Resident Evil 4 Remake gameplay trailer showcases how this classic is changing
During its Resident Evil Showcase livestream, Capcom dropped a new Resident Evil 4 Remake trailer showing off gameplay of the upcoming game. In doing so, the company demonstrated just how much this classic is changing for its second go around.
When it was released back in 2005—initially as a GameCube exclusive before hitting PlayStation 2—Resident Evil 4 marked a turning point for the horror franchise, mixing classic survival horror elements with a then-new over-the-shoulder camera angle and combat controls. These changes soon became a staple of the franchise, before it switched to the now familiar first-person view of Resident Evil VII and Resident Evil Village.
More importantly, these changes have become the standard for the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. (Read: 8 Great video game remakes that let us revisit past classics)
With this in mind, the question remains, what exactly is being updated with Resident Evil 4 to justify the remake? The new Resident Evil 4 Remake gameplay trailer shows that the game is changing in smaller, but still important ways.
The biggest change is now the ability for Leon, the game’s protagonist, to both move and shoot at the same time. In addition, Leon now has the ability to crouch as well as parry enemy attacks.
How the game will be changed to balance Leon’s newfound abilities is unknown. RE4 was known for upping the ante by throwing larger and larger crowds of enemies at the opponent, perhaps the remake will double down on that.
That said, despite the changes, several classic mechanics will return. For one, Leon can still employ his famous stun-kick-kill combo. Then there’s the return of the original’s attaché case inventory system, albeit with some streamlining of certain functions such as crafting and equipping items.
In addition to the new Resident Evil 4 Remake gameplay trailer Capcom also dropped a new story trailer for the game that hinted at some changes to the plot. The most intriguing new scene here is one where Ashley—the president’s daughter who Leon is supposed to rescue—becomes fully infected with the parasite that’s plaguing the town and then pull a gun at someone.
All that was shown in these two trailers indicate that Capcom is doing its best to make the game earn the “remake” part of its title, offering new things for fans of the original to experience. Whether or not it will live up to this promise, however, is something players will have to wait until next year to find out.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is set to launch on March 24, 2023, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
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