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The Identity Crisis of Resident Evil’s Remakes
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- čas přidán 14. 08. 2024
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This is a premise that comes from such a unique perspective, that being my knowledge and experience of Resident Evil comes from only the products they've put out after the RE7 "reboot", therefore I have no real understanding of what RE was before this. I have no knowledge of the earlier entries, side games, spin off films or extended media. On the surface that comes across like ignorance but it's only ignorant if I don't address it or acknowledge it. This video is made with the understanding that I have a very different history with this franchise than most hardcore fans do, however it's a perspective a lot of newcomers will likely have moving forward and that leaves RE with a bit of an identity crisis, something I feel is deeply interesting to explore. Not because I want to tear down or attack Resident Evil but just to dissect the concept, because as someone who started with RE2 and has only played their modern games, RE4 feels incredibly disconnected and strange by comparison, and I find that interesting. I hope you enjoy the video.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
04:04 - Resident Evil 2: Planting the Seed
10:56 - Identity's Roots
14:52 - Resident Evil 4: Senescence
23:28 - Conclusion
28:28 - Outro
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My Playthroughs of every RE so far
RE2: • Resident Evil 2 Remake...
RE3: • Resident Evil 3 Remake
RE7: • Resident Evil VII With...
RE8: • Resident Evil VIllage
RE4: • Resident Evil 4 Remake...
Sources:
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• What's the Point of Ta...
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• I played Final Fantasy...
• Resident Evil 6 (PS5) ...
• Resident Evil 5 - Xbox...
• Resident Evil 2 [USA] ...
• Resident Evil: Village...
• Resident Evil 7 - Full...
• RESIDENT EVIL 3 REMAKE...
• Resident Evil Remaster...
#ResidentEvil4 #ResidentEvil #ResidentEvil2
Like I say in the video, this really is from the perspective of someone who has only played the Remakes, that's the premise of the video: "If you get into RE through the remakes, how does RE4 feel and why?" A lot of people wont go back and play decades old games, A lot of people will only play these new ones and I think that's an interesting way of viewing this franchise but it also should be a valid way to experience these games. I do plan to eventually go back, but I wanted, before that, to just explore what my experience was like with no prior knowledge, no nostalgia, not expectations other than the ones established by playing the prior entries. Like I've said, I like RE4, I think it's a really good game, I just can't quite find myself LOVING it like so many people deeply do.
I'm surprised u don't have hateful reply comments on this one. 😅 damn man. Teach me how
Good video bro. Resident evil 4 remake made me realize that the game just was too fantasy like. Ada flipping around like batman against bosses and enemies and leon is John wick.
There's no horror with 4 and 5 is even more action packed.
You aren't alone with your opinion my friend as the remakes are reflecting precisely what happened when the originals came out. After Res 3, it started to slide more and more toward the action genre. Yes 7 was going back to its roots and 8 sliding back to action but I can't help but feel that they could have been called something else instead of resident evil. Its like 7 was being made as something else and then they decided half way through decided to slap the RE name on it
RE2R is a heavily disconnected and mangled version of RE2. Capcom was able to take a very small portion of the original and expand it into the enjoyable, present version that is RE2R. With RE4R Capcom really missed an opportunity. If they had just applied modern technology to the original and expanded it slightly, in the same manner that they remade the original RE in 2002, they would have had a true winner to add to their originals. From your comments I would caution you that if you play RE4 2005, especially the Gamecube version, you'll really start to dislike RE4R.
This was a great video man. I was like you where my first RE experience was briefly playing RE5 and felt it wasn't for me. Then years later I had a friend of mine begging me to play RE7. He begged me so much that he even bought it for me just to experience it. After I fought Jack in the garage I think I was hooked. Loved RE7. And then I played RE2R after that and it was the most thrilling Resident Evil experience I have ever had aside form the inconsistencies with the A/B scenarios. I can't remember the order I played the other games in but after RE2R I wanted to play more Resident Evil. I have also played RE1 remake, RE3R, RE0, RE Code Veronica, RE Revelations 1 and 2, RE Village, RE4 original and the new RE4R. Eventually I went back and played RE5, eh...... I still haven't bothered with RE6.
As someone who missed the Resident Evil bandwagon early on even though I could have started in 1996. And someone who started with newer games and went back to the older here are my recommendations. Don't play Code Veronica unless you wanna beat your face against a brick wall. It has great potential to be remade but it's a terrible game. Bad controls, weird characters, not an amazing story but not the worst either I guess? Code Veronica wasn't only the least fun I had with a Resident Evil game, it was the least fun I had with any game. Yet somehow its grown on me like some sort of cancer. I mildly enjoy it now, but I still shit on it. RE0 was really annoying to me too and I think I like it even less than Code Veronica because I just don't like Billy or Rebecca. I don't like them or the Leech Opera man in the dress. I don't like switching between characters without having a item box. RE0 never grew on me like Code Veronica did and mind you I still don't love Code Veronica. RE4 original is worth playing. It's fun, but it was also a bad Resident Evil game in the context of horror as was RE5. Revelations 1 and 2 were okay. Just okay. Revelations 1 was kinda boring because it's on a boat the whole time. Revelations 2 was just weird. I can't remember liking or disliking anything from Revelations 2. What you absolutely should play is the Resident Evil 1 remake. That game was genuinely great and I'm not a huge fan of tank controls. And man if you love collecting files just wait until you uncover the files of the Trevor family in RE1R.
The things that you feel about RE4 Remake is the same feelings fans of Survival Horror Resident Evil felt back in 2005 as well. RE4 back in 2005 actually split the fanbase believe it or not. A section of fans actually stopped playing Resident Evil after RE4 and some label it the 'beginning of the downfall of Survival Horror' as more and more horror franchises switched their outlook to RE4's design instead of the Survival Horror tropes conceived by Resident Evil 1 back in 1996. But now it is very different. From 1996 - 2005 all the main Resident Evil games were Survival Horror and the gap between RE3 and RE4 was 6 years but with the remakes it was only 3 years so the sudden shift from Survival Horror to Action Horror must've been super weird for you and newer fans.
Yeah, I love both the Survival Horror Resident Evil games and the Action Horror Resident Evil games. But there's something more gripping and intriguing about the Survival Horror games when they're done right.@@Lucas_Castejon
A very accurate comment, that's precisely what happened, newer fans playing older RE will find out what an Ink Ribbon is and why you shouldn't waste it.
This is super interesting. Most people I've spoken to have never mentioned this angle. I'm simply told "RE4 was loved by all" which confused me, because what about those who played RE1-3? Where did they go? I just would find it so odd they would've loved the totally new direction.
@@LazerzZ "RE4 is loved by all" as in like... everyone who plays games lol. It's one of the highest reviewed and best selling games of all time. It is also much more action-oriented than any previous RE games put together. Basically it has much more mass-market appeal than the older, more "true to horror" games. RE4 brought in millions of new fans, but lost thousands of old fans.
It's true that most people love RE4, it's not hard to see why. Like you said it is a very well designed game that feels great to play even the original back in 2005. On top of that RE4 was actually very innovative in it's time, which in turn brought a lot of new fans . If I was to guess RE4 would be a lot of people's first Resident Evil game and for some the only Resident Evil game they have played. Resident Evil 4 was more popular than the first 3 mainline Resident Evil games combined, Resident Evil 4 was a cultural phenomenon so Capcom focused on the new Action Horror that RE4 ushered in. RE5 and RE6 carried on the trends of RE4 which was the catalyst for the action slowly taking over. The people who 'don't like' / prefer the older way of Resident Evil were definitely the minority, that was until RE7 and RE2 Remake which proved to Capcom and every other gaming publisher that there was still a huge market for classic Survival Horror. Recently the Resident Evil 2 Remake became the most sold single Resident Evil game. (excluding sales of extra ports) @LazerzZ @@LazerzZ
The way this guy feels is the same way players felt when the OG came out on the game cube.
Resi evil 4 isn't a survival horror game. It's an action game.
I think RE4 OG is superior to the remake in terms of atmosphere. I don't love RE5, 6, or 8, but I did love 2005 OG of 4 because it was full of suspense. You didn't even know what the genados were when they arrayed against you. They obviously weren't zombies and it hinted at them being controlled in some way, but they were an unknown quantity. I feel like the OG of RE4 is scarier than the remake. Part of that also has to do with the atmosphere, including the intense music, which I think is the best music of the entire series. I also think the OG is so much better in terms of pacing and making it feel like a much longer adventure with moments of eerie music and puzzle solving of earlier entries. Especially the village section of the OG I felt like was well paced and the characters are much better overall in the OG. Saddler is more like a bond villain, Leon is a hot shot that has some hilarious lines, and the characters are kind of goofy. In the remake Leon sucks. He has no personality as he did in the first game. To me RE4 OG felt more like a Metal Gear Solid game combined with horror elements, and maybe that's why I love it but didn't love the remake. It's like a horror comedy almost and embraces the over-the-top character more consistently. It felt more consistent in tone and engaging than its remake, and the designs of the creatures and music is far superior. What you say about atmosphere is true, but I think that is a bigger problem for the remake actually.
I would somewhat agree with that, but I think RE4 is horror to an extent. Is has grotesque body horror you see in Lovecraft or John Capenter movies, and there are moments of intense claustrophobia that feels unnerving to me, with enemies that have intimidating qualities closing in on you within tight spaces. But it also is action packed, especially the island section. The action is good, though, I think. And I don't think the other games have as good of characters.
It’s still horror in it. I’d argue there’s less survival in it. You don’t have to worry much about ammo resource since you can always instantly stagger enemies with headshots, then follow with the melee or you can just cheese the knife.. I love how you can no longer cheese the game with those tactics in the remake. Professional is actually challenging in the remake
@@MR.__G Yeah, I would agree with that. It's atmospherically horror, and visually also. It's not so much survival horror in the attrition sense, but even the original games had quite a bit of gunplay in them. You just didn't feel as powerful because you often had to manage resources to complete the game. Curious to know, did you play the 2005 version when it came out as I did? I feel like those of us that did may have a different perspective on it. The remake improves on some aspects of the game, but I feel like it detracts from it more than it improves it. They cut some great content and the game doesn't feel as artistic somehow. It's also problematic with how they did the lighting. There are too many points in the game where you can barely see what's happening. Also, what's with the glitches? The sky is reflected in the floor, and this happens often when it doesn't load properly. Frustrating! I think the remake is good but I didn't enjoy it as much as the original for those reasons.
@@astronomer747 yeah I played it when it first came out. My friend lend me his special edition that came in this cool red box. I grew up loving that game but through the years I started disliking certain things. It was way too easy to manipulate, I hated the island section & the story was too cheesy.
