Initially released as a GameCube-exclusive title in January of 2005, Resident Evil 4 has since been recognized as one of the best games of not just the series’ history, but of all time. In the fifteen years since its debut, it has been ported to just about every console imaginable and moved an estimated 8.6 million copies. A timeless classic, to be sure, and it stands as a testament to Capcom’s ability to innovate and take risks… but does that merit a full-on remake? Please no.

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Sure, a playthrough of the 2014 Steam reissue shows the game’s age. Muddy sixth-generation textures, dated control schemes, and an over-reliance on pathos and camp humor make for a jarring juxtaposition between it and the more mature Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes. Additionally, a deluge of ammunition, weapons, and upgrades betray the series’ survival horror roots and led to the much-criticized, action-heavy sequels.

via: gamepitt.co.uk

Yet, despite its age, Resident Evil 4 remains one of the most compelling Capcom productions of recent memory. It may not exactly be a looker in 2020, but, when compared to games of its era, it’s a definite standout. It may retain the clunky, slow tank control scheme of the previous games in spite of the new third-person perspective, but the combat is designed around this to ensure that maneuvering around the battlefield and lining up precise headshots feels like part of the challenge rather than an exasperating hindrance. It may be overly-silly and feature few-and-far-between scares, but it embraces its wacky story and recognizes that Resident Evil is at its best when the plot takes a back seat in favor of the thrilling boss fights and tense enemy encounters.

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Compare this to the original Resident Evil trilogy on the PlayStation. Drastically inhibited by pre-dual analog game design and made awkward and claustrophobic thanks to its fixed camera angles and stiff pre-rendered backgrounds—though many would argue that this actually adds to the horror—these games were in desperate need of a facelift.

via: lutris.net

Additionally, it’s worth noting that, in terms of Resident Evil canon, RE 4 isn’t even next on the docket—it’s the ill-remembered Dreamcast title Code Veronica. That game has its own issues and has aged far less gracefully than its GameCube successor. Whereas RE 4 feels like a reboot of the original trilogy, Code Veronica is an awkward continuation of the classic Resident Evil formula, and it’s beyond clunky and can be outright frustrating to play at times. The series’ fourth installment remains relatively well-preserved and infinitely playable, while CV is in dire need of a facelift.

That’s not to say that a Resident Evil 4 remake would be an altogether bad thing. It would be nice to see the game embrace a legitimate dual analog control scheme, and it would be fantastic to see Leon’s secret service bad boy makeover in the RE Engine. That said, with RE 8 apparently on the horizon and at least one other remake in order, we don’t think Capcom should worry about re-doing Resident Evil 4 any time soon.

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