Capcom has revealed it's remaking Resident Evil 4, and this is the perfect time to address the character issues that the original game has. As was the case for the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes, Capcom is doing more than simply upgrading the graphics. Although the original Resident Evil 4 is already considered a fan favorite in the franchise, there are some improvements that can, and should, be made to some of the characters in order to improve the game overall.
Resident Evil 4 takes place 6 years after the events of Resident Evil 2. Leon S. Kennedy has become a federal spy and friend of the president after escaping from Raccoon City. The president's daughter, Ashley, has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom, so Leon is sent to a remote village to rescue her. Leon soon finds himself facing Krauser, virus-infected villagers, the ridiculousness of Ramon Salazar, and the mysterious Ada Wong.
With the story for Resident Evil 4 being reimagined in the remake, it's uncertain what changes Capcom will make. It reassured fans that the core feeling of the game will remain, but there are characters in Resident Evil 4 that could benefit from a reinterpretation that deviates from their core concepts. Characters like Ashley and Ada could use - and seem to be receiving - more practical outfits, and Ashley needs a personality overhaul to be less sexualized and made into a more well-rounded young woman.
RE4 Remake - Krauser Needs More Impact & Fewer Quick Time Events
Krauser has some of the biggest character issues in Resident Evil 4. His connection to Leon lacks depth because the mission that they were on together before the events of Resident Evil 4 is expanded upon in a spin-off game, leaving players who stick to the main titles missing context. But without the history between them, Leon's encounters with Krauser fall flat, and he feels like a rather bland antagonist instead of a military man who has turned his back on the government he once served.
The second issue with Krauser is his fights. Resident Evil 4 bosses could be better without quick time events being included, and Krauser is among the bosses who would improve the most without them. The presence of quick-time events in Resident Evil 4 hurts the story because it throws players out of their immersion by forcing them to react to a sudden button popping up on the screen. Then if they fail the event, they have to start the encounter over. The frustration of quick-time events makes bosses like Krauser more of a chore than an interesting part of the game's story, and the remake shouldn't bring them back.
Resident Evil 4 Needs A More Mature Version Of Ashley
Ashley Graham might be the most hated character in the entire Resident Evil franchise, and Capcom needs to fix that. The problems with Ashley range from her personality to her functionality, or lack thereof, when Leon is protecting her. The remake needs Resident Evil 4 VR's change for Ashley to begin with, where she isn't as sexualized as in the original game because that content was removed. The new outfit that she's receiving will also help tone down the oversexualized tone she originally had.
The other issue with Ashley in the original version of Resident Evil 4 is that she's both useless and annoying. Even after saving Ashley, she can easily be recaptured if the player isn't paying attention. For all the trouble she brings the player, Ashley doesn't have any abilities to help aside from Leon being able to tell her to hide. She could be given a role as simple as helping with Resident Evil 4's inventory management by being able to hold a set number of items for Leon. It's a small change, but it would give Ashley a lot more usefulness than she had in the original game. Another beneficial addition would be Capcom giving Ashley the ability to realize when she should hide without the player needing to tell her, as it would lead to less frustrating gameplay. She doesn't need to be able to fight the Ganado on her own, but she does need some ability to help Leon.
Resident Evil 4 Remake Can Have A Bigger Role For Ada Wong
There is another figure in the original game, however, who actually is a fan-favorite character. Players don't see enough of Ada Wong in Resident Evil 4 considering all the aid she provides to Leon throughout the game. Like Ashley, Ada is receiving a new outfit that's much more practical for a covert job in a virus-infested area than her iconic red dress from the original title. Ada, however, doesn't need any adjustments made to her personality, and she already has the ability to hold her own in dangerous areas. She is among the original group of strong female characters in video games, and she maintains that role throughout the franchise. There is no reason that Capcom should change those aspects of Ada Wong's character.
With the Resident Evil 4 remake reportedly scarier than the original, Ada's mini-campaign can be expanded upon to add to that new tone. Ada does a lot behind the scenes of Resident Evil 4 that's skipped over in her small campaign, but it should be included in the remake. She's an interesting character, and what she does behind the scenes to help Leon while fulfilling her job for Wesker offers Capcom a way to add depth to the game's lore. Ada walks a balance between being a villain and a hero, and that intrigue makes her gameplay better because the player gets to take on a more ambiguous role rather than being just a hero.
Resident Evil 4 has ridiculous bosses and a snarky protagonist in Leon, but that's a large part of the game's charm. Fans have waited years for Resident Evil 4 to get a remake, and the wait is finally paying off with a game that will deviate from the original while maintaining the elements and tone that many players fell in love with. Not much has been revealed about the new route that Capcom will take with the story, but fans eagerly await more reveals about the horrors that will await them in the Resident Evil 4 remake.