I enjoy the more serious tone of the remake. I really enjoy Leon’s character. He’s more serious & you can see he has trauma from what happened in raccoon city. This is better than a cocky version of him which doesn’t make much sense. The gameplay is just simply better, the parrying takes skills to master on professional, you could no longer cheese without easy staggers/knifing, enemies are more aggressive/faster/smarter… & the story is told better here. I love Luis redemption story & trying to write his wrongs, helping create nemesis & being involved in the plaga. Krouser actually has backstory now & isn’t a random character. We also get a way better separate ways, explaining Ada’s story/motives. In my opinion this is the definitive version of playing re4. The separate ways dlc sealed it for me
the crisis is not rooted in the remakes. Its rooted in the originals and the reason for it is simple. broadening the player base by focusing on action since at the time it was where the market was going with cod etc. Also I would suggest playing RE1 remake :)
That's interesting because although I did somewhat mention the originals and their split in identity, I always assumed it was lesser so than it is with the remakes but maybe that's not the case.
@@LazerzZI haven't played RE4make but as someone who's played the originals (and also the other remakes) I'd be willing to say the whiplash from the survival horror of the original first three Resident Evil games to the original Resident Evil Four is actually even MORE jarring than the remakes.
@@LazerzZ It's actually way more drastic in the originals. They switched from fixed camera survival horror to a straight-up action game.
The remakes both played up the action of RE2 and RE3, and played up the horror of RE4.
What's important to remember is that in 2004, RE was in a state of decline. The remake of RE1 did not sell well at all. Neither did Code Veronica. The franchise was basically dead, which is why they were able to experiment with a completely different direction for RE4.
As someone who also started with RE2R and considers that the best, I share many of your same thoughts... but for the original RE4 which I played last year. The Remake improved the game in every way imo, and is one of my favorites in the franchise.
@@davidbjacobs3598 It was really Capcom's own fault for the decline during that time period. They chose to put RE1 Remake and RE0 exclusively on a relatively new console being the GameCube that not many RE fans had at the time. A lot of fans including me think those games would have sold far better had they been released on the PS2 instead. It's interesting to wonder had those games done well and how they may have effected RE4's outcome.
@@daveweaver3886 id rather not think about it as dmc wouldnt exist if re never went action
In my opinion, Resident Evil is one of those franchises where you should just expect the unexpected. There is probably no one true version of Resident Evil. RE2R is also my favorite but I thought RE3R was actually low-key really fun too and RE4R is amazing.
3 is a roller coaster ride a lot of fun but too short. I wish all the games had a dodge mechanic in it like 3. and for those that played the og it is a lot of content cut.
RE3R was fun its just a shame to see how much cut content there was from the original. It was good but it could have been great.
Playing 3 right now.
Good, but so many issues could be fixed if it was longer. Many key moments happen so quickly and feel rushed.
Also miss the palpable atmosphere from the original.
My first RE game was the director's cut of the original, in 1996. I've stuck with this series since the beginning.
That said, you're feeling the same things we felt in the jump to RE4 initially. We loved the game, but most of us were apprehensive about the sacrifice of the atmosphere and feel. And our fears were confirmed with RE5.
It's incredibly discouraging after how good of a remake RE2 was that they're following the exact same pattern. I'd really hoped this was a fresh start for the franchise and returning to the more survival horror roots, but we really got the same game with better graphics.
You said it perfectly. I also hoped they would take a slightly different direction with RE4 Remake, but entire game just felt like the last third of Village did as well. Way, way too many enemies trying to get you from all sides. Hell, I even like the original RE4 more than the remake because it doesn't pretend it's serious and it doesn't throw horde after horde at you.
And RE2 Remake was such a perfect formula that had an incredibly good reception so they'd have to be really stupid not to make something like that again. I really hope they bring it back for RE9 or another spinoff like Revelations 3.
I wouldn't say we got the same game. OG RE4 was very light on horror, on top of that it was very bright, even during the night sequences. There wasn't much gore horror also. Remake does it better because from the start everything is much darker and grimer. We see a lot of filthy looking corpses here and there. I can't say that it's on the same level of horror like previous remakes but it's definitely more horror than the OG RE4. Simple reason. There wasn't a single time when I was scared in the original, even Regenerators didn't really made me shiver. In the remake though I was spooked a couple times due to atmosphere being much darker and some elements just were done to make things scarier. Even the Island at the end got a bit scarier because the introduction to Regenerators felt a lot better.
I would say that the eventual RE5 remake (if they ever decide to remake RE5) will be what truly determines the direction they want to go. The RE4 remake doesn't feel like the RE2 because so many people loved the original RE4. I remember people being apprehensive about the idea of an RE4 remake, saying things like "the original is already a masterpiece, it doesn't need a remake."
Doing anything but a faithful remake of what to many people is one of, if not the greatest, RE games of all time is a good recipe for disaster.
But RE5 doesn't have that luxury. It's seen as one of the worst games of RE. So, Capcom have a real chance to remake the game to fit much more in line with what RE truly is. But at that point, it'd be less of a remake and more of a reimagining.
As someone who has played the og re4 and the remake, from my view the remake felt far more grounded in reality. the original game was a lot more cheesier and exaggerated version of what re was up until that point. and though most loved re4 there are a lot of fans who feel isolated by the game due to its turn to action even back in 2005. me personally re4 is one of my favourite games, I respect your opinion but I really doubt you'll find the og re4 to be more grounded in reality than the remakes. you may even notice Leon in re2 does not feel like the same Leon in the ogs. one thing the remake actually did was try to make Leon feel like the same person in the remakes by having him traumatised by the events of 2.
Interesting. I always assumed playing the originals would feel more cohesive, but maybe it is just as different and the 6/7 year gap between releases cushioned that?
OG RE4 is cheesy and exaggerated? Have you ever heard about Code Veronica? Even PS1 titles contained huge pieces of fine cheese, voice acting, one liners, OG RE2 end credits theme. Hell, even the original villain Wesker is a cliche evil Guy who wears sunglasses at night and indoors and has lubed hair lol. It feels like all old fans of the franchise went extinct and only people who played remakes are left.
@@hombre-lobo5673 actually fact is i was introduced to Resident Evil through Resident Evil 4 OG so I don’t understand what you mean when you say “only people who played remakes are left” and re4 felt cheesy and exaggerated by design and if you really want to tell me that the laser part as cool (as it was) wasn’t exaggerated then idk what to tell you bro whereas all the other games before hand were cheesy cause voice performances and other such clunk that came with that era of games, It was just Re it was practically everywhere. Im not dogging on re4 og btw i like that game a lot and if not for it I wouldn’t have Re4 remake as my game of the year.
@@whyshouldi1943 My point is that RE franchise was always cheesy and not due to limitations of hardware. This series always had B horror movie vibes all over it. Just play Code Veronica, RE0, RE dead aim, or even OG re1 RE2, RE1 remake. Yes OG re4 went full 007 but this stuff wasn't new for the franchise at all. I can't understand criticism for OG re4 that it is "too cheesy" and the remake is "more grounded" in fact that is not a criticism, it's just a preference.
This is so funny to me because these two are my absolute favorite games in the franchise. And I'm saying this as someone who's played almost all of them over the course of almost 15 years
Leon went from a Basic rookie street cop To a Trained Special Agent that’s why 4 is more action based..
I get it contextually, like I said in the video. It's not that it doesn't make sense. I just don't know if it's to the game's benefit in my eyes.
@@LazerzZu come off as extremely pretentious when u say things like that lol. Ur not some maestro of video game writing ur just a CZcamsr 😂
@@mrrobluxo2369Yeah dude, having an opinion is super cringe and pretentious.
In case you didn’t know, the RE3 remake has so much content and levels missing compared to the original, if you Google you will see how much game play they cut and made it so short, even the fights with nemesis originally there were multiple where you could fight or run and they weren’t all scripted either
Agree, my first RE games is OG RE3. My friend give CD to me to install in my family PC back in 2005 and i play that game. When remake released i try play it but forgot what happened in remake. Its felt empty and nemesis felt like a chore. Jill also changed into girl boss which annoying me throughout the game, and recent animated movie using remake design also annoyed me because she has better design in revelation 1
I didn't play the original RE3 before I played the remake which I really loved despite its length BUT when I finally got to play the original thanks to emulation, I quickly noticed where that criticism is coming from. The original one didn't feel so on-rails, there were multiple paths to our destination and there was much more to do before we could progress further. The whole first segment in Raccoon City was much bigger and longer than what we got in the remake. The remake keeps us very shortly in Raccoon City before we leave it. It felt incredibly rushed. I think the absence of Clock Tower and Graveyard also made for a much shorter game which already was too short. The part where we had to help Carlos in Clock Tower was a really nicely done segment because it kinda felt like a throwback to the first RE. On top of that we had a quite tough fight with Nemesis when he shoots the helicopter. The Graveyard and Park section were also great because we could fight someone else than Nemesis in the shape of Gravedigger whose first introduction was already in Raccoon City so we kinda knew it was coming. When I replayed the remake after playing the original, my perspective on it was entirely different. While I still enjoyed it, I felt like the action was racing at full speed until the end. Everything feels so quick, even Nemesis introduction. I still like how he was introduced but I just feel that it was too soon. I think that the fight with Nemesis at construction site was a nice addition compared to the original but earlier we visit the sewers which just felt like an unused asset from RE2 Remake. Overally to not make it too long. I feel like RE3 Remake was heavily rushed, cut segments shouldn't be cut because it made the game really, really short and the lack of choices took away any reason to replay it. On top of that Jill felt like an ultimate Mary Sue. She could die a hundred times but somehow whenever Nemesis has her, she has a plot armour and can survive any damage or any explosion. I felt like I was playing a female Terminator instead of a normal girl with a military training.
RE4's Ada DLC is longer than the entirety of RE3 lol
RE4 Remake has the issue that its not consistent, they added too much for the sake of adding it cause other games have it. Best example is the knife parrying a chainsaw - it looks absolutely silly or how Leon has less consistency in his movement. In the original I liked the controls and that you couldn't shoot while moving, it added something and the atmosphere was far thicker but its also that within these restrictive controls you could execute very accurate actions and always exactly what you wanted to happened while in RE4 sometimes Leon needs a moment to turn or the extreme weapon sway gets in the way and such, it feels smoother but less consistent which is my biggest issue.
I also find the characters soulless (Ada, Wesker the most, Ashley a bit while Luis and Leon are okay but I just feel like its not on the same charismatic/emotional level anymore)
I feel like this remake is very overrated, I mean we see IGN saying its faster paced only to follow up with that you can explore the entirety of the lake and then trashtalking the original. Thats just plain wrong and contractionary everywhere.
As a new Resident Evil game I would rate it a 8 or 9/10.
As a remake from RE4 I'd rate it a 6-7/10.
@@PuellaMagiHomuraAkemi i didn't play RE4 remake yet but i did install it on my PC. IGN is known for bad criticism, i still remember they give alien isolation 6/10. IGN felt like they tried to be rebellious against what fans want so they looks much cooler with people Who never fans of gaming. I stop watching their reviews since 2014
@@MultiKamil97 criticism against RE3make is too short, the whole City feels empty, nemesis is annoying rather than scary, they changed jill into "modern strong female character" and background sound felt non-existence. I think its because capcom use B-team to do remake and its shows how inexperience they're.
