Back in 2016,Resident Evil 4was one of the first games I played when I got back into video games after an undergraduate degree of years worth away from the hobby.
As someone still shaking the dust off, it was challenging at times. But I had a great experience, and its quality encouraged me to keep playing other games from the past and those I missed out on during my time away. That Christmas, I got aPS4which put me on the path to doing this for a living.
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RE4 introduced me to a series I’ve consistently enjoyed since, and it helped solidify my taste in games. It helped me realize that I love puzzles, Metroidvania-style exploration, and being a little bit scared. As much as I liked it, I haven’t returned to it in the seven years since.
Well, until now. I started playingResident Evil 4 Remakethis week.
It’s the most fun I’ve had playing games in a while, in part because I barely remember the original. The game’s big moments still stand out in my memory. I remember German suplexes, exploring the castle, harpooning the lake monster, and riding the mine carts. Of course, I also remember the opening fight against the chainsaw wielding hulk and the Las Plagas horde in the opening village sequence. When I replayed that section as part of the remake’sChainsaw Demo, I thought, “This seems about right.”
But when I actually finished that section this time around, I promptly realized that I didn’t remember anything that came after. The set pieces, the terrifying fights, the big boss battles are still there in my mind, but the actual experience of playing Resident Evil 4 between those highs is fuzzy, but mostly blank, like an old chalkboard wiped clean.
That makes playing the remake extremely exciting. When I moved on to the barnyard around the windmill, I remembered absolutely nothing about it. Though I know some of the content here is actually new — like blue flyers offering side quests you’re able to complete and turn into the merchant — all of itfeelsnew to me. A little later, when Leon got caught and had the Las Plagas parasite injected into his veins, I thought, “Oh yeah, I completely forgot that happened.”
Resident Evil 4, likeSkyrimorDoom, has been ported to every console, fridge, and graphing calculator under the sun, and with so many opportunities to return to it, many of its fans have revisited Leon’s European adventure dozens of times. They know the game like the back of Ethan’s disembodied hand, and the remake brings an opportunity for direct comparison. Features Editor Eric Switzerrecently wrote, for example, about how the remake drastically improves on the Island section from the original game. Eric can write that piece because he actually remembers the original game.
But I’m happy I don’t. I’m bumbling through the remake head empty and having a great time as I go. Oh wow, a village with a bunch of bridges where Las Plagas are throwing explosives? Wild! A second chainsaw guy? For real?! By not returning to Leon’s undead voyage until now, I have become much more like himbo icon, Chris Redfield. I may be dumb, but I’m gonna save Ashley and waterski my way out, and that’s all that matters. I’m glad I waited.
