Remakes can be tricky, especially for a game with as much hype asResident Evil 4 Remake.Change too little, and there’s not enough new content for players to justify buying the game. Changing too much risks alienating fans. Capcom has generally struck this balance well with their remakes of the first three Resident Evil games, and that trend continues with RE4.
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So, what’s different? We’ve highlighted some of the major changes from the 2005 original to the 2023 Remake. Check them out below if you’re on the fence about returning to the stronghold of Los Illuminados.
Updated on July 14, 2025 by Matt Arnold:We’ve added some information about RE4 Remake’s DLC, and how it compares to the extra game modes in the original.
This article contains spoilers, but nothing that will surprise you if you’ve played the original Resident Evil 4.
11A New Look
Resident Evil 4 was one of the best-looking games of 2005. While it still holds up appearance-wise, it can’t hold a candle to the Remake in terms of graphics. Every environment is full of detail, from the parasite-infested Village to the decaying halls of Castle Salazar and beyond.
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Most of the characters have gotten new looks as well. While they’re instantly recognizable, nearly everyone has gotten a costume revamp. Ashley in particular looks great in her preppy jacket and ruffled scarf!
10No Health Bar For Ashley
Keeping Ashley alive is the main objective in the game, and it was not easy in the original. She had her own health bar separate from Leon’s, and players needed to give her healing items from their limited supply if she got hurt. Worst of all, a single stray shot from Leon wouldinstantly kill Ashley, even if it just clipped her shoulder.
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It’s much easier (but still not easy!) to keep Ashley safe in the Remake. The cultists will still try to carry her off, and they’re a bit smarter about it now - one will nab Ashley while the others swarm Leon to keep him occupied. If Ashley takes damage, shefalls to the ground.If she takes damage again before Leon can help her up, she dies. This goes for both damage dealt to her by enemies and by friendly fire from Leon, but Ashley ismuch better about ducking and staying out of the line of firethan she ever was in the original game.
9Less Gruesome Deaths
It might not seem that way after watching Leon get decapitated, chainsawed, impaled, or otherwise forcibly ejected from this mortal coil, but the deaths in the Remake areactually less explicit than they were in the original. The 2005 version had some seriously graphic violence, but the Remake has toned it down just a hair.
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In particular, players are no longer forced to look atLeon’s exposed skullafter his face gets melted off by Novistador acid. Everything in the Remake is tame by comparison to that shocking shot.
Separate Ways, the Remake’s DLC campaign featuring Ada, is another story. Resident Evil’s iconic femme fatale canmeet her end in ways that are exceptionally brutal, even by the standards of seasoned horror fans.
8A Better Story
Resident Evil’s storylines have never stood up to close scrutiny, but they were never meant to do so. The series has always beencampy horror pretending to be Very Seriouswhen everyone knows it’s not. That said, the RE4 Remake fills several plot holes from the original, and even gives loads of extra detail on the origin of the Plagas, the history of the region, and even Luis' backstory.
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Krauser’s story has seen a particularly helpful rewrite. In the original, Leon’s former commander appears out of nowhere, with no explanation of who he is. The fact that in the English version he called Leon “comrade” doesn’t help; although it’s meant to establish that they were in the military together, it makes it sound like the pair somehow have Soviet ties. In the Remake, Leon’s relationship with Krauser is established earlier, and Krauser calls Leon “rookie” instead. The storyline still doesn’t achieve its goal of creating meaningful character growth for Leon, but at least it sort of makes sense now.
7Bear Traps Don’t Deal Damage
Hurrying through a new area can lead to trouble in both versions of Resident Evil 4, as it’s possible for Leon towalk right into one of the dozens of bear trapsthat the cultists have set up. It takes several seconds to escape a trap if you’re caught in one, leaving Leon wide open to attacks.
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While it still sucks to get caught in a bear trap, even if there are no enemies around, it should soften the blow knowing thatbear traps no longer deal damage. There are a lot of things in this game that will quickly drain your supply of eggs and Green Herbs, but bear traps aren’t one of them. It may not make sense, but we’re not complaining!
6More Side Quests
The original game had a handful quests issued by the Merchant via notes left around the Village. These were few and far between, but were generally worth pursuing for some extra rewards. This time around, there are plenty of optional objectives and a trade-in system that lets players choose what they get for their trouble.
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From the classic Blue Medallions to hunting rats and fighting elite mini-bosses,completing Merchant Requests yield Spinels, special gems that can be traded to the Merchant directly for exclusive goods. This is the only way to get certain weapons and upgrades!
5New Challenges In The Mercenaries
The Mercenaries, a score attack mode introduced in the original RE4, has made appearances in other titles since, most notablyResident Evil Village.It’s a free DLC add-on for the Remake, offering more characters and more maps!
Notable extras includealternate costumes and loadoutsfor Leon and Ada, and the addition of Luis as a playable character. A new map was also added alongside Separate Ways, letting players fight for their life on the gantries where the main game’s final battle takes place!
4The New-And-Improved Shooting Gallery
If you ever need to take a break from battling evil bugs and bloodthirsty cultists, the Merchant has a pirate-themed shooting gallery where you may blow off steam. Each chapter has several challenges that will teach you the ins and outs of the game’s firearms, and you can even earn tokens to trade in for Charms!
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While the original game had a target range in some of the Merchant’s hideouts, the new fairground-style minigame is a thing of beauty. Don’t bother wondering just how he managed to set up four identical attractions under the cult’s nose - this is one of the deliciously weird additions that makes Resident Evil so much fun.
3Ammo Crafting
Resident Evil has always allowed players to mix different-colored Herbs to produce new healing items. The later games have also introducedammo crafting, and this system has been introduced in RE4 Remake. By combining Gunpowder with Resources, players can make the ammo they need on the fly - that sure beats running around smashing barrels and hoping for the right ammo type to drop!
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Resources and Gunpowder are rare enough that you’ll still need tomake meaningful decisions about what you decide to craft,but the added versatility means it’s harder to feel shut out of a fight because you don’t have enough bullets in the best gun for the job.
2New And Revamped Enemies
Most of the classic foes from the original game return in Resident Evil 4 Remake. From the chanting Ganados to the berserk Garradors and creepy Regeneradors, longtime players have plenty to look forward to as they battle their way through the cult’s lair. Without spoiling anything, a few monsters from the original have learned some new tricks in the last eighteen years…
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There are also new enemies and improved AI, so there will be unexpected challenges even for the most experienced players.
