If you're wondering what the main Resident Evil 4 remake changes are, you've come to the right place. While Capcom's new take on Leon S. Kennedy's classic horror adventure is broadly very faithful to the 2005 original, there are a few major switches to keep things interesting for long-time fans.
In this guide, we'll look at all the main narrative and lore changes in Resident Evil 4 remake. This doesn't include alterations to the gameplay, because those are fairly extensive given this is a remake of an 18-year-old game. As such, beware for plot spoilers below!
For more on the game, read up on the Resident Evil 4 remake release time in your region. We've also got a look at the best weapons in the game, alongside details on whether the Resident Evil 4 remake has multiplayer.
What are the main changes in Resident Evil 4 remake?
Read on to learn the main narrative changes and tweaks present in the Resident Evil 4 remake. There's nothing too sweeping here, but rather a rejigging of the chronology to make certain moments more impactful, as well as the removal of some other elements.
But remember, the below details contain spoilers. If you want to go into the game without knowing anything, this is your chance to click off.
Still here? Let's get into it.
Luis
Arguably the biggest change in Resident Evil 4 remake comes from the treatment of Luis Sera. In the 2005 original he's a suave but ominous supporting character, who is killed after Saddler impales him after helping Leon find Ashley. It was a sweet redemption for a character whose motivations stemmed from his historical work with Umbrella.
Resident Evil 4 remake keeps those motivations the same, but features much more Luis across the board. He fights alongside Leon far more frequently, but sadly still meets a painful end. However, the means of Luis' death in this game are very different.
This time around, Leon's former mentor Jack Krauser shows up much earlier, just before the island section of the game. Prior to their first skirmish, Krauser kills Luis, doing Saddler's bidding in taking down the scientists responsible for developing the plaga cure. This gives Leon more motivation to take Krauser down, to avenge the death of this rugged hero.
click to enlargeSalazar
Equally, there are some changes to the characterisation of Ramón Salazar, the wacky nobleman who dominates the castle section of the game. His characterisation is broadly similar: a maniacal ruler with a penchant for the dramatic, who instantly takes dislike to Leon's action-hero behaviour.
Things go mostly the same in Resident Evil 4 remake, with Leon rescuing Ashley from the castle and talking down a heavily mutated Salazar in the meantime. There's just one big change: in the original game, prior to their climatic battle, a huge robotic version of Salazar chases Leon out of the castle.
That sequence wouldn't have fit with the decidedly more serious tone of the remake, so Capcom decided to chop it out for the remake. You do see the robot at one point, as it sits in the middle of a twirling staircase you climb up for the final battle, complete with bursts of flame shooting out for Leon to avoid. However, that memorable chase scene is gone this time around.
Wesker
Lastly, there's a slight change to the appearance of Albert Wesker, the sunglasses-wearing baddie who dominates the first five core Resident Evil games. In the 2005 original he appears fairly frequently via video call, as double agent Ada Wong communicates with him regarding her quest to obtain a plaga sample.
This time around, he only appears after the game ends. It's still via video call with Ada, but only in one sequence compared to his frequent appearances before. While some may be sad that the beloved villain isn't as big a presence as before, it makes it even sweeter when he does show up.
That's it for our look at the big changes in Resident Evil 4 remake! If you want more on the game, check out our Saddler boss guide, as well as a look at the Resident Evil 4 remake map.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Resident Evil 4 Remake page.