Resident Evil 4 | PS5 Review

It’s difficult not to compare Resident Evil 4 to its predecessor. Not only does it owe a lot to the original, but every game does. The 2005 version of Resident Evil 4 is easily one of the most important third-person shooters ever made. It reinvented the way we aim in video games, and did everything to such a level of quality that Capcom saw fit to port the game to seemingly every video game console ever made. I don’t envy the team tasked with remaking it.

Where’s Everyone Going? Bingo?

Turns out, though, that team had nothing to worry about. Resident Evil 4 is an action horror masterpiece. At nearly every minute I was enthralled by the experience, whether fighting off a horde of villagers or exploring an ancient castle. The pacing, in particular, is so exquisite that you’ll be hard pressed to ever find the proper moment to put the controller down. The action is constantly shifting so you’re not doing the same thing for too long, and often explodes into some incredible set pieces involving things like mine carts.

The combat has a rhythm and feel that puts it top of the class. Shooting feels tight (though Leon’s movement does take some getting used to) and you’ll be popping fools in kneecaps with minimal effort. Unlike the original, you can now move and shoot at the same time, so it feels like your options are far more open when it comes to mobility. To combat this, enemies now have a grab attack that will put your skills to the test when you’re low on ammo or health. The enemy types have such a ludicrous amount of variety, and are mixed and matched so frequently, that nearly every encounter feels fresh and exciting.

Your Right Hand Comes Off?

The guns have a weight to them, and feel incredible to fire into infected fiends. Whether it’s a handgun, shotgun, or rifle, every armament feels thrilling to use. You’re given new weapons at a steady rate, as well, so there’s a lot of room in experimenting with your playstyle. So much satisfaction is derived from using these weapons effectively. You’ll feel like a genuine badass shooting an enemy in the kneecaps, and then roundhouse kicking him into a group of his buddies. Even more thrilling is to immediately equip a grenade and explode the entire group. Possibilities like this are endless, and it’s such a joy constantly working with what you have.

The boss encounters in Resident Evil 4 were always legendary, and it’s no different here. Each one had me on the edge of my seat, and each one is markedly different. One fight had myself and a compatriot battle two gargantuan monsters at once, and it really felt like a culmination of several battles before. A boss near the end of the game featuring a military commander feels straight out of an 80’s action movie, filled with traps to watch out for and cheesy banter dialogue you’ll love. I suspect that boss battle will have fans talking for a while.

No Thanks, Bro!

The gameplay reigns king here, but the story is an improvement over the original in several ways as well. Special agent Leon Scott Kennedy is sent to a rural area of Spain in the hopes of finding the President’s missing daughter, Ashley Graham. The story here is much the same as the original game overall, though it does take a far more grounded approach. It works in modernizing the story for a much different audience, but truly excels when it comes to the improvements to characters. Leon here actually feels like the same character from Resident Evil 2, unlike the original where he had a much more lackadaisical attitude. Luis is no longer defined by his need to sexually harass women, but instead has ties into larger franchise lore.

More important than anyone, though, is Ashley. In the original game, she was a straight up nuisance. In this version of Resident Evil 4, she is a character I wish we could see more from. Her camaraderie and flirtatious tension with Leon is the highlight of the story, and the bond they share feels real and genuinely sweet. They’re in this together, and thanks to her being an active participant in getting you the hell off the island, you’re glad for it.

Equipped with Ballistics.

Unfortunately, her improvements don’t extend to gameplay. She still gets carried off by enemies that happen to grab her, though at least she doesn’t shriek in a way that makes your ears bleed. There’s two tactical options you can give her, either sticking close or spreading out, but I never found there was much difference. You also have fewer places to stash her before combat than the many dumpsters of the original.

If Ashley gets hit once, she’s down but not out, though a second hit will kill her permanently. Although you no longer have to use healing items on her, I actually found this system more annoying than the original. If she happens to get down in or near a crowd, it can be damn near impossible getting her back up. It’s certainly mitigated by the fact I actually care about Ashley now, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless. I don’t mind her getting dragged off, as I actually think it adds to the tension of combat, but her health system annoyed me.

Either with or without Ashley, though, Resident Evil 4 is a wonderful world to explore. There are three major acts in the game, and each is filled with many distinct areas. Though the game never really becomes scary, it does have a dreadful creepiness throughout. I felt the tension as I explored each new environment, knowing I would be struggling with health and ammo in an unfamiliar area. Only the sight of our lovely merchant provided a much needed reprieve.

Hasta Luego!

The bottom line is that you should play Resident Evil 4 immediately. It surpassed my lofty expectations and proved why RE4 was always the best the series had to offer. The first thing I did after rolling credits was start up a new file and kick some serious villager ass. Its action gunplay is nothing short of impeccable, and I think almost anyone will find themselves in love with the combat. Thanks to improved characterization, you’ll also be in love with the cast of action survivors. Whether a returning fan of the original, or a newcomer experiencing it for the first time, Resident Evil 4 proves itself a must play.

To hear me talk more about Resident Evil 4, be sure to listen to March 29, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 45:07 time stamp.

This review is based on a purchased copy of Resident Evil 4 on PlayStation 5. It is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC via Steam.