The next Resident Evil 4 remake seeks to improve upon Capcom’s original 2005 genre-defining title in every possible way. Everything from the graphics and gameplay to the overall atmosphere and writing by Shinji Mikami gets a complete overhaul so players old and new can find themselves immersed in an updated adventure. The Resident Evil 2 remake was a smash hit, and while the Resident Evil 3 the remake didn’t go as well, fans are hoping the Resident Evil 4 remake will take after the first rather than the second.
But while fans are busy sorting through all the footage shown at Capcom’s recent conference resident Evil Showcase, it is worth taking a closer look at what is happening at the surface level. Almost all the characters in Resident Evil 4 remake received glimmers that make them more realistic and fashionable to the point that some of them look like completely different people. Not all of the characters receive the same love and attention, however, and while some look nearly identical to those from 17 years ago, it shows just how timeless their creations are.
The Undesirable American
Before moving on to the larger character design changes in the Resident Evil 4 remake, one must first look at those that appear identical to their original counterparts. It all starts with protagonist Leon S. Kennedy, who looks like a mix of his Resident Evil 4 model and sound Resident Evil 2 redo the model. The Leon shown in the trailers is still modeled after Romanian model Eduard Badaluta, but now sports his signature outfit from Resident Evil 4. Leon wears blue pants and a tight black shirt which he covers with a sheepskin bomber jacket. As with the original game, it looks like Leon will lose his jacket again not too far into the remake.
The crazy locals
Next come the iconic enemies of Resident Evil 4, the Ganados – all of whom have updated their character models thanks to the RE engine. Even with the increased graphical fidelity, the Ganados still wear the same drab commoner attire of the original, which consists of an assortment of shirts, dresses, vests, and pants. The clothes worn by the Ganados are still as dirty as ever, but they still give players a glimpse of the life they once led before the Las Plagas took over their village.
The imposing village chief
Leading the village’s crazed citizens is Chief Bitores Mendez, who is as tall and imposing as ever. Dressed in a long trench coat and a new hat, Mendez hides his true form from onlookers. While the majority of his body is corrupted by the Las Plagas, Mendez’s face still retains some of his main features, the most prominent and striking of which are his long beard and his artificial left eye (the latter becoming a key element for players to progress in the game).
Has anyone called for backup?
The last of the minor character updates involves US government agent Ingrid Hunnigan, who can be seen in the Resident Evil 4 remake extended gameplay trailer. Hunnigan looks exactly like she did in the original Resident Evil 4 and can be seen wearing a black suit over a white shirt. Since Hunnigan spends all Resident Evil 4 providing support for Leon from an undisclosed location, his appearance didn’t need too many changes for the remake.
The president’s daughter on strike
Now let’s move on to bigger character designs, starting with the second protagonist of Resident Evil 4, Ashley Graham. Ashley received substantial changes to her character design and is now modeled after Dutch model Ella Freya. Ashley now sports an asymmetrical bob as opposed to her short haircut in the original game. She also wears a practical orange coat over her signature orange turtleneck sweater and green plaid skirt. It appears that Ashley looks much older than in the original game, but whether this correlates to an increase in her abilities or maturity remains to be seen.
The questionable Luis Sera
Dr. Luis Sera is completely different from his character’s original design on the Nintendo GameCube. His parted hair and devilish appearance still seem intact, but in place of his obviously Spanish mug is a face that seems more foreign than local. Fans are still divided over Luis Sera’s face model, but he’s still wearing the same Spanish-inspired clothes he wore in the original Resident Evil 4.
The return of Ada Wong
Just like Leon, Ada Wong made her return to the resident Evil franchisee in Resident Evil 4. His face looks the same as in the Resident Evil 2 remake as it is still modeled after the real model Adriana. Her clothes have changed, as she’s discarded her red dress in favor of a red turtleneck sweater – an outfit more appropriate for her spy escapades. If the Resident Evil 4 remake aims to honor the original, chances are that Ada’s playable segments, namely Assignment: Ada and different pathswill be included in the game at some point.
Castle of Castellan de Salazar
The last big character change shown in Capcom’s Resident Evil Showcase was that of Ramon Salazar. Although he’s only 20, Salazar’s exhibit at Las Plagas made him look older than he actually is. Removing her tricorn hat exposes her white hair, which looks more like a powdered wig than actual locks. But thanks to her short stature and purple outfit, it becomes quite easy for viewers to get used to her new look.
There will undoubtedly be more surprises for fans as the Resident Evil 4 remake is nearing its release date. Gameplay reveals, map changes, and new characters all play a role in the hype for the return of one of the gaming industry’s biggest titles. The horror has changed, and Resident Evil 4 changed with him.
Resident Evil 4 releases March 24, 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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