The slate was wiped completely clean, and from that blank canvas, something exceptional was created.
A game that not only redefined the franchise, but third-personaction gamesas a whole.
For eighteen tumultuous years, Capcom has tried to surpass the success ofResident Evil 4.
But with the release of Resident Evil 4 remake, Resident Evil has finally come full circle.
Gooey monsters, hammy characters, ridiculous storylines.
The silliest in the franchise, which is saying something.
Balancing this all out is Ashley, a drop of sincerity in an ocean of wacky.
A world away from her interpretation in the original game, this Ashley is kind, competent and likeable.
With the tone floating above the clouds, combat has been secured firmly down to earth.
There is a surprising sense of weight to shooting in Resident Evil 4.
Leon isnt necessarily slow but he certainly isnt quick to the draw.
His aim drags slightly as you position your weapon.
He is vicious and moves like a man capable of causing damage.
Enemies, on the other hand, have no such disadvantages.
They charge towards you the second you wander into their domain, eyes bulging, arms outstretched.
They are a flurry of flesh and steel, of axe swipes, pitchfork lunges and rogue fists.
More lucid than the undead enemies of previous titles, these Ganado are smarter and more capable than before.
They will cut you off.
Twist away from the barrel of your weapon.
They are a formidable and exciting challenge to overcome, even on the games standard difficulty setting.
There is an intoxicating ebb and flow to combat.
A shot to the face.
A shotgun blast pushes back a group.
A flash of your knife sends an encroaching sickle flying.
A pitchfork sinks into your back.
Thankfully, sections that involve escorting Ashley have been altered to accommodate this increase in tension.
Her behaviours have been vastly improved, too.
Interestingly, its only a small evolution from the combat featured in the Resident Evil 2 remake.
Its an incredibly handsome remake, too.
Sodden dirt stains the ground of a gently smouldering village square.
Cave systems drip with trickling moisture.
Vacant castle halls feel tangibly cold.
Its just a shame that some areas arent as up to scratch.
But of course, for returning players the most important questions are about similarities.
But its the bits in between that are more exciting.
There is no bloat, here, basically.
What a fascinating thing this game is, then.
A lavish remake, in turn both a total reimagining and a dutiful modernisation.
The scale of what Capcom has achieved here is remarkable.
And it turns out, the only way to do so is to create something separate.
This is not a replacement of the original game.
In my mind, it occupies the same space as its (exceptional) VR version.
A retelling of a classic crafted on its own terms.
A brilliant action shooter that is big and daft and brilliant.
Resident Evil 4, Ill say, and whatever interpretation they think of will be entirely correct.