P:S, there's no woman have that hair cut in 1998. Back then woman copying Jennifer Aniston hair style, buffy hair style or short hair. Obviously they never do any research
This video is just proof of history repeating itself, many fans felt that RE had an identity crisis in 2005 as well. But the fact is that RE4 is lightning in a bottle… the development of that game was all over the place but somehow it came together so perfectly. And the remake does the same, but not in all the same ways
Perfectly said. RE4 Remake is just highest production quality and pure video game fun. Together with the recent DLC it is just so damn good.
@@CoconutChriss pretty much re4 og and now re 4 re are both all timers but completely part ways with the old formula
RE4 appealed to a larger audience and essentially drowned out the voices of the older fans as far as I know. The game paved the way for games like Dead Space and many like it but RE4 was the end of the road for many og fans.
Capcom is doing better than ever with these remakes so RE4 being the end of the road for many fans isn’t felt at all. RE is more popular than ever. I for one despise the original RE games because of the camera angle but RE4 got me back in and I also love RE2 remake, never finished the original.
your perspective is super interesting to listen to james! and you articulated it clearly. i suppose i’ve just never had a rigid view on what to expect from a resident evil game. i was very familiar with the franchise and it’s evolution despite not playing them all until some time later. i always felt like it was progressing to where it is today a balance of action and survival but not so much horror as it previously started out. i think with 7 they tuned it more dramatically one way to deviate and separate itself from 6 but then with village it clearly acknowledges 4’s popularity and i see that as the continued direction for the franchise. i personally hope they evoke 1 and 2 remake in future titles diminishing the more overt action in favour of reserved moments of crescendoed tension.
0:17 Okay. Being a lifelong fan, it is my favorite video game franchise. The action was always there. Just in the first 2 games, you had to survive in order to get the good stuff to demolish the virus monsters. The first 3 had an emphasis on escaping/surviving a nightmare. The 3rd having more splashes of action with some stunts I've seen in action movies, it was clear to me where the franchise was headed. Once I played Survivor, it was only going to ramp up from there. There was still an emphasis on escaping with Code Veronica, but they decided to add a person to rescue in 4. So it's not just another survival story but a rescue story. Since then, they decided to make it about helping others survive nightmares like 5 and 6. Then people complained so much that they decided to go back to escaping a nightmare for one more game in 7, but we went right back to the rescuing in 8, and no one complained. The fan base has never made any sense to me as I really don't affiliate with other fans other than my best friend. Who loves all the games.
Great video! Resident evil for me is RE2 on the original playstation. And the RE remake from 2002 is probably my favorite in the series. With that being said, I did buy a ps4 in 2019 for the RE2 remake. And yes, the nostalgia was just too much and I had to get it. But those early games for me are Resident Evil.
This was exactly how I felt when I played the original RE4 back in 2005. It was a good game but it wasn't Resident Evil anymore. The original was even more focused on action than the remake btw
No it wasnt, the hell are you talking about, the original was way more balanced between horror and action than the remake, sure it had its action moments still but overall it still mostly was a good mix of horror and action like the first three games even though it skewed a bit more towards the action side, and also something that helps with its horror and action balance is that it feels way more grounded than the remake too because the original doesnt make Leon do superhuman shit like blocking chainsaws with knives and dodging attacks with backflips.
Not to mention the remake even made certain sections of the game way more action oriented, like in the original the minecart section had you keeping ganados from jumping into the carts you were riding so you wouldnt have to combat them in a tiny space while in the remake that part is just an infinite ammo shooting section, you actually had to combat a chainsaw ganados in tiny minecarts in the og but in the remake you just pump his skull full of lead while he sits right next to you like a god, damn, moron.
The remake is WAY heavier on action, it does have heavier horror sections but overall the remake has a lot more action aspects than the original did.
@cosmicblooper6264 What the hell are you talking about? The original had qte's and a giant midget statue platforming section. And the midget statue chased you you into another qte sequence. The original had horrible action cheese dialogue and felt more like a James Bond game at times. The remake brought back some of the dialogue and reframed it in way that wasn't quite as lame as the original. It did something less stupid with giant midget statue. And Leon was totally doing stupid acrobatic stuff in the original too. At least the new game tried to be more scary. Salazar is actually a challenging boss the first time you fight him in the remake whereas in the original he was a joke. The knife parry mechanic I admit is silly but it was still fun. And Luis and Ashley are so much better in the remake than the original. I like the original RE4 for what it is but it is an action game with horror elements. The remake you can more accurately call an action horror. Leon isn't even scared or nervous at all in the original. The way they portrayed him in the remakes is way more grounded.
@@michaelbush1374The QTE were fresh at the time of RE4 and kept tension even during cut scenes as players couldn’t relax. The lack of dumb knife block also ensured Dr Salvador was a horrific one hit kill enemy that meant you couldn’t afford any mistakes. The new RE4R is not scary, just has a darker scenery. And it more narrow and clustered map environments ruin the open gameplay tactics that the original allowed! Luis was better in remake, but Ada certainly wasn’t. Same with bosses: Salazar was better, except the village chief was restricted half the fight space and ruined it.
I still argue the true GameCube RE4 was the best because people forget it actually had very few ammo drops and felt closer to the OG games in terms of giving very limited ammo. Starting with ps2 port and onward, they gave way too much ammo re4 and allowed it to turn into straight action. But the true GameCube RE4 was notoriously difficult due to its in game item drops being far fewer than later iterations
@UncannyRicardo The size of the map was the exact same lmao and if you wanna talk about tactics we have the knife parry and the fact that you can actually run and gun! No more having to stand still in one spot to shoot. The original was one big joke in comparison to the remake. It's not dramatically more scary than the original but it being darker at least makes it more serious and gritty compared to Leon's bad one liners in the original. Y'all can make excuses all you want. The original is still great and revolutionary for it's time. But let's not pretend that it's better just because it came first. Miss me with that nonsense.
@@michaelbush1374 the break knife gimmick that no one asked for, how is that a positive? Yea you can run and shoot, only Leon’s character now moves sluggish as fuck and the controller had input lag.
They did better than expected for a remake, but let’s not suck off Capcom here.
I have an older brother who turns 40 this year through which i had my first exposure to Resident Evil, i remember watching him playing through the 2002 Resident Evil 1 Remake on the Gamecube alongside Resident Evil 4 and some bits of 3. (though i'm not sure if the latter was also on the Gamecube)
It was with this same brother that I then played my first Resident Evil game in Co-op, that game was RE5, it must have been either 2010 or 11, i remember really enjoying the experience though despite my age (which was either 10 or 11 depending on the year) still being aware of the fact that i mostly enjoyed the Co-op aspect of it above all else, even my older brother despite being an enjoyer of what was the new identity of Resident Evil introduced by 4 never made it a secret that the series had lost something very meaningful to him in the process and that he preferred the old style of RE and then of course RE6 completely killed his interest in the series like it did for many others.
Most Resident Evil fans waited for RE7 with a Very cautious optimism, me personally i was hoping for the game to do to me what the original RE did to my brother back in 96 when he was 13 and finally show me what Resident Evil was always supposed to be about.
I fell in Love with RE7 and the wider franchise thanks to it, RE7 is genuinely one of my favorite games of all time, it rekindled my older brother's love for the series, i cannot stress enough how important that game has been for the franchise and possibly even the gaming industry as a whole, it allowed Capcom to do the RE2 Remake which in turn probably also inspired this year's revival of Dead Space through the Dead Space Remake. (which has turned into another one of my favorite games of all time)
All this to say that like my older brother i am at my core a fan of the Survival Horror style of Resident Evil, i can enjoy RE4 Remake for what it is and be somewhat fond of the aspects that remind me of what was my first experience with RE with RE5 but i'd be lying if i were to say that i consider it the best RE or that i didn't enjoy my time with this year's Dead Space Remake way more.
May I suggest playing the original from 2005? I feel like you'd better come to terms with your thoughts on 4 that way with a proper frame of reference in mind. I love 2R as well and initially hated 4, but came to terms with it and learned to love 4 for what it is and mayhaps you'll come around to it too 😌
I was kinda on the same boat. I didn't like RE4 when I played it first in 2005 mainly because of controls which were just horrible on PC at the time and I just felt that it was too difficult even before I got the village where I stopped playing. When I came back to it in 2020 I think, I got used to controls (though they were a bit improved since 2005) and while it was a bit challenging still, I quickly fell in love with the cheesiness and campy style of it. Locations were great, even though the castle was a bit too long for my liking and the whole game just feels like some parody of a typical American action movie. Since then I finished RE4 3 times and I'm planning to go back for the 4th time before I do my second run of the remake.
I'm in the same position as you on how I got into the series. Your points are super valid and it got me thinking. I think I might be the modern "AC fan", but for this series. I enjoy the games they put out, not noticing the big differences in genres (horror vs action). What I love about this series is the craziness and absurdity in the world and the enemies. But yes. It is bothersome how one character can go from grounded and realistic to a captain America in the next.
I think it's important to remember the context of the original. In 2005 people were getting bored of survival horror so capcom decided to experiment with re4 which proved to be a success. It also fits with the narrative as leon is no longer a rookie and the game reflects that with leon being able to perform really cool moves. I still prefer the original as its one of my favourite games of all time but the remake to me just goes over the top with enemies making it not as enjoyable. It's also worth noting that the action re games tend to be more replayable with more unlocks whereas the horror games are really only supposed to be played a couple of times as they lose their horror the more times you play it. The original re4 has had a very popular speedrunning community nearly 20 years after it released, the original also was one of the influential games of all time making it and the remake widely loved by the community. Great video and even though I prefer re4 over 2 I still understand your pov and somewhat agree with you
I actually think the remake does a better job at following Leon’s character from 2. It makes no sense how he becomes this cocky individual. He literally had the worst first day of work ever, almost lost his life numerous times, saw people die. His serious attitude & trauma is more clear in the remake which makes way more sense
people didnt get bored, it is just a matter of target audience, capcom didnt want to target the core fan base, they wanted the game to be a mainstream success, you can watch shinji mikami interviews about this subject, he chose a producer mindset instead of a creative mindset while creating the game for it to sell big numbers, im not belitteling RE4, its a cool action game, but the shift to action wasnt cause of people getting bored, core fans were waiting for a survival horror Resident evil game and always will, when they want to play something else they just play something else, but they know what to play when they want survival horror.
@@Weyland_Punani I'm not spouting nonsense. The fact that re4 to this day is still immensely popular especially with speedrunning says a lot about the game whereas hardly anyone is playing or speedrunning the original trilogy. Yeah the horror games are still replayable but they are not to the level of re4. Whether you like it or not re4 is the most loved game in the franchise for good reason. Edit: the horror games are still great though
@@Weyland_Punani see now you're spouting nonsense because a game that you hate is more popular. Just because you dislike the game doesn't mean it's bad or only "dead action normies" like it. Re4 revolutionised the gaming industry and has been known to be one of the greatest games ever made. Plenty of old RE fans including myself loved the change to re4 sure capcom went a little crazy with re5 and re6 but the fact that re4 has been ported to more systems than the og classics just shows that re4 is more popular. I love the old games but they don't hold the same level of replay value that re4 has.
