The recently-announced remake of Resident Evil 4 will feature a fresh and reimagined story that still preserves the essence of the original game. The fourth Resident Evil title reinvigorated the survival horror series by putting a focus on dynamic third-person shooter combat. The Resident Evil 4 remake was officially announced during PlayStation State of Play, and the new version is set to make substantial changes to the original story.
While Capcom continues to make new survival horror games like Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, the developer also continues to remake older entries for the modern age. 2019's Resident Evil 2 and 2020's Resident Evil 3 enhanced the two classic titles with fast-paced over-the-shoulder combat, modernized graphics and altered storylines. Resident Evil 4 actually steered the franchise in this direction back in 2005 by adding innovative features like over-the-shoulder camera movement and a merchant that sells weapons and ammunition. A recent announcement trailer revealed the Resident Evil 4 remake release date as March 24, 2023, and the project will apparently be a substantial overhaul.
According to a new PlayStation Blog post, the Resident Evil 4 remake will reimagine the 2005 classic's intense story for the current generation. The narrative will still involve Leon traveling to a European village to rescue the president's daughter and encountering a bizarre supernatural threat. However, Capcom Promotion Producer Edvin Edsö reveals that the Resident Evil 4 remake strives to both preserve the essence of the original game and deliver a fresh modernized experience. Resident Evil 4's storyline will be reimagined, but the 2005 original's tone and direction will apparently be maintained in the 2023 version.
While the Resident Evil remakes are based on the classic survival horror games, each title has taken creative liberties while adapting the beloved originals. For example, the Resident Evil 3 remake's story and gameplay changes led to major differences between the 2020 release and its 1999 inspiration. The game's controls were obviously overhauled to turn the fixed-camera survival title into a more fast-paced third-person shooter. Several other changes, like the removal of Live Selections that can change the outcome of a situation, had a major impact on Resident Evil 3's story. The character of Carlos is heavily emphasized in the 2020 remake, for example, with the Umbrella Corporation mercenary taking over a large section of gameplay from protagonist Jill Valentine.
Resident Evil 4 is set to breathe new life into an already beloved and timeless survival horror shooter. Leon S. Kennedy's epic journey revolutionized the franchise, paving the way for sequels that focused on combat and speed over tank controls and scrounging for bullets. The Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes significantly overhauled the classic games, and it appears that Resident Evil 4 will also give fans an experience both familiar and fresh.
Resident Evil 4 will release on March 24, 2023 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: PlayStation Blog