, 90s-action-movie way, which somehow makes them more endearing. Despite the hammy script, Resident Evil 4 is a thrilling experience from start to finish and holds its own as one of the most cinematic experiences on the VR system today.
6 Love: The Atmosphere
The fourth entry in the Resident Evil franchise has always been praised as one of the most atmospherically tense games in the series. It even served as an obvious inspiration for the recent Resident Evil: Village.
Despite the game’s linearity, walking one’s way through the woodlands in this desolate Spanish village is amazing to experience in VR and conveys a sense of freedom and movement. In addition, exploring Salazar Castle is a wonderfully creepy experience that feels scarier in VR.
5 Don't Love: It's Not The Remake Fans Were Hoping For
Before the VR version was announced, there were rumors that Resident Evil 4 would be getting the Resident Evil 2 remake treatment. Unfortunately, that wasn't to be (for now). For many fans that don't have access to a VR headset, this means they won't be able to experience this new version.
The VR version is a fantastic remaster, but it would be amazing to see the game get a from-the-ground-up remake with today's visuals and technology.
4 Love: The Gameplay Mechanics
Even though the original version of Resident Evil 4 was a landmark title by today’s standards, the control system can feel a bit restrictive. The mechanics are antiquated when compared to The Last of Us 2 or even the Uncharted series.
The transition to VR, however, feels very modern and the handling of these weapons feels great to play around with. Additionally, it feels more comfortable than the original when it comes to dealing with hordes of enemies at once.
3 Love: The Full RE4 Experience In VR
When it comes to ports of home console games making the transition to VR, the experience isn’t always a smooth one. The experience can also be a scaled-back experience; for example, L.A. Noire removed some of the game’s most memorable aspects.
Thankfully, that isn’t the case for Resident Evil 4. It’s the full experience from start to finish when it comes to gameplay, boss, fights, and the story. It is worth mentioning, however, that some dialogue and animations were removed, but make no difference to the game itself.
2 Love: The Most Immersive Version Yet
For players that experienced Resident Evil 4 for the first time on the GameCube or the PS2, it was a special moment in gaming that felt fresh and exciting. While it’s harder for new players to get that same feel or reaction to a game that’s 16 years old, this new VR version may arguably be the best way to experience Resident Evil 4.
This version is more intense and trying to stop waves of enemies and bosses by getting up close and personal is a completely new experience. Even though it’s still an action game at its heart, the horror experience is more profound in VR.
1 Don't Love: There Are Some Bugs
The developers already promised that the Oculus Quest version of Resident Evil 4 would fix all of the old bugs from the original version of the game. The developers at Armature have lived up to that promise and provided gamers with a game that feels and plays as if it belongs on the VR.
However, as with many new titles, some bugs need to be addressed. At the time of writing, the game can occasionally crash and send the player back to the Oculus home screen. There is also some judder when aiming the reticle cursor which can be distracting in VR. Of course, these bugs can be ironed out with a simple patch, and certainly aren’t enough to ruin a great game.
Resident Evil 4 VR is available now for the Oculus Quest 2.