@@Weyland_Punani then wtf is your argument. You've said basically nothing and all your points have been practically worthless. Nice try buckaroo, I'm done with the attempt of a discussion have a good day
Unfortunately, whilst I see where you're coming from. Your lack of familiarity with the original series has dictated this confusion on the series' style.
Had you played the original releases, you'd know that original RE2 was the Terminator 2 to RE1's Terminator, or if you like, RE2 was the Aliens to RE1's Alien. It was the bombastic action-packed sequel. It was still survival horror, but it was a lot more gung-ho from the off. RE3 was even more action-orientated.
But RE4 remake isn't the "best RE game" or "most loved RE"...it's a remake of the game with those laurels.
Without context of the original and the time it released, it has skewed your perception of the franchise. When RE4 launched, there were no over the shoulder third-person shooters. It was THE pioneer of that, which every third-person shooter for the next 15 years or so inherited. RE4 was the first "reboot" of the franchise. Whilst many people enjoyed RE Code: Veronica, myself included, many others saw it as the creative stagnation of the series. A game that was simply going through the motions. Then came the first RE remake, which whilst a phenomenal entry, sold very poorly. The following game, RE Zero doing even worse. This pushed Capcom to try for something new. Which is how we got Devil May Cry and Haunting Ground. But RE4 was a genre shift for the franchise, but the game was so damned good that the majority of players didn't care, and RE gained millions of new players. RE4 is an action game.
Also, as a sidenote, RE3 remake fails in absolutely every way a remake can. It is a terrible adaptation of the original game. So you should not use that as a basis of tonality of the series, as it itself is wildly different from what RE "should" be.
I hope you go back and play the franchise in release order, you'll have a greater understanding and appreciation for RE.
Whilst I get what you're saying, and I agree, the point of the video IS that I don't know the originals. I'm trying to explore these games in the way newcomers will and have experienced them from 2017 - 2023 after the reboot and the remakes, it's a different era that a lot of people will be jumping into without knowledge of the originals. You shouldn't have to do homework on 15-20 year old games to enjoy the ones coming out today, especially not when they're remakes. I'm not interested, in this video, in exploring the games as remakes and how well they function as adaptations of the original, that's a whole other can of worms, I'm just interesting on how they feel to play as your first time playing Resident Evil, because why did they remake it, if the only way you can properly enjoy it is to play the original games first before passing judgement. Although I do plan to play the originals, I believe playing the remakes alone SHOULD be valid.
@LazerzZ I hope you do play the original games, as I'd love a video of your thoughts on what it's like going back to such a revered series. I think it'd change the way you see the remakes.
I resonate a lot with your thoughts in resi 4 remake tbh, I liked playing the game for its story where as with resi 2 I could play that again again and enjoy all its aspects. Resi 4 is not a bad game by any stretch, it’s just not on that level that 2 was.
So first of all the obvious, great video james, as usual you articulated your points really clearly and you having played re2 remake first i get why you feel the way you do. I played re4 original first and then played 5 and 6 so that angle was my first impression of resident evil. I skipped on 7 when it first game out more due to just being interested in other things and same with re2 remake originally but then played 2 remake and adored it. I love that game a lot, as much as original 4 or remake 4 and i guess that gap in my experience of the franchise lets me appreciate both styles more. You do raise an interesting point regarding the future of the franchise if the remakes are gonna retread the direction that almost killed the franchise, i guess it depends on where re9 goes. I do think its worth mentioning that from what i understand having not played the original games before 4, the 4 remake is more consistent with the remakes of 2 and 3, and original 4 is way more over the top, cheesy and actiony than the remake which did heighten the atmosphere significantly. Also from what i know, the last couple of the original style before 4 arent as well received as the others which probably warranted capcom to switch directions with 4. I dont know what im really trying to say with this comment, other than offering my thoughts on the video without any real conclusion.
Anyway, great video again and cant wait to see what you put out next
Thanks a lot! I really appreciate your thoughts.
Nothing gets me going like a LazerzZ video
Fantastic video. Really hope people watch it before just leaving an ignorant comment and moving on. As someone in the exact same situation as you (although re7 was my first re game) i absolutely loved re4make. But i loved the different perspective on re4. And a lot of it makes so much sense.
Assassins creed is calling lazerzz will you answer one last time ?
I came into Resident Evil from a different point to you. I played a little of 1 and Nemesis, but 4 was the first I really got into, and I loved 5, Revelations 1, and even the 3DS Mercenaries that brings it to Just the arcade action parts. And it was 7 and 8 that, to me, were the departure from the franchise I loved.
I definitely get why people may want the other games, I'd never want to take that away from them, but to me, one of my favourite niche subgenres is that third person shooter where you face body horror monstrosities and the gameplay focuses on careful shots at specific body parts.
I'd love if Capcom split Resident Evil into, effectively, two franchises set in the same world. The survival horror one for people like you, and the more action focused one for people like me. Because sadly, after Dead Space died, there really isn't anything that fulfills that subgenre for me anymore.
I want people to have their games where they play as Joe Everyman, scared rando trying to survive dark buildings and horrible monsters... While I play a game as experienced badass Chris Redfield or Barry Burton, punching heads off zombies.
I've always felt like Resident Evil feels more like an anthology series than a coherent series. Similar themes but different settings, stories and tones. RE4 is the most faithful remake so far because the original is such a cornerstone in the history of games, but as someone who also hails RE2 as the pinnacle of the series I do wish they decided to make RE4 more survival horror.
The evolution and transformation of a franchise, especially one as iconic as "Resident Evil," is a natural progression that ensures its continued relevance in an ever-changing gaming landscape. "Resident Evil 4" was not just another entry in the series; it was a revolutionary shift that redefined third-person action games.
One of the primary critiques of RE4 is its departure from the survival horror elements that defined the earlier games. However, this shift was a deliberate and calculated move by Capcom. By the time RE4 was in development, the survival horror genre was becoming saturated, and there was a genuine need to innovate. RE4's introduction of over-the-shoulder shooting mechanics, context-sensitive actions, and a more dynamic combat system was groundbreaking. These mechanics not only set the standard for future "Resident Evil" games but also influenced countless other titles in the action-adventure genre.
While RE4 did lean more into action, it's an oversimplification to say it abandoned its survival horror roots. The game masterfully blended action with moments of genuine tension. Resources were often scarce, and players frequently found themselves strategizing on the fly to survive encounters with the game's varied and menacing foes. The village siege early in the game, where Leon must fend off waves of aggressive villagers, is a prime example of this blend, offering both intense combat and the palpable tension of being outnumbered and outgunned.
The critique that RE4 feels more "fantastical" compared to the grounded reality of RE2 and RE3 is a matter of personal preference. Each game in the series offers a unique tone and setting. RE4's rural European backdrop, complete with a mysterious cult and supernatural undertones, was a refreshing change. This setting allowed for a narrative that was both intriguing and different from the urban outbreaks of previous titles. The game's lore, rooted in the Las Plagas parasites, might feel like magic, but it's consistent with the series' theme of bio-organic weapons and the consequences of unchecked scientific experimentation.
It's also worth noting that RE4's narrative and character interactions, including the memorable exchanges between Leon and the game's various antagonists, added layers of depth and personality to the game. These interactions, combined with the game's more cinematic presentation, contributed to a richer storytelling experience.
while it's understandable to have a deep-seated affection for the earlier "Resident Evil" titles and their pure survival horror elements, it's crucial to appreciate "Resident Evil 4" for its innovations, storytelling, and the pivotal role it played in shaping the future of the franchise and the broader gaming industry. The game's legacy is undeniable, and while it might not resonate with everyone in the same way, its impact and influence are irrefutable.
I definitely appreciate what RE4 did in 2005, don't get me wrong there. It's a game that pioneered a lot of the modern 3rd person shooter as we know it today, there's a reason the game is so popular. This video really is to explore a topic that is so completely subjective, which is why I'm not trying to convince anyone or suggest this is the way "you have to view things" because that's not true. This is all in my brain and how my brain as processed these games from the perspective I played them.
It's evident that you approach the topic of "Resident Evil 4" with a balanced perspective, acknowledging its groundbreaking contributions to the gaming industry while also expressing your personal feelings towards its departure from the series' roots. This kind of nuanced discussion is essential in the gaming community, where nostalgia and personal experiences often shape our views on games.
Your perspective on RE4 is rooted in your unique journey with the "Resident Evil" series. For many, the series is synonymous with survival horror, with its tense atmosphere, limited resources, and the ever-present threat of the unknown. The earlier titles, with their fixed camera angles and methodical pacing, created a sense of vulnerability that resonated deeply with fans. RE4, with its shift to a more action-oriented gameplay, was a departure from this formula. While it introduced innovative mechanics and a fresh narrative direction, it also moved away from the claustrophobic horror that defined the earlier titles.
Your feelings towards RE4 seem to stem from a place of longing for that classic "Resident Evil" experience. I see now It's not so much a critique of RE4's quality or its impact on the industry but rather a reflection on what the series means to you personally. The game's shift in tone and gameplay mechanics might have broadened its appeal and brought in a new generation of fans, but for those deeply attached to the series' roots, it also created a sense of dissonance.
Franchises, especially ones as long-standing as "Resident Evil," will evolve over time. Developers face the challenging task of balancing innovation with staying true to a series' essence. RE4 was a bold move by Capcom, and it might not resonate with every fan in the same way.
In the end, discussions like these highlight the beauty of gaming as a medium. Games are deeply personal experiences, shaped by our individual journeys, preferences, and memories. While RE4 might not align perfectly with your vision of what "Resident Evil" should be, it's a testament to the series' versatility and its ability to spark passionate discussions even years after its release.
Keep up the good work my friend I really enjoy your videos.
Whenever you do get around to playing the original trilogy PLEASE be sure to check out the seamless HD project. It's a fan mod that upscales the pre-rendered backgrounds and the HUD and everything in the old games. It really is an amazing conversion.
And a video on the og trilogy would be sweet.
I'll have to have a look, thanks!
@@LazerzZ really, you won't regret it. It's a better remaster than Capcom would EVER do themselves.
The HD project mod for the original re4 is also pretty good
Thank you for having the courage to make this video. I feel pretty much the same, even though I'm an "OG" RE fan. The original RE4 for me was always a game I both hated and loved. I enjoyed greatly it but I hated what it did to the franchise. RE2 Remake was a dream come true and a true return to the roots, but RE4 Remake was a huge disappointment for me. I couldn't even bring myself to finish it, it was such a drastic departure from RE2 and 3 Remakes.
I also consider the original RE4 to be better, because it didn't constantly throw one million enemies at you and it was more arcady, which fits the tone of the game more. I though the more realistic and gritty take on story in the remake would be reflected on the gameplay as well, but unfortunately it wasn't. And it's not like it's a bad game, it's pretty damn good actually, but something feels so wrong to me about it and I hate that I can't enjoy it.
Edit: I'd really like to hear your opinion on the original RE1-3, I think you will enjoy them as long as you can get used to the controls and the fixed camera angles. Personally, those two are defining aspects of RE and survival horror for me, but I understand why the newer players may struggle with it.
