For the most part, the Resident Evil 4 remake has remained faithful to the original game, but one surprising change makes it impossible to kill a previously mortal character. Although murdering this NPC only made things harder for Leon in the long run, and it didn't have any feasible impact on the overarching narrative, it served as an entertaining outlet for chaos in the original version of the game. For some reason, this possibility is now eliminated in a strange Resident Evil 4 remake change.
In the grand scheme of things, the merchant suddenly becoming untouchable is likely one of the last adjustments that players will notice. After all, besides the obvious improvement to graphics and performance, many of Resident Evil 4's gameplay and story features received much-needed overhauls. For one, Leon's knife is now breakable, meaning players won't be able to rely on their melee weapon as much (but the tradeoff is a satisfying parry system). Other tweaks, like the removal of QTEs and the addition of charms also set the RE4 remake apart from the original - but making the merchant unkillable strays from its predecessor in a big way.
Leon Can't Kill The Merchant In Resident Evil 4 Remake
It's no longer possible to kill the Merchant in the Resident Evil 4 remake. In fact, Leon refuses to even aim his weapon at him, signifying his new status as an essential NPC. This was not the case in the original version of the game, wherein it was possible to shoot or slice the Merchant to death, even though he would almost always reappear in a different area on the map. This sparked some interesting theories about the nature of the character, suggesting that there were several different Merchants as opposed to one - but since he can no longer die, this theory inherently becomes much less compelling.
Resident Evil 4 Remake Changes The Merchant's Personality
The Merchant being unkillable in the Resident Evil 4 remake is an odd change, but it isn't the only one. Hearing the Merchant's iconic quotes in RE4 was one of the most memorable parts of the original game, but some of his best voice lines were omitted for the reboot (or at the least, made much less frequent). Now, instead of repeating the same phrase over and over again during Leon's shopping session, he'll strike up various conversations. This is beneficial to the overall quality of life, but it's still a shame to see the character's beloved original behaviors go.
Coupled with the shady dealer's newfound immortality, it seems that the NPC has traded in some of his most defining traits from 2005 for more immersion. It may take players some time to notice that the Merchant can't be killed anymore in the Resident Evil 4 remake, as it's quite a minor detail, but it showcases the game's shift towards darker, grittier, and more serious themes.