Resident Evil 4

A sharp, modern remake of a survival horror classic — intense, atmospheric, and surprisingly funny (when Leon’s not being attacked by cultists).

See on Steam

Resident Evil 4
Creepy, Campy, and Still Kinda Brilliant
There are a few games that sit in that “legendary” category — you know, the kind that even non-gamers vaguely recognize. Resident Evil 4 is one of them. It’s the one with the village, the chainsaw guy, and the most sarcastic secret agent energy since early Bond.

So when I saw the remake land on Steam, I decided to jump back in. And wow — I remembered a lot, but I didn’t expect how fresh it would feel in 2025. Or how fast I’d fall back into Leon’s smug one-liners and frantic inventory shuffling.

Let’s talk about it.

The Setup: Small Town, Big Creeps
You’re Leon S. Kennedy — former rookie cop turned government agent — sent to rescue the U.S. President’s daughter from a remote European village that clearly hasn’t seen a good day since the 1800s. That’s it. That’s the setup.

But what unfolds is this perfectly paced, deeply weird mix of action, horror, and camp that somehow balances tension with straight-up absurdity. I mean, you fight monks with crossbows and one guy who’s basically a human centipede made of robes. And yet… it works?

What the Remake Gets Right
Visuals: First off, this thing looks great. The RE Engine does heavy lifting here — not just in the detailed textures and lighting, but in how it sells the atmosphere. The village feels damp, heavy, cold. The castle is moody and ridiculous. And the lab areas? Still creepy as ever.

Combat: The remake refines the combat without breaking it. You can move while aiming now (finally), melee attacks feel more responsive, and the knife system adds some solid risk-reward choices. The parry mechanic is clutch — blocking a chainsaw with a knife is ridiculous, but when you pull it off? Chef’s kiss.

Pacing: This is something a lot of modern games mess up — but not here. Every time I thought “Okay, I’m getting used to this,” the game threw something new at me. A new boss, a totally different setting, or a segment that made me go, “Wait, we’re doing this now?”

Ashley: Hot take: Ashley is actually way more tolerable now. She doesn’t shriek every five seconds, and her “follow/stay close” mechanic feels natural. I didn’t once yell “stay in the locker, please.”

Let’s Talk About the Inventory
You can’t talk about RE4 without mentioning the attache case. Yes, it’s back. Yes, it still lets you Tetris your weapons and herbs into a satisfying grid. And yes — I still spent way too much time reorganizing it for no reason other than “it looked messy.”

There’s something genuinely calming about a neatly packed rocket launcher sitting next to a row of green herbs. I’m not saying it’s realistic. I’m saying it’s right.

The Merchant Deserves His Own Game
“What’re ya buyin’?”

The Merchant returns, and he’s still as mysterious and weirdly comforting as ever. He’s the kind of NPC who says two cryptic lines and makes you trust him with your life savings.

Upgrading weapons is smoother this time around, and the side requests (like shooting blue medallions or hunting rare enemies) feel like natural little detours rather than checklist chores. It’s a nice touch that adds flavor without dragging things out.

Also, the shooting gallery? Surprisingly addictive. I stayed there way longer than I’d like to admit.

Horror That Doesn't Take Itself Too Seriously
This is the real magic trick of RE4 — it’s scary and silly, often within the same five minutes. One moment, you’re running through a village while angry farmers throw axes at you. The next, Leon’s making some dry joke like, “Guess I need a handyman.”

And it’s not cringe. It’s charming. Somehow.

The game walks a very fine line, and it does it better than most horror titles today. It never fully descends into parody, but it knows it’s not pure horror either. That balance? That’s the RE4 signature.

The Boss Fights: Over-the-Top, But Satisfying
If you like set pieces, this game has them. Giant lake monsters, blind Wolverine monks, a villain who fuses with a cathedral organ (basically). Each boss has its own mechanics — some more frustrating than others, but none that felt cheap.

Also: the QTEs are mostly gone. Thank you, Capcom. I love my keyboard, and I don’t want to smash it every time Leon rolls under a log.

What Didn’t Land for Me
No game’s perfect, and I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t mention a few gripes:

Some parts (like the escort segments late in the game) still feel a little awkward, even with the improvements.

A couple of puzzles made me stop and stare like, “Was this really necessary?”

There were moments when the pacing dipped — especially in the lab area near the end.

But honestly? These were blips. Nothing that pulled me out of the experience for more than a few minutes.

Final Thoughts
This remake didn’t just remind me why I loved Resident Evil 4 — it made me appreciate how rare this kind of game really is. It’s bold, a little unhinged, and not afraid to have fun with its horror. There’s a reason it stuck with people for almost two decades.

Whether you played the original or this is your first time with Leon and his extremely questionable mission planning, this version of RE4 is absolutely worth diving into.

Just, uh… maybe don’t play it alone at 2 AM like I did.

— Tom