As someone who knows the franchise since 2005 but never played the original trilogy until 2020, I have to admit that the tank controls aren't that bad to get used to. When I first started RE1 remake, I knew that it had different controls than other RE games after 4 but it took me maybe like 20 minutes to be great at it? Today I can't even play OG RE games and Silent Hill 1-3 on normal controls. It just doesn't feel good to play it any other way than with tank controls.
Before I watched the video
What's my definition of being a resi game?
I'm not a horror guy so this may be the strangest answer to that but to me it's slightly goofy but thoroughly entertaining protagonists going through horrendous situations this may be a big hot take but I like it when it goes a bit campy as the game is telling me "remember, it's just a game, try and have fun" especially when a character says something overly stupid
I am 36 years old, i played RE2 on the PS1 back in 1998 i think when it came out! i loved it and i immediatly became a fan until 5, 5 and 6 are still fine action games BUT i am not a fan of 7 and 8, just like how Asssasins ceed, it lost it is identity.
Haha you’re a new old RE purist lol. Nothing wrong with feeling that way however I feel like you’re too easy on 3 remake and 7/village. 7 and village feel more fantastical than 4 in terms of “its science, trust me bro.” And 3 remake is arguably more linear than 4 remake and 4 remake has more intricate puzzles than 3 remake does. I think newer players will never be able to truly appreciate why 4 was so special. It not only revolutionized and saved RE which was on the brink of cancellation by Capcom, but it completely revolutionized the gaming industry. What ppl now see as standard over the shoulder gameplay, pacing , and game design was invented by RE4. Btw for context I’m an old school re fan whose first game was RE2 1998 but 4 in my opinion is still the peak of the franchise. However I don’t want another action horror RE as I first fell in love with the slower more survival horror entries.
At least for me, Resident Evil always was something that initially makes you struggle and induces you to master. Yeah, Resident Evil 1 may be scary at first, but incredibly fun to speedrun after the fear goes away.
Re is gaming history in all aspects. The characters are iconic. The first three games revolutionized survival horror, and 4 changed gaming forever and 7 and 8 are rides and experiences for me. It was also the franchise that got me comfortable with horror when I was always scared shit less of everything. It taught me my brand of horror, and while im still not comfortable with most horror RE, let me know uneasy is ok. Which got me into other horror games. Do I think re4 remake has an identity crisis? No. I think Capcom wanted to take what re4 invented for gaming and the evolution of it. And give it back to it and pay respect to it with the ideas and game design and show how far those inovations have come and celebrate all of them.
At this point as a Resident Evil veteran all the way from 1996, I just want the series to wrap up in the best way possible. I’m 27, I was born in 1996, I witnessed the first game, second and 3rd all in 1999/2000. I beat the original trilogy when I hit the 6th grade late at night, sped ran them, and unlocked whatever I could. I proceeded to play all the spin offs, learn the lore, study Resident Evil 1.5. I beat every Resident Evil I could. At the end of the day, I just hope they would wrap it up, especially after Resident Evil 8 and the lackluster dlc. Another fatal flaw is, is that ALL of the characters are aging in real time. Did we need the remakes? No. Are they awesome? Oh fuck yeah! But what’s the purpose? It’s to bring in new fans to make sales. It’s also a soft reboot to “correct” the series and to prolong the series. Resident Evil 4 was already a perfect game and I love, love, love the remake…. But it wasn’t necessary. Soon they will remake either Code Veronica, Resident Evil 5 and possibly 6. My problem is, is Resident Evil 7 and 8 and the remakes are talking a lot buuut not concluding anything.
Re4 remake did great. It has more horror than the original game.
I feel Like I'm one of the few RE fans that enjoy both the action focused REs and more the survival horror based RE games. I actually love pretty much every game in the series from 1-8. Only games in the series I didn't like was 0 and some of the spin offs like Operation raccoon city. My Introduction to the series was OG RE3 though I didn't finish RE3 when i first played it. OG RE4 was the first one I finished and it's tied with OG RE2 for being my favorite in the series. While I love RE4 I can totally understand why other RE fans would hate it since it's such a different style of game from the games that came before it, but this one of the reasons why I love the series so much. It's not afraid to try new things. It helps keep the series fresh. As much I love 1-3 and CV I'm happy the series didn't stick with fixed camera and tried over the shoulder and while I'm not the biggest fan of first person RE I still really liked 7 and 8.
Really like this new wave of videos you're making. I'm a big RE fan so pretty excited to see your take on the franchise.
There is so much to this franchise that you are missing that keeps you from understanding the significant difference between RE2 and 4 and the key to understanding it is the time frame which I think is 6 years. 6 six of dealing with anything means it's going to loose it's shock value and your going learn how to better deal with it. Also in RE2 Leon is a rookie Police Officer by the time you get to RE4 he has become a federal agent who specializes in counter terrorism which means he is now highly trained in combat on top of seeing these horrifying creatures for over half a decade and Ada Wong is a spy sent to infiltrate Umbrella Corporation this explains the significant difference in combat ability from 2 to 4 and why ada and leon both fight like ninjas in 4. They are both the equivalent of 007 by this time.
Actually if you watch the few last Shinji Mikami interviews RE4 (2005) was made to appeal to the masses, for him to do that he had to fight his own creative needs and think more about the game as a producer, as a product that need to ship millions and be a hit, and it was exactly that, but in order to be a hit it lost its survival horror roots, i felt the same you did back in 2005, actually the best resident evil ive played in that generation was Outbreak 1 and 2, those games where a true love letter for classic survival horror games, i hope you play it one day and enjoy it.
As for RE4, the first time i was exposed to it was when they showed early trailers of it, they were based on very different versions of the game, they felt more like horror than action thriller, these versions were of course cancelled and the day i got the game i was dissapointed, Most people who loved the game back then are the ones that re4 was their first game.
Oh and welcome to the club :D
My first expirence with resident evil was Resident evil 3 Nemises for the playstation and i was hooked ever since. First off i'll start off saying i'm not a fan of the RE remakes due to various uncessary changes to the stories and cut content, i'd advise you play through the originals to understand, with the exception of the first RE remake which came out for the gamecube and is an example of a PERFECT REMAKE. That being the case when RE4 first came out years ago it leaned so heavy into the B-movie action and dialogue that many people considered at the time dubbed it an "action horror" rather than "survival horror" needless to say this turned many survival horror fans off from RE4 at the time.
"SORRY THAT IS A GIANT FUCKING FETUS" is one of my favorite james moments of all time probably only beaten by does nobody value facts anymore and the celeste heart attack for kill connor club
About the point you made that "people starting with RE2R, will play 3R and then 4R and wonder what happened/where is the horror aspect" I feel like this shift in game design mentality is even more prevalent in the originals. RE 1-3 play the oppressive atmosphere/survival horror aspect completely straight, and any humor/levity is completely unintentional like the bad voice acting quality. They're just classic horror games. Then in comes RE4, quippy, campy, and plays like the first modern third-person shooter. I started the series around when RE5 came out, same as you. I can't imagine how jarring it must have been for people who played RE2 1998 who jumped straight to RE4 2005, now THAT was a massive sudden change that feels like nothing was kept from the originals. Thankfully both games are critically acclaimed and massively beloved by survival horror fans to this day.
Resident Evil 2 Remake has the... benefit? of being directly influenced by RE4 the original that came out before, so while 2R has more horror elements, more dangerous foes, less resources for the player than 4R, they still both... play like RE4, so neither feels jarring or "not real resident evil", at least to me. IMO RE2R IS resident evil in the same way RE7-8 ARE resident evil, and RE4R IS resident evil in the same way RE4-6 are. I don't know how else to describe it, if I was better with words I'd love to make my own video essays lol
You definitely have some interesting thoughts here, could be worth writing it all out and putting together an essay for sure, I'd check it out!
@@LazerzZ Hahaha thank you, I don't feel nearly confident enough in my writing skills (and definitely not presentation skills) to do it, but maybe one day!
I'd honestly be really interested on your thoughts on og RE3. I feel like it was the only game of the original 3 where I didnt have a ton of resources left over by the end. In og RE1, you were easily able to dump your handgun for the shotgun after reaching the guard house and RE2 was ammo galore. In 3, i always felt like i had just enough to get by. Anytime i started to really stockpile it, there was an optional Nemesis fight where i could choose to essentially exchange my resources for extremely useful loot.
As Someone whos only played 7 onward and the Remakes and watching Max Dood playing the ogs. The Ogs are as much action horror as people think they are surivival horror. Those games give you so much ammo its just "The Fear" of not seeing enemies because of forced perspective it made it scary for some. And Tank Controls.
Resident Evil has always been a weird corny action horror series. RE 7 was the first TRUE Survival Horror RE game.
Honestly I have to agree. The only pure survival horror games were re1 and it’s remake, along with 7. 2 and above either gave us action characters in horror situations, had such over the top monster designs (nemesis is a straight up spawn villain) or like you said gave you so much ammo it was basically a horror themed shooter with a weird camera angle. Not even getting started into the plots being corny/anime esque stories from 3 onwards.
What's "hilariously weird" about this video is that I have followed the resident evil series since saturns re1. This video is EXACTLY what I thought about the original RE4. I got what everyone loved about it but it wasn't "resident evil" and more over shocked that no one really had an issue that this was the direction the series was going.
I think because I had already gone through that war I was fine with the remake because I knew what was coming but yeah dude. I totally UTTERLLY feel your pain and I am sad that the re7 reboot hasnt quite managed to turn the series back to the horror.
It's nice to read comments like this. I don't begrudge RE4 fans or even people who just don't care. I don't think RE4 is bad by any measure, but it's nice to know I'm not just going completely insane to feel like this.
Two words - Professional Mode...
Appreciate this video and I am 35 now and felt this EXACT SAME WAY when I played RE4 original for the first time in 2005, after having grown up with all the original true survival horror games of 1, 2, 3 and Code Veronica. I also had Survivor which was a weak side entry in the game, from a first person arcade style perspective. But your handgun had unlimited ammo, however I played it with an actual gun controller and it was just an extremely FUN way to experience the franchise of Resident Evil.
Anyway, you MUST play RE4 remake on Professional mode to recapture the survival horror you so badly crave because it truly gives you the feeling of being weak and powerless but not hopeless as you described.
I am currently running through on New Game+ on Professional but am saving my money for the Infinite Ammo Rocket Launcher. I went into NG+ with like 200,000 in money and I'm now at Chapter 14 with like 700,000. I have spent SO much money having to repair my body armour and my knife literally every time I beat a small section of a chapter I'm like PHEW! And then I'm desperate to chat with the Merchant, who appears to be my only friend and support throughout the darkness. The ammo is more scarce, money is used to buy that precious ONE first aid spray from the merchant each chapter, because you really do need it to survive, and the enemies are stronger and more aggressive and if you really don't know what you're doing you're going to get absolutely obliterated.
