Japanese video game giant Capcom is celebrating hitting a significant milestone regarding the remastered version of the cult classic survival-horror title Resident Evil 4. Since launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Widows PCs, some five million players have snapped up a copy of Resident Evil 4, which is almost the entire population of Ireland or New Zealand!
The original Resident Evil 4 was initially launched as a Nintendo Gamecube exclusive on January 11, 2005, before a PlayStation 2 port launched nine months later. It received critical acclaim and is cited as one of the best video games of all time. Resident Evil 4 (2005) won several Game of the Year awards and sold an incredible 12.3 million units by December 2022.
Fast forward to March 2023, and the Resident Evil 4 remake launched to much fanfare. While the game stays true to the fan-favorite original, Capcom has tweaked and improved several areas and features. Those tweaks have not only reproduced an all-time classic but have led to Resident Evil 4 becoming one of the frontrunners with online betting site BetUS to win the coveted 2023 Game of the Year title.
The remake features a crafting system that enables the player to create ammunition and items from collected resources; such a system was not in the original. Furthermore, Leon, the game’s protagonist, can move while using weapons and now has the ability to use melee weapons and can parry enemy attacks. These updates made an already brilliant game better still.
Official Capcom Statement
“The Resident Evil franchise features survival horror games in which players utilize a variety of weapons and other items to escape terrifying situations. Cumulative sales of the games in the series now exceed 142 million units since the first title debuted in 1996. Now, more than 27 years later, continuous support from the passionate fan base across the globe makes it Capcom’s flagship game series.”
“Resident Evil 4 is a remake of the original 2005 title. In addition to reworking the story and modernizing the game feel, the 2023 release provides both fans of the series and newcomers alike with a fresh gameplay experience, featuring highly immersive visuals powered by the cutting-edge graphics technology of Capcom’s propriety RE ENGINE. Sales of Resident Evil 4 grew following a highly positive reception from customers as well as with the release of The Mercenaries, free additional downloadable content, driving worldwide sales of over 5 million units. Further, Capcom looks to continue expanding sales with the upcoming release of Resident Evil 4 VR Mode, free downloadable content compatible with PlayStation VR2.“
Why is the Resident Evil 4 Remake So Popular?
Internet message boards and social media platforms are full of gamers complaining about a lack of new AAA titles for PC and the latest generation of consoles. Yet, the Resident Evil 4 remake is one of the fastest-selling games in the franchise; why?
The original Resident Evil 4 was an incredible, ground-breaking game. It was one of the first titles where players could shoot different body parts of enemies with differing effects. For example, hitting an enemy’s arms could result in them dropping their weapon, while shooting legs and feet could slow them down or render them unable to walk. However, despite the game looking and playing great for the time, it was made for hardware that is far less powerful than modern-day PCs and the latest generation of consoles.
Players often dream of playing their favorite games from their childhood but with state-of-the-art graphics, which is why remakes and remastered titles are hitting the shelves at an alarming rate. As the original Resident Evil 4 is one of video gaming’s all-time greats, plenty of players wanted to see it in next-gen glory- five million of them, obviously.
The remake’s popularity is helped by Capcom’s previous reboots of its survival-horror series. The company remade the original 1996 Resident Evil in 2002 and worked its magic with Resident Evil 2 (2019) and Resident Evil 3 (2020); the latter two titles received critical acclaim.
What Next for the Resident Evil Franchise?
There is no chance on Earth that Capcom does not remake one of its older titles or create Resident Evil 9. It is logical that a remake of Resident Evil 5 is in the pipeline. Launched in 2009, Resident Evil 5 was one of the last of the series available on PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360.
Resident Evil 9 could be a couple of years away, however, because Resident Evil Village was only released in October 2022.
Which Other Classic Remakes Are Worth Playing?
As mentioned earlier in this article, there has been a spate of remakes for the current generation of titles. All of the remade Resident Evil titles are worth your time because they add so much to the already incredible originals.
Arguably the best-remade game of late is Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. The game was already popular, but that popularity has surged of late thanks to the award-winning television series.
Dead Space is another classic survival-horror game that the developer remastered for the current generation of consoles. The original was one of the most atmospheric, scary games ever, but Visceral Games somehow added to the eeriness. The remastered version of Dead Space utilizes the PlayStation 5’s processing power to improve the lighting (and darkness), all while adding dialogue to the previously silent protagonist.
It is not only survival-horror games being remade. The 2009 hit Demon Souls was given a revamp in time for it being the launch title for the PlayStation 5, while the 2018 remake of Shadow of the Colossus is now one of the most beautiful action adventure games you will ever play.
Those preferring family-friendly titles should look no further than Spiro: Reignited Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy, and the incredibly fun and captivating Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled.
