Resident Evil 4 (2023) Reviews
Capcom created a complete reimagining of Resident Evil 4 through this remake, which may leave some fans feeling lukewarm as it pivots further away from horror and straight into action.
It is difficult to not be blinded by nostalgia, especially when a game has been part of the ongoing zeitgeist of the franchise for nearly 20 years. Resident Evil 4 Remake is, by intention, an unfaithful love letter. The remake has changed certain story beats, altered movement, overhauled combat and revised the visuals. Those jumping in for the first time in 2023 may not understand the hype surrounding this particular entry in the series, but remember that a lot of modern games owe their DNA to Resident Evil 4, even if they have perfected it since.
Resident Evil 4 Remake asks the bold question of whether you can perfect what many already consider perfection. While fairly competent at the basics, Capcom's latest remake has the least creative energy of its series revivals, leaving you wanting for much more.
Resident Evil 4 2023 resembles the American remake of the Asian film, where the authors seem to have taken the same components, but did not understand why and how they work. Even without a comparison with RE4, the project has enough problems, and if you push it head-on with the original, it becomes even sadder.
Review in Russian | Read full review
The best I can say is that it is an earnest effort at recapturing the magic, and it’s worth checking out. It remains, as it always was, maddeningly inconsistent.
Nearly 20 years after its original release, Resident Evil 4 is still as much fun to play through as it was in 2005. The game offers an astounding experience from beginning to end.
"Resident Evil 4" isn't perfect and doesn't quite match the heights of "Resident Evil 2." However, it's a fun romp and a great remake for a beloved game.
Resident Evil 4 Remake looks great on PS5, plays smoothly even with fancy hair effects turned on, has very few glitches, and is still a lengthy game that somehow gives you the urge to replay it as soon as it's over. It feels three times as large as the Resident Evil 3 remake, and is absolutely deserving of praise. It's also not as silly, not as unique, and not as necessary as the original. Resident Evil, RE2, and RE3 all benefited from an increase in graphical fidelity and modern controls. Resident Evil 4 didn't need it. Nor will RE5. Or RE6. Enough is enough, Capcom. Please stop.
A must-buy for Resident Evil fans. And well worth a look for those seeking an incredibly challenging, stressful horror game where you never feel like you’ve got enough ammo to survive.
As a remake, Resident Evil 4 is a seriously impressive conversion of a classic. It packs just about everything that made the original great while sanding down many, but not quite all, of the rough edges.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is really close to the original, correcting mistakes of its predecessors, but without being flawless.
Review in Greek | Read full review
The Resident Evil 4 remake is a darker, more intense and safely faithful remake of one of the greatest games of all time. It’s the best way to play for new players with updated controls and a modern styling. It avoids the missteps of RE3 remake by staying very true to its source material – so close that it's reluctant to make improvements for fear of changing too much.
That narrative strength is bolstered by a far less tin-eared script than that of the original, a graphical upgrade that goes hard on gothic atmosphere and dread, a well-implemented upgrade system with a new-and-improved ornery British merchant (though the recently introduced optional microtransactions are a black mark against him), and creatures that still have a few unforeseen surprises up their sleeves. While this world is familiar to veterans of the original game, Capcom knows exactly when to subvert expectations to ratchet up tension.
Revisiting such another cult classic game, after the remake of Resident Evil 2, wasn't an easy task. In the end, Capcom did a fantastic job and Resident Evil 4 Remake is easily one the best episodes ever released.
Review in French | Read full review
Resident Evil 4 Remake improves on the visuals, mechanics, and moment-to-moment experience of one of the best games ever made, but the source material casts an inescapable shadow, both in its renown and its treatment of its leading woman.
Again though, I really must stress that this is a great game. It’s more serious, and suffers in comparison as a result, but its wealth of additional content, its few minor adjustments to an already terrific combat system, and the sheer excuse to enjoy Resident Evil 4 in another way makes this is a worthy title indeed.
Resident Evil 4 Remake VR Mode is just about as great as you’d expect, but the base game’s third-person perspective made Capcom’s job a lot harder.
Resident Evil 4 remake is a great game in its own right, but can't hold a candle to the original.
Resident Evil 4's excellent variety, involving combat, and rollercoaster pacing makes it one of the best in the series and a faithful recreation, mired by a parasitic companion and a few weird franchise tropes.
The Resident Evil series has been esteemed by fans for many years, so any attempt at a remake for one of its most beloved titles will inevitably be met with high expectations and near-febrile anticipation. The remake of RE2 set a high bar, and by most accounts, the RE3R fell far below it. We’re happy to report that the remake of Resident Evil 4 represents a return to form, and even sets a gold standard for any remake of a classic game.