The wooden hut with Luis, the Bella Sisters, the water hall with Ashley in the castle, the bugs in the ballroom, the mine cart section, the wrecking ball section. ALL of these parts, amongst others, have caused me to die at least 5-10 times and urge myself to figure out how I can survive with the limited resources I have available, where every single shot counts and if you take your eye off Ashley for more than 3 seconds, she will put you in a worse off position.
Once I beat Professional I am going to get the replay value out of it by unlocking everything and getting the Platinum trophy, because I'm a true completionist. But yes, in my conclusion I share your opinion in that the remake is basically an authentic polishing of the original, and that's why I found it hard to say which from the RE4 original and RE4 remake I liked most. Both are great games and it felt so nostalgic running through RE4 again in modern day graphics with some adjusted things. For me Verdugo was TERRIFYING in the tunnels and the music and atmosphere that captured the whole thing was spot on. You either had to fight him and defeat him using the limited nitrogen available or stay alive long enough for the lift to arrive. It reminded me of big boss fights in the originals.
Maybe you won't love RE4 remake after playing on Professional, but I sincerely hope it gives you more of a rewarding experience because it seems to me you're quite advanced at this type of game now and therefore need to keep things fresh by challenging yourself to the hardest difficulty settings. Good luck 😎
In my opinion a big reason that the series has stayed alive and fresh over the years is because of games like this, the series is able to reinvent itself a lot while still feeling 'resident evil'. having a mixture of survival horror and action horror keeps each game different and fresh and stops it from becoming stale. I love the re4 remake as much as i love the re2 remake but for completely different reasons. imo as long as they keep making both survival horror and action horror games and dont just stick to a single one im perfectly happy. but i also do respect your opinion and i hope you have fun with other games in the franchise
While I did enjoy RE4 Classic and RE4 Remake as games, I personally felt Capcom shoulda remade Code: Veronica, the last true classic Resident Evil game. RE4 classic was where the franchise changed, wanting to go in a new direction from what came before. Remaking Code: Veronica and sticking to the classic formula from there is the best way to course-correct.
As a normal gamer and long time fan of RE Games who doesn't overthink, I don't know what he's talking about the changes and imbalance. 😂
But it's great to see and hear it from other people's perspectives.
I made a video a while back on this same issue what i think people fail to realize, as you said About Ethan in Resident Evil 8, is that when you start bringing in the same characters for new games there has to be some sort of skill development on the characters part. That development makes the character more prepared for the threat that awaits and the players less scared to face that threat. Look at the first RE, yes you're playing as cops who have some sort of tactical training but that training didnt prepare them for zombies and bioweapons. In RE2 same thing, rookie cop and college student take on stalker tyrants and monsters on a bigger scale with no training. In RE3 we see the return of Jill Valentine and even though she has the experience to handle these threats now, the game introduces us to the Nemesis, an enemy we the player are not prepared for. Even though RE3 is more action oriented, Nemesis is what induces fear into the player. The natural evolution of horror is action because the more experience you have in the matter the less scary that issue becomes. Thats why RE7 was a survival horror game and Villiage became an action title. We need new characters
Almost like you could say it's a good game but not a good resident evil. Am I right?
😅
I absolutely agree with this. I truly love RE4 but my favorite game in this world is RE2 OG with Remake right next to it. I really feel like they could have toned down a lot of the action paced sections and really zomed in on what made the classic trilogy work and give it a way more serious horror tone overall. Even going as far as taking out U3 boss fight on the island which was arguably one of the bigger horror parts esp in the island where the elements of horror lack severely. I dont understand..does worry me about whats to come for the franchise because if we are going by faithful remakes itll be no different with 5 and then i guess eventually 6 which i just cannot get behind at all. And then you gotta wonder, if we are already heading in the more action based direction for the franchise, does this cancel out code Veronica from finally getting a remake... idk, def wondering how things will turn out. I really hope we can get back to the more serious horror tone and less action over the top. Resident evil to me was survival horror. Been playing sinxe the 90s and i love RE4 to death, but not on the same level as RE2 1 or OG 3. Not crazy about RE3R but thats a different story and almost nearly entirely different game from the OG 3. Anyway. Heres to hoping the next game takes it back to roots.
The originals were the cheesiest, but so much better in my opinion, the story was way better done (although with a lot of ommited stuff that left us theorizing about stuff), the characters were way better done (Claire wasn't flirting with Leon during the apocalypce, Jill wasn't cursing ever like every 3 seconds that she is on the remake for example), but the 4th game was the divisive point. 3 by the way is supposed to feel like a spin off since the 3rd real game is basically Code Veronica, but the remake of 3 is really a demake, the whole racoon city was reduced to 2 parallell streets. Even though, I enjoyed them way better because they weren't "trying to be realistic" like the remakes are, you gotta play the originals to get a full conclusion/opinion for yourself and maybe do an update video showing your findings 😅.
My intro to RE was random. As a early teen, i asked my mom to stop at our local GameCrazy which was closing down soon to buy games on sale. When there i saw Resident Evil 0. If i had seen RE4 or 1, those wouldve veen my intro but they just happened to have 0 so that was my first. I liked Billy and Rebecca, i remeber the story reminding me of an anime. I also remeber the game being hard af. I played RE4 after, and thought 4 was a vast improvement. I remember thinking RE4 was the best game ever made and never looked back at RE0, or RE1 & RE3 which collected dust on my shelf. After 4 i played the Umbrella Chronicles/Darkside and really liked them tbh. I dont think it matters when/where youre introduced, its all a matter of taste.
For me Resident Evil is the fun and the anxiety of Survival Horror, some games have the scary and hard survival and some other simpler and mostly fun, I grew up playing resident evil since RE4 2005 and played the originals later in life. Great video man!, I love the different shades of resident evil it can be scary and it can be hard or it can be fun..
Late comment and this probably will never get read, but I my first RE game was RE2R, and if I wanted to include it, probably the original RE2 back in the early 2000s but I didn't finish it because I was a scared kid and didn't wanna touch that thing again. While I genuinely love RE2R to bits (and it's what got me into the series), my personal favorite now is RE4R. I think playing RE2R actually enhanced my experience playing RE4R, because while I know I will still enjoy that game regardless, I don't think I would've loved it to the level I do now because a lot of the references to the 2nd remake would've gone completely over my head. I love how Leon is consistent here. I just played the original RE4 a couple weeks ago and while I enjoyed it and would definitely replay it again, I can't get over the fact how RE4 Leon and RE2 Leon seem to be two completely different people. Like, he's funny, but I didn't connect with him like I did with remake Leon, even though he's more badass and cooler, he feels more human, more believable (his "This time has to be different" made me tear up at last after a 2nd playthrough) and his humor is more to deflect his own personal struggles, whereas OG Leon just felt downright cocky and arrogant at times; his "human" side feels more like an afterthought. I get the OG isn't trying to be serious, but I love consistency in characters. Remake Leon has that, even when he's much more evolved when you compare him to his RE2R self; even when he dodges nOrmAlLy from chainsaws and even when he suplexes every other ganado like it's nothing.
I do agree with your sentiment about the identity crisis of the series, and while RE4R will always have a special place in my heart, I'd love to see a return to survival horror, since they've done that so perfectly well in RE2R.
I appreciate the comment! This was a really nice perspective to read 🙏🏻
Another great video you articulate yourself very well
As someone who was around at the time it's been pretty amusing to watch Resident Evil go down basically the exact same road with these remakes as the originals did. 3 was a disappointing (to some, reception was genuinely mixed) more action-oriented follow-up to the extremely well-received 2, and then 4 comes and feels just as disconnected from the previous games as the original did back in 2005. They had a chance to make it more of a sequel to 2 and 3 and they didn't, they remade 4.
Which is fine with me, I love both versions of the game
24:22 Also the reason we went this action heavy direction is because 0 and the GC remake undersold. Again you need to know your gaming history.
A stealth horror game with action movie elements
for me RE 4 is about those epic well thought moments like when Leon and Claire separate ways and they each have their challenges to overcome, mixed with the action of escaping a city infested with zombies at the last second before it explodes, its fun and entertaining lore that always keep us at the edge. At first when I was a kid I never liked how RE 4 changed zombies to something else and how the games were about fighting gigantic and grotesque monsters but to me that's also resident evil so I learned to deal with it. We can't forget its iconic characters that surely made their way into our hearts, a game that's for everyone, western or eastern, everyone loves it. That's what RE is for me.
Im kind of curious to see how different you would see the original re 4 cause it kinda is the same game but kind of not. I have a preference for the original. they moved stuff around but the overall narrative is functionally the same with some minor to major changes in certain places. I honestly think the reduced mobility works in the originals favor.
if anything the remake is more grounded
@@agssilv5919 I have learned that games companies chasing realism often makes the games worse.
I started with Resident Evil 4, the original game. My first introduction was RE1 Remake and the original 3, I was a child watching my uncles play those games. I love both Resident Evil versions. I love the cool action of 4 and 5, I love the slow survival elements of RE1 and RE2R and the originals. My issues with the franchise would seem pretty surface-level to most casual enjoyers of the series.
RE4 original was scarier to me than remake, where the remake felt tense. Tense is what I'd describe a lot of action horror, like the evil within or the remakes. I do agree that they really did extremely well with RE2R in terms of that scrapping-by feel. I'm not one to enjoy feeling helpless, it's why I don't like Outlast, but in RE2 remake I was always debating whether or not to trade health, blue herbs, or ammo. What zombies to leave, and which to keep. I loved that sometimes sparing one zombie becomes a mistake later because there are also lickers.
Another issue RE4R faces is the knife. The ability to negate damage entirely is rather cheap towards the horror. You need some helplessness when you make a mistake. I'd rather some enemies do less damage but you can't escape with a knife than the get-out-of-jail-free card.
Another is the soundtrack of RE4R. It's not very good, they fixed that in Separate Ways, but the main story sounds like someone is just clanking metal bars together and calling it music. It's not atmospheric at all. I honestly switched to the OG soundtrack later in the game and it felt so much better.
Which leads to the ambient sounds, a lot less atmospheric than the original. A guy on YT got flack for it in a video for showing the difference between the two. Because everyone just looked to the surface-level title of the video for their critiques and added nothing to the discussion. In RE4 Original standing alone often has a haunting atmosphere that drowns you. Remake has nothing like that.
You’re not wrong. The non-remakes flow better into OG4. Then remakes go for much darker, straightforward tone save for four: more tonal whiplash. It’s good to hear from people who weren’t there for the originals. Saying “you weren’t there,” is not engaging with your points. What the remakes got better was Leon’s personality shift. OG4 Leon is a definite sex man, and remake Leon has more reason to be a sour puss. I still prefer OF Leon (not correcting that typo 😆).
I think if you play Re4r again you should play it on a higher difficulty, if you’re steamrolling the enemies and never running out of ammo then i totally see how it can get monotonous but the game is very much designed so that you’re supposed to feel on the backfoot just in a different way to Re2. Each encounter is supposed to challenge you whether it be with the map layout or enemy combinations, when I played I barely scraped through each encounter with a few bullets and I did get that sense of catharsis and relief when i got through it that you talk about feeling in Re2.
