Remaking Resident Evil 4 is a tricky proposition, as the title is one of the most universally praised entries in the franchise. Filling those boots would be no mean feat, and fancy graphics alone won’t do the job. Even so, the overwhelming demand for it is even greater than the risk, incidentally also due to its acclaimed status.
♬ original sound - Xfire - Xfire Starring fan favorite Leon Kennedy as protagonist, Resident Evil 4 took the gameplay in a new direction back when it first launched, and swapped out regular boring zombies for freaky parasite-infested enemies. While still slotting into the wider Resident Evil storyline, Umbrella took a relatively indirect role with a cult stepping in as the antagonists. Having remade Resident Evils 2 and 3, Capcom is continuing their overwhelmingly successful streak of modernizing the series. Announced earlier this year with the mercifully close release date of March 24, 2023, Resident Evil 4 Remake is nearly finished, having entered the last phase of development according to Capcom. Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi shared details about the project in a Famitsu column, revealing how far ahead the development process is, and that Capcom will soon be sharing more details about the game. That tracks, with roughly 4 months left until release - they definitely need to start ramping up marketing. We’ve already been treated to some footage thanks to the two trailers the Remake got, with some glimpses of a weapon upgrading system and a new parrying ability. Many of the characters appearing in the game are getting design makeovers, with the core cast having already been shown off. Whether or not this lease of new life for the classic will recapture the magic of the original remains to be seen, but luckily we need not wait long to find out. Resident Evil 4 Remake will release on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on March 24, 2023.
