If the restoration of certain games is debated as to the right term used (remaster, remake), for Resident Evil 4, the question does not even arise. You just have to launch the game to understand that not only is the graphic gap dizzying, but in addition, Capcom has taken the trouble to redesign its masterpiece of the time. The first opening scene, for example, plunges us into a totally different atmosphere. Where the path that led to the first house 17 years ago was in broad daylight with a very sepia atmosphere in its colorimetry, Leon S. Kennedy finds himself today in the middle of a gloomy forest, with luxuriant vegetation, where each step is measured. It must be said that we took the time to look around, to see the incredible graphic evolution and to say to ourselves that we are indeed playing Resident Evil 4. We are then divided by a feeling contrary: we recognize the title of Capcom, but it appears in a completely modified case. It must be said that this time, Leon ventures into the dark, surrounded by a thick fog barely lit by the light of the Moon. The latter does not hesitate to run his hand over the branches so as not to scratch his face, the kind of small details that make the difference and that we already find in the productions of Rockstar Games or Naughty Dog, the masters in the matter. Between the decomposing deer corpses, the sound of flies flying around, the sound of the wind in the foliage and this deathly silence, Capcom wants to breathe in the horrific atmosphere that had disappeared with the original game and its action turn. assumed. An appreciable return to basics and which proves that it is possible to combine the best of both worlds. In all cases, the immersion is immediate and total.
THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD “REMAKE”
But it’s not just the path that leads to our first enemy that has been lengthened, the house in which Leon is going to make his first encounter with the native has also taken up space. Additional rooms, more corridors, more basements, Capcom has revamped its game from A to Z. Everything has been sublimated, from the environments now rich in detail to the modeling of the characters, which finally give the feeling of being upgraded to next gen. Just take a look at Leon’s iconic jacket to see the attention to detail. Between the pleats on the leather, the micro-scratches on the sleeves, the fur collar that gives the feeling of still smelling sheep’s wool, we are almost feeling the material so much the level has reached an impressive threshold. Only the blond hair of our DPR policeman still lacks realism in some of his movements, but nothing too serious. We don’t yet know if the whole game will bear the marks of this colossal project, but our first steps show the publisher’s desire to prove that he wants to restore all the letters of nobility to a game that has marked the video game in its time.
Between the decomposing deer corpses, the sound of flies flying around, the sound of the wind in the foliage and this deathly silence, Capcom wants to breathe in the horrific atmosphere that had disappeared with the original game and its action turn. assumed.
It’s not just the graphic aspect that has taken on muscle, the gameplay has also been modernized, with of course the possibility of pointing your weapon forward while continuing to walk. It seems completely insane today (it was also in 2004/2005, I can assure you), but Leon has gained flexibility in movement. Walk, trot, run, he can now squat today. In the middle of a fight, his mawashigeri is still relevant to smash infested Hispanic peasants when they are stunned, but it is above all the use of his knife that becomes more interesting. During scripted strikes, Leon can plant his blade in the jugular or the side of an enemy, all with close-up to give more effect to the gesture, but it is especially that the knife has become an ultra effective weapon for get rid of enemies more easily. Leon can even strike a blow on the ground, just to complete the Ganados who would like to get up. However, there is a counterpart, the cold weapon deteriorates over the blows and can ultimately break. A clever game design gimmick that not only prevents abuse, but forces the player to vary between weapons.
DETRAS DE TI!
Resident Evil obliges, ammunition remains rare, even if this episode has always been more generous than the previous ones. In the playable part that was proposed to us, that is to say the attack on the village at the start of the game, we were able to have fun with the shotgun, always placed in the same place, that is to say on the wall of one of the houses to visit. The villagers have also grown in size, with more swift movements, more incisive fork attacks, but generally remain voluntary enough slow-witted to allow us to get out of sticky situations. Especially since the Chainsaw Man was also present, with his now protruding bloodshot eyes and who has only one thing in mind, to cut Leon in half with his chainsaw. There is no secret, to resist the invasion of the village, you will have to run, enter the houses, barricade yourself, go upstairs, go through the roofs, kick the ladders, dodge , jumping from the roofs, in short, everything necessary to maintain tension until the sound of the bell tower which will stop any act of violence on the part of these mindless villagers. The demo was too short for us (1 hour of gameplay), but we came out with the thrills we needed. If Capcom maintains this degree of restoration throughout the adventure, this remake will remain like the original game among the annals, I tell you.