I don’t think every game should have to be played on a hard difficulty to be able to appreciate it but the closest thing I can compare it to is KH2. Playing that game on standard mode and critical mode are two completely different experiences, in critical mode you can see how even trash mobs are designed with specific enemy types and placements in mind to challenge you, it’s the same here imo.
Great video!
What is Resident Evil to me? "Puzzle solving game filled with zombies and monsters"
As someone who's very new to Resident Evil, your points are very valid.
As much as I'd like to urge you to play the originals, I can understand why many newcomers to the series skip them almost entirely. Not so much because of the outdated controls and graphics, but because they are not as accessible as the remakes are (with the exception of some HD re-releases). They aren't sold anymore.
Stressed and frustrated are the exact feelings I had on my first playthrough of RE2R. That game succeeded at making you feel powerless while also giving you a chance to overcome obstacles presented to you. Resources are limited, you can't always replenish what you've already spent. You can carry anything, but you cannot carry everything. This is where I think Capcom nailed the survival horror aspect of the game.
I can see why people claim that Resident Evil 4 does not share the identity of past Resident Evil titles, while also saying that Resident Evil 4 is their favorite among the franchise.
All RE games shared the same fixed camera angles, back tracking, limited inventory slots, and lots and lots of puzzle solving. This was Resident Evil's identity prior to RE4, and RE4 changed all that. In RE4, gone are the fixed camera angles in favor of over-the-shoulder perspective, back tracking is kept to a minimum (progression is much more linear), you can carry as many items as you want as long as you have the space for it (key items don't take up inventory slots anymore), and puzzle solving no longer requires critical thinking.
While these changes completely go against the RE formula, I think it is a much needed change for the franchise. At the time, we've already had six RE games (RE 1996, RE2, RE3, CVX, RE 2002, and RE0) with fixed camera and all that jazz in a span of seven years (1996 - 2002). While the classic formula worked well, it was getting stale at some point.
RE4 ditched the classic formula, made its own, and oh boy did it succeed at that. The game was fresh. It was something you've ever played before. Some fans loved the change, others not so much. It was divisive, but not as divisive as RE6. Your current thoughts about RE4R are pretty much the same thoughts of the fanbase back in 2005. Like if you were to interchange RE4R with RE4 (2005), it won't make your points any less valid.
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For some reason, your words about RE4R being 'fantastical, exaggerated, over the top' sums up how I feel about RE Village. Like I know there's gotta be a scientific explanation for everything that's happening, but do you expect me to believe that some mold can turn into a legion of crows, or grant someone the ability to manipulate metal? I kinda felt lost as to how any of this was believable, but that's a discussion for another time.
Thank you for sharing your perspective as someone who's only played the remakes. It was an interesting watch.
Constructive criticism here, it took you about 15 minutes just to lay out the premise of your argument, which from what I understood is "true RE experience in my opinion is more horror than action and therefor the more action oriented RE games feel like they are missing something that make RE RE". This is pretty much the most common perspective of the series and every RE fan and perhaps almost any gamer that might watch your channel would be familiar with this perspective. Imo you should have layed it out quickly in no longer than 5 minutes, it became so long becuase you re-iterated the same points over and over even tho they were already presented, and also you needlessly over-explained and tried to justify something everyone already understands. You can see there are many comments saying something along the lines of "everyone felt like that in 2005". Bottom line you made quite a long video that didnt really add anything new to the discussion.
Its common knowledge that there is a horror to action spectrum with RE games.
I like you tho and I wasnt trying to be mean or something, But from what I have seen you can make better video essays than this.
Its so interesting how history tends to repeat itself because now we have a new generation experiencing RE through the remakes for the first time and some of these new fans are going through the same disappointment some of the older fans went through when og RE4 first came out and how it was leaning more into action horror
I don’t see many people disappointed with re4 remake tho. Some people are obviously but capcom been on a roll with these re games except re3 remake
I disagree, but I certainly understand where you are coming from funny enough my favourite Resident Evil is Resident Evil 2 Remake, I did love playing Resident Evil 4 it was fantastic for me but it certainly didn't hit the same feels as RE2 did
I'm yet to play it as waiting for the VR DLC. So to get in perspective, did you play hardcore (or whatever equivelent they may call it in 4) I usually play games in hardcore to capture the old school sense of achievment when completing games. Re 2 remake felt like I was back in the 90's gaming when playing hardcore first run. To be fair, it certainly never felt that I may not beat it, however, I did have to load an earlier save and do better once during that run and was much more challenging than most games I've played this generation.
It's definitely funny seeing history repeat itself through the eyes of a newer player. I've always been familiar with RE since the original but my first one I got my hands on and finished was the original RE4, and that game set my world on fire and is one I still love to go back and replay with how much a tightly and well-paced game it is.
But I know in retrospect a lot of classic RE fans hated the o.g. RE4 because of the same departure you feel and how much it shifted the franchise, and it happened this way because Shinji Mikami simply didn't want to just do zombies again. You should definitely check out the development history of the original RE4 and see what kind of hell it went through before we got the final game, it's fascinating stuff.
RE4 would then lay the groundwork for so many games (even outside of RE such as Gears of War), turned into the era of 5 and 6's action romps before the RE7 "reset."
RE2make became something of another reset while also using the mechanics the o.g. RE4 introduced years ago, then we saw the gradual shift to action and then the culmination of repeated history with RE4make.
It's been a cycle of action to horror and it's been bizarre watching the series stray back and forth between the two yet it's part of the relationship the franchise has always had and I still appreciate it for, every game just blends the recipes differently each time.
I love when not that big channels surprise me with their videos, awesome analysis of RE2. I love RE4 tho and I think it gathers the best of both worlds, however I understand that feeling and I hope maybe in a CV remake they go back to the full horror of RE 2 and 3
For me, having been introduced to the Resident Evil series with 4 on the Gamecube, I am probably one of the few who actually like the action oriented RE games like 4, 5 and even 6 more than the originals. It also helps that I hate having to conserve ressources and then being stuck and punished if I decided to engage with the combat...
As far as Resident Evil goes, I can take it or leave it. If Capcom decided to never make another Resident Evil, I wouldn’t be sad.
The only remakes that capture the survival horror aspect of the originals are the RE1 remake and the RE2 remake.
The identity crisis of Resident evil IS the identity of Resident evil... that's what makes every entry so much more special...cause youre not gonna get something quite like it again. Ironically it has been this way since og RE2...tonally and most importantly gameplay wise you'll never get quite the same thing over and over again...and i get why someone would not like that and prefer a much more focused series but to me that's the beauty of RE. It has something for everyone. I think the sooner you make peace with that, easier it gets to get into the franchise
I haven't actually played Resident Evil, but I've watched a lot of videos about it bc even though the gameplay doesn't appeal to me, the vibes do. Like I can't really pinpoint it and I also keep getting it mixed up with Silent Hill bc they occupy the same space in my brain, but there's something that draws me to listen to people talk about it lol
After you play RE1 Remake, you should really play RE2 OG. It's still amazing today for survival horror fans and it would be nice for you to see what didn't make it in the RE2 Remake.
RE went through the same thing that ac is going through, has been going through right now. Capcom watered down certain key aspects of the franchise in order to appeal to the larger (in this case action oriented) gaming audience. Ever since re4, the identity of RE was all but lost.
This directly mirrors Ubisoft and their handling of Assassins Creed. Many elements were watered down over the years such as parkour, social stealth and focus on the assassin brotherhood.
As a consequence, both franchises split their audiences and sacrificed what made each of them special in order to sell to the most customers and make the most money while forgetting how they got to the dance floor in the first place.
This is why I believe games should prioritize on catering to their hardcore original audiences over other player groups. Not saying casual or non fans don’t matter at all, but they shouldn’t matter as much as hardcore longtime fans.
Gaming franchises should also focus on delivering and expanding on gaming experiences that compliment their IP’s. For example, RE should focus on giving players a solid RE experience, AC should focus on delivering a solid ac experience, and so on and so on…. These franchises can obviously do new things but they all have to stay true to their core identities. Their is a wrong way and a right way to evolve your game, and Assassins Creed and Resident Evil have not done that.
You asked so I shall deliever.
What is Resident Evil?
An interesting question to pose, a difficult one as well.
Are Resident Evil Games old school survival horror from a fixed perspective and everything after Resident Evil Zero simply has the same name placed onto a different soul?
Are they an anthology of different ideas on how to portray the greed of humanity be it monetary or scientific and how the love for humanity may pose a stop to said greed?
Are they just stupid pew pew action thriller buddy couch coop adventures you can play with your roommate on a warm summer day?
In the end I think it comes down to personal opinion (duh?) but I'd argue that they have actualy never changed to much in their core
Yes Resident Evil 1-Zero are classic horror icons and PLAY very differently from something like Resident Evil 6 but they have some similarities I see people rarely speak about.
"How ridicolous is it that a boulder gets punched by Leon(?) in Resi 5" is an argument I have heard many times before and those people I usualy refer to code veronica one of the most campy horror experiences of my live.
The later games don't have the spooky costume anymore but one of an action thriller but in my opinion Resident Evil was always over the top comedy something a kin to scream. It had nudges towards the 4th wall, Jil almost became a Jil Sandwhich once and the list goes on and on.
Yes the stuff that happens is horrific. But I still laugh because it's just so absolutly rdicolous .
The Games are in a different genre of gameplay but the soul is instact.
So what is Resident Evil?
A long running over the top story of how a few people are capable of saving the world multiple times. Be it by killing incest twins on an island, stomping slugs/bugs on a train or punching a boulder so it moves.
(Haven't played the remakes since release and I thought 2 was really fun, 3 was horrid compared to what is used to be and 4 was suprisingly good again)
Edit: Watched a bit further and you and I had opposite exposure to the franchise.
I am also a relative new "fan" of the series but I started with resi 1 on the ps1 (played the gc remake right after lol)
I played the 4 remake and then the 2 remake, but I still agree with your points. I preferred the more grounded world of RE2, where you're a lot more vulnerable. RE4 just felt like a shooter pretending to be survival horror
Hey man, this is your latest video so I’m writing this here. I’ve been in the exact same boat as you about assassins creed for the last few years, and it was the same for mirage, I wrote this game off until two days ago by buddy convinced me to buy it to play alongside him, but I wasn’t optimistic. I have to be honest, it’s actually the most “assassins creed” game we’ve had since unity, the only thing missing is slightly deeper parkour but that’s not the only thing that makes assassins creed what it is. My point is that this game actually does things that we want in assassins creed, and I think because of the games other flaws that it’s important we show Ubisoft that this is what people want, truly this game feels like the old ones, the traversal is actually fun, and stealth is the main focus in every situation in the game. I think you’ll actually enjoy it
This is an interesting interpretation of what is actually going on with Resident Evil. As someone who played almost every Resident Evil game, I can safely tell you're 100% right about the two Resident Evil types that exist, although you're slightly off on the cause and the differences between the remakes and the originals but I think it's normal to assume these things from your point of view.
