Highlights
- The contentious ladder in Resident Evil 4 Remake has sparked debate among players, with some criticizing the design choice of yellow paint as "lazy" and immersion-breaking.
- The inclusion of bright yellow paint on the ladder serves as a visual cue to guide players and is an intentional part of environmental design in video games.
- The controversy surrounding the ladder seems to stem from the tone of the discussion, as the Twitter user who criticized it responded in a defensive and insulting manner, overshadowing any potential for a nuanced conversation.
Resident Evil 4 Remake players have been vehemently discussing a particular ladder in the game, but some fans may be wondering why exactly this ladder is so contentious. This discussion follows the release of the Separate Ways DLC, which has been generally well-received as a further improvement to the Resident Evil 4 remake.
Capcom's famous survival horror franchise has made something of a comeback over the past few years. Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6, while not considered terrible, were disappointing to many players who wished for less action-oriented games. The series found its footing again with 2017's Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, which featured a novel first-person perspective, a brand-new protagonist, and a greater focus on elements of horror. Alongside the new entries in the franchise, Resident Evil has set a gold standard with its remakes of older games in the series, with this year's Resident Evil 4 remake being thought of as yet another win for the series. While many fans hold the Resident Evil 4 Remake in high regard, others are less happy with certain elements of its design. These contentious elements recently caused a bout of debates online.
Why Resident Evil 4's Yellow Ladder Has Led to Controversy
A Resident Evil 4 Remake player recently tweeted about an in-game ladder with yellow paint spilled on it, lamenting the design choice as "lazy" and out of place. This player suggests that the yellow paint harms the experience of immersion, as it is "obvious" that ladders are climbable. The player extended this criticism to the breakable crates in the game, which are also often marked with yellow paint.
This tweet sparked a discussion about the function of visual cues in video games. Resident Evil 4's weapon upgrades and ammo economy are predicated upon players taking notice of certain aspects of the environment, like breakable crates that hold essential items. In the same vein, interactable items and paths like ladders need to stand out against the rest of the visual noise in the game. These are points that have been raised by many Twitter users responding to the original tweet, as they argue that the bright yellow color of the ladder serves to help guide players in the right direction. A Ubisoft developer even joined the conversation at one point, noting that play testing has proven that games benefit from leaving behind such obvious breadcrumbs.
Resident Evil 4 is an influential and beloved game, so it makes sense that many of the responses to the original tweet are defending the inclusion of the yellow paint. Aside from personal bias, though, there is truth behind the arguments made in favor of the yellow paint; directing player attention is a key part of environmental design in video games, and many developers carefully and purposefully include these sorts of visual hints, usually in conjunction with player testing and feedback.
On the other hand, there is an argument to be made that a subtler hint would have worked fine in this instance. Immersion is a priority when it comes to Resident Evil's many different environments, and more seasoned gamers can see the hand of the developer when they happen upon these obvious visual cues; bright yellow paint on a ladder can remind a player that they are in a game, thus breaking the illusion of realism. It seems like much of the controversy surrounding this aspect of the Resident Evil 4 Remake can be tied to the tone of the discussion rather than the feature itself. The Twitter user who shared the photo tended to respond to other users in a manner that could be seen as inflammatory and defensive, often insulting those who disagreed with them. Thus, the discussion took on a more aggressive and personal tone, when there could have been a more nuanced conversation to be had.
Resident Evil 4Remake is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
