Resident Evil 4 (2023): VR Mode [Review]

RE4 is always around. Since its release in 2005, it is inescapable, with a myriad of ports and modes to play throughout generations of video games.

The “zombies” speaking Spanish, the cheesy dialogue, the fight moves, chainsaw decapitations and precise shooting… It is iconic. So iconic that its gameplay influenced the modern remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3, that forgo their original gameplay mechanics to be more akin to the fourth entry. A 2005 game that dictates 2020s remakes.

So how can Resident Evil 4 Remake exist, then? Can CAPCOM apply the Resident Evil 4 formula to itself and still make it interesting? The short answer for me was no, unfortunately.

I played the whole game in VR with the PSVR2. I decided to play this way because I just couldn't find myself really wanting to play the Remake, and giving a new perspective and gameplay scheme was what I needed to jump in. It is superbly well done, and it gave a more technical and intense perspective of the entire experience. Each weapon is different, but everything is well explained and easy to do, the accessibility options to not puke myself were amazing and, really, it is something borderline magical to see working.

I can't praise enough the technical side of this game, really. Everything runs well and apart for some third person interactions, it felt that the game was envisioned for VR from the beginning. This game is also packed – one of the biggest Resident Evil game gets even more content, challenges and modes. Even “Mercenaries” is back.

In the end, though, after I got used to playing in VR, RE4 Remake, instead of a reimagining, started to feel like a regurgitation. The crappy dialogue continues, but now, with a more serious tone and ambiance, having Leon being completely obnoxious all the time with non-stop puns that don't really match the darker environment.

While playing with Ashley was fun and her character design is way better, she's still really annoying, and her dialogue can sometimes be insufferable with the lack of self awareness. The writers of this game have no idea how a teenager behaves, and it shows. It is less outrageously bad when compared to the 2005 original (and the avalanche of versions since), but the writing was and still is the worst part of this game.

The VR perspective gave me some genuine jump scares here and there, and the darker ambiance overall creates a more frightening setting, but the cheesiness of the constant dialogue and how the main villains are – over the top exaggerated buffoons – keeps the game silly. Also, the action-adventure angle of it all makes this game combat heavy, guns first and brains later. And so many guns! Interacting with them all is nice, getting money and completing tasks to upgrade them is also great, and the pacing is good overall, with every section having a bit of exploration and a lot of action. Like… the original. But prettier!

If there's not a real reason to remake a great game, a decent visual upgrade is enough. I'd say, though, that there IS a reason to remake RE4: fixing its crappy story, creating new scenarios for underused characters, have fewer puns and change the stupid, disjointed dialogue. The gameplay of the original is really strong and really timeless, and that's why it was used as a basis for RE2 and RE3 remakes, but what's the point on the fourth?

I really liked RE4… At its time. Mostly because of its gameplay, it is that good. The gameplay of the remake is also phenomenal, and the VR mode is also really well done, but the whole thing ends up being a bit shallow and too nostalgic. In 2005, it was impressive to shoot a zombie in the knee and see it react properly. In 2025, this is the bare minimum of any decent shooting game.

It is fun and well done, of course, but the missed opportunity of it all made me a bit sour. This was the moment for CAPCOM to really improve on a classic, like what they've done with RE2 Remake.

Yeah, I am a bit against the current when looking at this remake. I feel that this is why it took me so long to play it. Still, playing in VR was great, and I don't want to be a gatekeeper or anything, but guess what: the original is cheaper and available absolutely everywhere and runs on anything. The only real improvement for me on the Remake is with Ashley, but she's still not a good character. So what else can I say?

7.5/10

I really liked the VR though, and it was the best part. I haven't played the other version, but I imagine I'd rank it lower, at a 7.