The Resident Evil 4 remake is a stunning achievement that redefines a classic game for a new generation of players.

In this blog post, I will share my impressions of the game based on the Chainsaw Demo and the full review by Digital Foundry, one of the most respected sources of technical analysis in the gaming industry.

I will also compare and contrast the game with the original version from 2005, highlighting how Capcom has improved the visuals and gameplay using its powerful RE Engine.

Resident Evil 4 is regarded as one of the best games ever made. It is a survival horror masterpiece that revolutionized third-person action with its over-the-shoulder camera, dynamic combat system and memorable set pieces.

The game follows Leon S. Kennedy, a former Raccoon City police officer who is sent to rescue Ashley Graham, the daughter of the US president, from a mysterious cult in rural Spain.

He encounters hordes of infected villagers known as Ganados, mutated creatures like El Gigante and Regenerators, and sinister characters like Osmund Saddler and Jack Krauser.

The remake takes this basic premise and expands it with new locations, enemies, weapons and mechanics that make it feel fresh and exciting.

The game also features stunning graphics that fully utilize modern hardware, with realistic lighting, shadows, textures and animations. The game supports ray tracing on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, adding realistic reflections to surfaces like water, metal and glass.

However, as Digital Foundry noted in their review, some issues with this feature on PS5 cause some reflections to be missing compared to Xbox Series X/S. Hopefully, this will be fixed in a future patch.

Another graphical option that can be toggled on or off is geometric hair strands, which replace the 2D hair used by default.

This feature adds more detail and realism to the characters’ hair but also causes some problems with lighting. Digital Foundry recommends keeping this option off for now until it is improved.

The game also offers two modes on each console: resolution mode and frame-rate mode.

Resolution mode aims for 4K resolution using checkerboard rendering but sacrifices some performance stability.

Frame-rate mode lowers the resolution but targets 60 frames per second for smoother gameplay.

PC players have more control over these settings and can adjust them according to their preferences.

As for gameplay changes from the original version, many subtle tweaks improve accessibility and challenge. For example:

• The camera is closer to Leon’s shoulder than before
• A laser sight has replaced the aiming reticle
• The inventory system has been streamlined
• The quick-time events have been removed
• The knife is now mapped to a dedicated button
• The enemies are more aggressive and intelligent
• The boss fights are more dynamic

These changes make Resident Evil 4 feel more modern without losing its identity or charm.

The game retains its iconic moments, like facing off against Dr Salvador’s chainsaw or escaping from an angry mob on a truck but adds new twists that surprise even veteran players.

In conclusion

Resident Evil 4 remake is an impressive feat honouring its source material while enhancing it for today’s standards. It delivers an immersive experience that combines horror,