Cool remake! I’m not really a fan of this trend of remaking perfectly good, not-that-old games especially when they’re readily available. This is a great example of a remake being done well though. Compared to the original, the action is much improved, a lot less stiff. Sometimes feels like you’re in an action film. A lot of this is a very faithful recreation to the original, many areas even keeping the same level design. There are a few surprises put in deliberately mess with returning fans and I love the idea of the makers messing with the player. Could’ve gone a bit further with that. I appreciated the improvements to some of the boss fights, and the exclusion of one of the bad ones from the original. The new parry mechanic adds a great dynamic to the combat. Durability is frustrating but that’s so hard to balance.
A few welcome changes are made to the story, taking away some awkward and cringeworthy aspects which already felt dated 10 years ago. I appreciated the changes to Luis in particular. Ada’s VA had unfairly taken a lot of abuse and blame when I think the character doesn’t work as well as she did before now that she feels younger and less aggressive in her dynamic with Leon, and that’s a combination of writing, design and direction more than the acting. The story is mostly the same which is to say a lot of fun but otherwise a bit shallow.
While so much of this is really cool, I found I was reminded of other games. Several times I thought of Metal Gear Solid 3, and this doesn’t carry the same weight.
RE4 2005 marked the full shift of the series from survival horror to action with horror aesthetics and this is as it was. I think there’s a place for that, but seeing the same shift that happened towards the end of RE7 and 8 it’s a little sad. I’d love to see RE9 go with another new protagonist and focus on horror and puzzling. If we get another remake next I’m content to see a RE1 REmake REMAKE, since that now looks in need of it after all this. Otherwise we’re looking at some seriously flawed instalments to be recreated or hopefully completely reimagined. But maybe messiness is what makes this franchise special.
A few welcome changes are made to the story, taking away some awkward and cringeworthy aspects which already felt dated 10 years ago. I appreciated the changes to Luis in particular. Ada’s VA had unfairly taken a lot of abuse and blame when I think the character doesn’t work as well as she did before now that she feels younger and less aggressive in her dynamic with Leon, and that’s a combination of writing, design and direction more than the acting. The story is mostly the same which is to say a lot of fun but otherwise a bit shallow.
While so much of this is really cool, I found I was reminded of other games. Several times I thought of Metal Gear Solid 3, and this doesn’t carry the same weight.
RE4 2005 marked the full shift of the series from survival horror to action with horror aesthetics and this is as it was. I think there’s a place for that, but seeing the same shift that happened towards the end of RE7 and 8 it’s a little sad. I’d love to see RE9 go with another new protagonist and focus on horror and puzzling. If we get another remake next I’m content to see a RE1 REmake REMAKE, since that now looks in need of it after all this. Otherwise we’re looking at some seriously flawed instalments to be recreated or hopefully completely reimagined. But maybe messiness is what makes this franchise special.