The root of this problem actually started in the originals because they had a change of direction and production after Resident Evil Nemesis (or the original 3). They were pretty much survival horror until 4 (just like the remakes from 1 to 3), with 3 being more action-driven but perhaps more tense and tightly packed than the remake counterpart (and definitely more unpredictable), but they removed parts of the original which added a certain horror flair to the game. The new direction from 4 to 6 was to be more in line with the movies (which are arguably at fault here and not the games themselves), with 4 being the outcast of that trilogy. Resident Evil 5 and 6 became pure action-driven and were a conclusion to what came before, with loved characters doing crazier stunts and being more familiar with these menaces. I still love my time with the original RE 4 and I still enjoyed going through 5 and 6, as well as the Revelations series which coincided with the latter. Do I wish they were more survival horror? Well... yes and no. Yes, I think there's margin to make these games tense without throwing countless enemies at you. At the same time, I think preserving the essence of the originals in remake form is necessary (especially with RE 4). Also, keep in mind that 1, 2 and 3 had 2.5D fixed camera angles and 4 was the first Resident Evil to be an actual third person shooter (so the original 4 is actually the base of these remakes), which is arguably one of the main reasons why 4 was so beloved at the time since it offered new combat capabilities and challenges that were never there.
My advice: don't expect things to change with RE 5 and 6 Remakes (or Code Veronica, if they decide to go there), as they bare the fruits of a bygone era of Resident Evil. These remakes should only be seen as windows of that era in a remastered form and nothing else, at least that's my opinion. I still think Capcom can do something original with 5 and 6 in terms of survival horror without changing elements of those stories that actually worked. Those games are still under the "zombie action thriller" umbrella like 4 but they didn't exactly get as good of a reception as RE 4 did, so there's a bit of leeway to sneak in some new elements. While I also prefer the survival horror side of RE myself, the only thing I can tell you about 5 and 6 is that the action vibes felt appropriate for those two particular stories. The way I see it (without preference) is that the identity of Resident Evil actually means two things: it's survival horror when its characters are focused and uncertain of the environment, but it moves more towards action when these characters get a grip of this wicked reality, just like adrenaline. However, uncertainty is as much a factor as is identity in a long-spanning franchise.
You're basically experiencing what every fan of the classic games felt when the original Resident Evil 4 released.
The Resident Evil you fell in love with was a survival horror game, which is what the series is rooted in. A Metroidvania, where exploration, puzzles, and backtracking are key to progression and combat is dependent on resource management. These are elements that have come to define the series that have only gotten watered down as the series began to focus on action.
While the Resident Evil 4 remake is a phenomenal game that improves greatly on its original counterpart by better incorporating survival horror elements into its gameplay and design, it is still just a remake of Resident Evil 4, a linear action game that killed the original games' on-going narrative.
There's only so much they could do to Resident Evil 4 to make it a more cohesive game with the previous entries without outright altering the very DNA of the original RE4. While it does a great job balancing the more action fueled gameplay and tone of RE4 with all the classic survival horror tropes, it still doesn't quite feel like classic Resident Evil, which is something Resident Evil 2 remake achieved flawlessly, only with modernized gameplay and presentation that still feels distinctly Resident Evil.
The problem with Resident Evil is characters we grow up with in the first 3 games all become professionals at handling these bioterrorisms. The games reflects on the characters you play as and how far they’ve come. The first 3 are scary bc they have no idea what they’re dealing with but by 4 onward, Leon is an agent, Chris and Jill find the BSAA, etc. These later games put the characters in situations that’s just another Tuesday for them. 4 isn’t scary bc Leon isn’t clueless and scared like in 2, 5 isn’t scary bc Chris deals with bioterrorism 24/7. It’d be weird for us the audience to feel scared in these situations when the characters we are isn’t and is a professional badass. That’s why Capcom HAD to take 7 to someone else. An everyday person who doesn’t live that life. He just got caught up in a bioterror conspiracy. In Village Ethan is hardened from said experience and isn’t really surprised or scared from that shit. Honestly the only way to continue having horror is to continuously play as nobody’s each game. Personally I think 4 r did do justice on certain moments like the first parasite in the basement, the chainsaw guy, the regenerador (fuck that’s segment lol), hell there’s a part that is optional where you go looking for a dog and when you go to Mendez’s house in the dark the music is eerie and scary bc you can see the dog icon on the map but don’t know what or where to expect it on the first gameplay. With og characters we can still have scary moments but for a continuous horror feel we’ll need to play as regular civilians in the middle of horrible situations in this game’s universe.
Original RE trilogy "SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!" RE4: " Im here to kick ass and chew bubble gum!"
Ive yet to play the re games, However, I noticed that what you're saying mirrors alot of the discourse I saw in the original games when they came out, theres an exception for res 3 because they downgraded it from the orginal. But it's interesting to see old discourse revive because of a remake, it shows how little we change as a species.
I played the RE series in a wild order, I started with RE4 original PS2 version, then played RE7, then played RE0 and RE1 from the origins collection version, then played the RE2 remake and I'm almost finished playing through the RE3 remake. I plan on continuing with the RE4 remake, then playing through RE5, 6 and 8. I feel like the RE series can really be what it wants as long as it goes all in to whatever style of gameplay it chooses. RE7 pulls off the first person survival horror very well, RE4 pulls off the action focused survival horror extremely well, and RE1 pulls off the straight survival horror really well. I'd rate all three of these games with fairly similar scores despite all 3 of them playing fairly differently. And I have to say it's funny hearing how you were disappointed going from RE2 and 3 remake into RE4 because you liked it but didn't love it. I had a very similar experience going from RE1 to RE2 remake. I felt like the game was far shorter (though a loading screen every time you open a door probably exasserbated that feeling) I felt the puzzles in RE2 remake were a lot simpler and similar to the way you describe RE4 puzzles even. The solution usually feels readily apparent, as long as you are constantly exploring whatever rooms or areas you can currently access. Whereas in RE1 and even RE0 for that matter, I got stuck pretty frequently and had to break out a google doc to write notes that would help me puzzle out what to do next. While with RE2 I only ever had a doc open to write down combination codes I came across to unlock safes and that kind of thing, i think the chess piece puzzle was the only exception. I also felt genuinely much more terrified in RE1, I thought the atmosphere was a lot more oppressive and unsettling. The music was also more eerie and had me on edge constantly. I love Mr.X, but I think the first game benefits from not having a stalker type enemy by being able to create more complex puzzles and an environment you'll find yourself backtracking around a lot more frequently, something RE2 can't lean in to as much without crossing a line into frustration with this enemy constantly on your back you can't kill. I also kind of missed the fixed camera setup and the unique horror experience that came with it. The decision of "I can hear a zombie but can't see it, do I chance aiming and shooting ahead hoping I hit it, or do I charge forward to change the camera perspective, risking running right into it" was always a horrifying split decision process that never got old for me. I also spent a lot more time in RE1 and it made the overall game feel more like a long journey. I beat RE1 in 22 hours. While I beat RE2 remake in just 8 hours in Leons's playthrough, then just 7 hours in Claire's playthrough. 2 full playthroughs of the game just scrape past half the time I spent playing RE1 alone by a couple hours. And while I enjoyed those hours in RE2, I actually ended up feeling surprisingly unsatisfied by the end of it.
@2:02 good lord dude were you on a 500 calorie/day diet at this time
Dude, I know. The craziest thing is I ate so much back then, I have no idea what kept me so skinny when I was younger but it wasn't until I turned 22(ish) that I started putting on any sort of weight. it's wild sometimes using those old clips because it just baffles me how skinny I was, it's actually shocking.
I wonder how well tbe Dead Space remake would stack up with Lazer. For me peraonally I thought it was a great combination of survival and actuon horror. I never felt weak in DS but the game messed with me so much that I dreaded booting it up the next day and was constanly on edge while playing.
I can follow you in everything you said. Even though I'm a RE player since the very beginning back in the 90's with RE1 on ps1 as my first RE game. Re4 was the game that dissapointed me, it was more of an action game and the feeling I had from the previous RE games was gone. I hated it and I still hate it cause the RE4 remake made me feel the same like I did back when the original came out. It was again more action and the feeling I had from RE2 Remake was again gone. Re1 Remake and Re2 Remake are still the best remakes and that will never change. I realy hope you try out Re1 Remake cause it is perfection. You WILL have that feeling you had with the RE2 Remake I can promise you that 🙂 and maybe, just maybe, it will be your new favorite RE game 😉 grtz man 🤟 great video!
Back in the early 2000's I watched my older brother play RE2 and it forever stuck with me. I watched him play RE3 and my family almost didn't let me watch him play Code Veronica because the games freaked me out so bad but I couldn't get enough. RE4 was the first RE I played by myself. There's a different atmosphere to RE4 where it still feels a bit more oppressive and dark than the remake, but doesn't quite line up with the previous games. I played through the original games after beating RE4 and actually found myself enjoying them more! RE4 will always have a special place in my heart, but this is just how it goes with being a RE fan. The series, much like the monsters within it, constantly mutates and changes. What we end up with next may be very different from what we are familiar with and I think that's the point.
I love RE2 and RE4 for different reasons and that’s cool with me. I wouldn’t want to play a series that’s 8 (main) games long and every game felt exactly the same. In story telling it’s points where the story slows down and some points where it moves fast. You have to look at RE as one long story, so some games have more action than others.
Personal/Immersive Zombie Survival Action Adventure
OG RE2>RE2 REmake
Also like MANY mentioned, this RE identity crisis is now almost 20! Years old when RE4 dropped on GC
Resident Evil to me was a survival horror series that changed from the ps1 tank control less action era to the re4through 6 heavy action era to the sort of hybrid going back to survival with some action in 7 and 8. But it kinda feels like im caught loving the games in all eras except for 6 and maybe a bit of 5 and im not sure what the series identity is outside of survival horror and B movie campy cheese. Still a fun ride though. Im posting the comment before finish ing the video im sure your vids good. I have a feeling you might be on to something. I loved the remakes except for RE3 remake. I pray that code veronica gets a great remake. Now after finishing the video yeah you definitely should go and play the original RE1 2 and 3 and code veronica and also RE1 remake for that survival horror feel your looking for. OG 4 i think does balance the horror better i guess??? But OG 4 still is an action game with some horror thrown in. Love the vid lazerzz.
My favorite re game was re4 back in the day, and no one can tell me otherwise. It was awesome!!!
You make valid points. Growing up re2 og was my favorite over re1 and re1 remake and i didnt like 4 at first because not only was it not fixed camera angles that i became used to, but also it was a game with several chapters in an environment that mostly was outside. I didnt feel as trapped trying to escape like i did in 2. However 4 did grow on me when i looked at it as a different kind of resident evil game. A game where survival and horror took on a different meaning. I feel like 4 was loved by so many for being different but very enjoyable. The only negative thing about 4 was capcom wanted to make more games like it which brought on the downfall that was 5 and then even worse 6. 7 may have saved the franchise but even though i dont mind village as much, i hate the first person camera in 7 and honestly wasnt a fan of the lack of monster types and also the scenery jn the game.
Overall i want more games like 2 and 4.
Also ill be curious on your thoughts of 2 and 4 og after you play them.