The 10 Biggest Improvements In Resident Evil 4 Remake

10 Biggest Improvements in Resident Evil 4 Remake

Mathew Arter

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we are ditching nostalgia and taking a look at the 10 biggest improvements in the Resident Evil 4 Remake.

For this list, we’ll be comparing the remake with the original, and picking out our favorite improvements the 2023 version made on the 2005 GameCube release.

If you’re LOVING Resi 4, make sure to let us know in the comments below, because so are we!

#10: Almost no QTEs

We say almost because it would be a lie to say there are no quick time events at all in this remake. Quicktime events are common in modern video games - tap square to throw an enemy off you, hold triangle to unlock a door. What is less common, and a little hated (especially in the original Resident Evil 4), is quick time events during cutscenes. Nothing is more annoying than sitting back to digest some story, only to have the screen flash PRESS TRIANGLE L2 AND HOLD YOUR LEFT TOE TO DODGE THIS FLYING SWORD! A failed QTE in a cutscene usually means having to rewatch a cutscene, luckily for us, it looks as though the RE4 remake has said “no thanks”, and scrapped them throughout cutscenes.

#9: Customizable Attache Case

One of the funner elements of Resident Evil 4 (especially for those with OCD tendencies), was managing the Tetris-like Attache case and trying to fit everything inside in a way that was visually pleasing, space saving or a combination of the two. The RE4 remake has held onto the Attache case so fans of that inventory management style can still enjoy that extra bit of fun, but they’ve also added more customization and case options. More cases are added for use, ranging in size and with added benefits like ‘increased handgun ammo drops’ or just resource drops in general. This will add a layer of thought to your playthrough with players sometimes having to forgo inventory space for worthwhile passive benefits. They’ve also added attachable ‘charms’. The player can attach up to three to their case which also have additional bonuses such as “100% health recovery when Leon eats an egg”... Yum.

#8: Revamped Gore

Alright, let’s get into the good stuff. Game visuals have come a LONG way in the last 18 years, and we were so excited to see what the RE4 remake would do with the more bloody elements of the game, especially considering how ramped up it’s been in the previous remakes and later entries in the mainline series. In the RE4 remake, Leon can now split enemies in two with well placed shotgun shots, as well as sever their limbs if the player's aim is up to snuff. General gorey improvements have been made including watching one of your cop buddies be burned alive instead of finding him later. Maybe come into this game with an empty stomach, just in case.

#7: Enhanced Crafting

We’ve already seen just how far the previous entries and remakes have taken crafting in Resident Evil. With the RE4 remake, we can see an entirely overhauled crafting system, which is wonderful news to those players who enjoy a little more variety to their linear games. When selecting an item, the player can see a recipe book of things that are craftable with that product, including the missing ingredient needed to make particular recipes happen. They’ve also added craftable ammo and ammo types into the mix, so don’t expect to just be finding your ammo in chests, you’re gonna have to get those hands dirty, stranger.

#6: More Luiz

Is there anyone sexier than Luiz? I’ll wait. From the trailer footage for later events of the remake, we’ve seen the fan favorite Luiz has a far more significant role in the RE4 remake than he did in the original. We see that Luiz joins us for some smaller gameplay sections, and may actually offer a helping hand! Unfortunately, the more time we spend with Luiz, the more upset we’ll be if the remake decides to follow the plot of the original. Uh oh.

#5: Knife

The trusty knife was a tool of great power in the original Resident Evil 4. Shoot an enemy in the head, kick them to the ground, pull out the knife and give ‘em two good swipes. The knife was your best friend. As well as some slick new knife kill animations when an enemy gets a hold of you, it also appears like the knife is no longer an indestructible weapon. The knife can now break, which limits the amount of times the player will want to use it, as they may have to wait till the next merchant before they can get their hands on another one. This adds a new level of tension and choice to each player's experience. Treat your knives well, kids.

#4: Ashley Overhaul

The Ashley AI has become something of a gaming legend since her original debut in 2005. Often frustrating to manage, and just generally annoying to work with, the Resident Evil 4 Remake has remembered this, and made some notable changes. Most prominently is her lack of a health bar, opting instead for her to be downed if she’s hit enough times in succession. They’ve also taken some of the mind numbing qualities out of protecting her by allowing the player to better guide her, and even ask her to just stay behind Leon. Saving her from an Ashley thieving Ganado requires a simple knife to the neck, and we may even see some more fun gameplay when she takes the wheel herself.

#3: Side Quests

This is bound to be LOADS of fun. The game has added blue flyers in and around the linear paths of the game, offering the player a chance to sneak off for some added fun and possible rewards. The tasks in these side quests range from puzzles all the way to very specific tasks like delivering goods. From what we’ve seen so far, these quests will give players who want a little more juice from their RE4 experience the chance to squeeze some. And when it comes to time in RE4, we say the more the merrier!

#2: More Dynamic Gameplay

Headshot an enemy into a group, kick the enemy and hope to knock down as many as possible, whip out the knife and drop a few. The horror action gameplay for the original RE4 was a thing of legend, but once you’d wrapped your head around the tricks and styles, most run ins became a rinse and repeat of the same few things. The RE4 remake has really improved things by offering the player more dynamic gameplay and variety. The BIGGEST gameplay change from the original comes in the form of moving and shooting... PRAISE the lord. With the ability to move around while aiming your gun, the game should feel far less arcadey and more like a tense horror shooter. The player can parry oncoming attacks with their knife, and possibly most interesting of all, be a bit stealthy. With both silent takedowns and a new crouch feature, the player should have the opportunity to drop a few enemies around the map BEFORE they get into an engagement. The way the combat and enemy scenarios feel in the hands of players in this remake is probably the most different things will feel from the original, and it’s 100% welcomed

#1: The Game is Scarier

Fans of Resident Evil’s more spooky elements back in 2005, would have noticed that what Resident Evil 4 did so well for action, they lost for horror. Although the game had some scary moments, the pure horror that made the first three games so scary was somewhat shelved in place of better combat and a more fun action experience. This change in style remained until Resident Evil 7 where Capcom returned to their roots, and by Resident Evil Village, they’d perfected the recipe on action horror. With improved art design and atmosphere, the Resident Evil 4 remake is going to be WAY scarier. With darker sections relying on Leon’s flashlight, as well as simple mood changes for the outdoor moments, our skin was crawling from the demo alone. Hold onto your hats, people, because this ain’t your momma’s Resident Evil 4.