Upon its release, Resident Evil 4 was considered a modern classic and is still regarded well today. With a slew of HD re-releases, Resident Evil 4 is undoubtedly a game constantly remembered by fans. Yet, despite its numerous remasters, it now seems poised to get a remake. If this happens, there are some pointers it can take from Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 & 3 remakes.
Resident Evil 2 was 2019’s best games and may actually be the best remake of all-time. Shadow of the Colossus and select others offer solid competition, but Resident Evil 2 is widely considered the cream of the crop. Why is that? The game’s separate campaigns offering different, but similar, story beats and truly horrifying moments make it potentially more memorable than the 1998 original.
Mr. X’s terrifying patrolling of the halls of R.P.D. is one of the game’s best attributes, and its presentation is top-notch. Further, it’s third-person gameplay somewhat recalls Resident Evil 4 while the limited ammo and fair wobbling effect add appropriate discomfort. If Resident Evil 4 is to get a remake, it has to take away these lessons, focusing on the survival horror element and UI system similar to Resident Evil 7.
While Resident Evil 3’s remake didn’t quite reach the quality of Resident Evil 2, it provided more of the game’s trademark survival horror mechanics. Further, it did so with the modern third-person perspective setup that doesn’t quite give players the stability expected from most third-person shooters. For the better. Nemesis may not be as imposing in spirit as Mr. X, but this predator mechanic is something that could get used to a minor degree in a remake of Resident Evil 4. Further, RE3’s greater focus on action might be more fitting of RE4’s story beats.
It’s worth noting that nothing has been announced regarding a Resident Evil 4 remake yet. It is mere conjecture at this point. After all, given Resident Evil 7 follow-up rumors, including that regarding a title called Resident Evil: Village, we could be a ways off from another remake if we get one. A survey did pop up asking Capcom fans if they’d want more Resident Evil remakes. While the results aren’t in, a majority of “Yes” is a solid guess. A remake in the style of RE2 & 3 of Resident Evil 1 or 4 would seem most likely. However, this is something that may have to wait until the next generation of consoles.
