How the Resident Evil 4 Remake Differs from The Original Game || Rolm

The original Resident Evil 4 is an award-winning video game that sold over 11 million copies in its lifetime. It is set 6 years after the events of Racoon City that take Leon on his most perilous journey yet.

Back in the day, the Resident Evil video game series fundamentally redefined the horror genre in the industry. Remarkably, each of the titles always had something unique up its sleeves that constantly kept players on the edge of their seats.

Capcom never misses its mark when it comes to rolling out remastered versions of its super-hit games. And for a cross-platform hit like Resident Evil 4, it makes all the sense to re-deliver a bucket load of improvements with a remake.

For the past couple of years, Capcom has been hell-bent on releasing remastered versions of its iconic Resident Evil video games. In 2019, it released the remake of Resident Evil 2 followed by the Resident Evil 3 remake in 2020. And now, at the time of writing, the release of the Resident Evil 4 remake is all set to launch within 2 months. Its release date is all set for March 24^th, 2023. It will be available on Windows, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

But how does the remastered version of the game compare with the original Resident Evil 4? Are there any variations in the basic plot of the game?

Does the Remake Feature the Same Plot?

Resident Evil 4 remake sticks to the original plot. However, there are slight changes and tweaks but they are mainly linked to the gameplay and how events are unfolded. The main storyline, however, is unchanged.

When Capcom revealed the game in June 2022, it said that the Resident Evil 4 remake is made: “by re-imagining the storyline of the game while keeping the essence of its direction, modernizing the graphics and updating the controls to a modern standard”.

In the game, the daughter of US President Graham, Ashley, is kidnapped by a mysterious Los Iluminados cult headed by Osmund Saddler. As such, we see will Leon Kennedy (a US government agent and the main protagonist of the game) embark on a dangerous venture that brings him to an unnamed and untamed rural town in Spain. There we see a violent cult worshipping an ancient parasite, known as Las Plagas, that mutates humans into grisly terrifying creatures.

After a relentless mayhem of shooting and surviving, his paths get crossed with Ada Wong. She supports Leon in his endeavor but also has her own motifs behind the curtains. The ensuing events further get chaotic as the true insidious intentions behind Ada’s help come to light.

Watch Resident Evil 4 (2023) trailer.

RE4: The Differences Between Remake and Original

Although the Resident Evil 4 remastered version sticks to the original plot, there are a couple of neat upgrades over the original game. All these changes help in creating a top-notch alienated atmosphere that conforms to modern survival horror games.

The remastered version of the game is everything like the original game except it is not. Right from the start, Capcom raises the bar. It shows no mercy to its players as it delivers a bone-chilling game atmosphere.

Where the original Resident Evil 4 focused more on the action aspect of gameplay, the remaster version focuses more on horror elements. It tremendously improves upon the idea of terror.

Improved Graphics and Smarter Enemies

The very first thing players will notice are the visuals have been given a new coat of paint to take full advantage of the latest generation of consoles. Given it is almost a 2-decade gap between the games, the graphics are absolutely stunning and as close to reality as can be.

All the horror visuals in the upcoming Resident Evil 4 have gone under a complete overhaul, instilling in players a new sense of fear with a tenser atmosphere and enhanced spooky backgrounds like never before! Moreover, compounded by their grotesque looks, monsters and hostile villagers are ever smarter and more lethal in the game.

A New Intro and Environment Changes

In the intro, we see Leon’s all-new brooding attitude when he is traveling to the village. Also, when playing the game, the first house players enter is completely different. With now more rooms to explore, it is even more nightmarish than before.

And just like that, there are several changes to many places and buildings in the game’s world.

The Dog is Dead

In the original Resident Evil 4, players encounter a dog stuck in a bear trap. Releasing the dog results in him helping you out in a boss fight later on. However, in the remastered version, the dog is already dead which considerably hypes up the tension.

Shoot-And-Dodge Mechanic

Previously, Leon could not shoot and move at the same time. But now, he is able to move and shoot simultaneously. Furthermore, he can now even crouch behind obstacles to get cover. This is particularly helpful when running short on ammo.

Breakable Knife

Originally, the knife Leon wielded was indestructible, giving players a limitless amount of melee combat when out of ammo. However, in the remastered version, the knife is breakable. And when it gets broken down, a new one has to be made.

The Crafting Mechanism

And this fact precisely brings us to our next point: the crafting mechanism. In the remastered version, players can also craft items by salvaging parts strewn and placed all over the game world. Where players could only purchase ammunition and weapons from the merchant in the game, thanks to the crafting mechanism, they can now craft weapon items as well. For instance, healing potions and ammunition.

Different Game Bundles

Moreover, unlike the original game, the Resident Evil 4 remake comes with 2 different editions, all of which give exclusive benefits in addition to the original game: Deluxe Edition Bundle and Collector’s Edition.

In the deluxe edition, players receive a couple of distinct costumes for both Leon and Ashley along with 2 deluxe weapons, a mini soundtrack, a treasure map, and a classic skin among many other things.

The collector’s edition is everything a deluxe edition is except that it also offers other things as well: Artbook, Special Map, Collector’s Box, Digital Soundtrack, Resident Evil 4 Steel Book + Physical Copy along with a cool figure of Leon Kennedy.

Final Thoughts

So, what do you think about the remastered version of Resident Evil 4? Will you play it and why? Share your thoughts with us and let us know in the comments below!