Resident Evil 4 VR Review

Resident Evil 4 is one of the most critically acclaimed games ever made, and so it’s no surprise that Capcom has worked to bring RE4 to as many platforms as possible. Since its original GameCube release, Resident Evil 4 has made its way to the PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo Wii, with an HD version released for modern consoles. While it’s readily available on almost any modern gaming platform one can think of, Capcom decided to port Resident Evil 4 once again, this time in the form of Resident Evil 4 VR on the Oculus Quest 2 headset. Since Resident Evil 4 has been re-released so many times over the years, one would think that Capcom would have squeezed out everything it could, but Resident Evil 4 VR truly feels like a new experience. Resident Evil 4 VR ditches the third-person, over-the-shoulder camera that was so innovative and influential at the time of RE4’s original release in favor of a first-person viewpoint, and that’s the only thing that fundamentally changes the entire game. Resident Evil 4 hero Leon S. Kennedy being able to freely target any part of the enemy’s body was a revelation in 2005, but giving players complete freedom of movement takes things to the next level. Resident Evil 4 VR is more action-packed and intense than the game’s console versions, as players can move around their environment faster, aim more accurately, and switch weapons at a faster rate. speed Weapon exchange and actual use of weapons are more involved in Resident Evil 4 VR. Instead of scrambling through menus to reload weapons, Resident Evil 4 VR players have to manually reload their guns. For pistols, this involves taking the clip from Leon’s ammo pouch, pushing it into the gun, and pulling back the slider. For shotguns, players have to add shells one at a time, and physically pump the weapons after firing. This level of interactivity extends to all the weapons Leon has at his disposal, and it helps make the game more fun and engaging. To use grenades, Resident Evil 4 players have to pull the pin out of them and then throw them at enemies. Using the knife requires players to hold the blade and then swing at whatever they are trying to smash or kill. As a result, Resident Evil 4 makes all of Leon’s main actions more entertaining. Furthermore, the game doesn’t burden players with tutorials to explain how everything works. A common problem with virtual reality games is that they want to over-explain all the mechanics, and while Resident Evil 4 VR has optional tutorials, it’s not necessary. All of Leon’s actions in the game make logical sense, so anyone should be able to strap on a VR headset and figure out how everything works without a lot of trial and error. Oculus Touch controls are also used in other aspects of Resident Evil 4 VR. Motion controls are used for the fast-paced events of Resident Evil 4, and they are also used when solving puzzles in the game. Players can use motion controls to open doors, type their names into savepoint typewriters, pull bear traps, and much more. Along with the first-person viewpoint, the new motion controls in Resident Evil 4 VR are a big reason why the game still feels like a fresh experience, even though its core is 16 years old. Although Resident Evil 4 VR plays differently than other versions of the game before it, it retains the same layout, story beats, and key moments from the original. However, these moments are enhanced with the transition to virtual reality. For example, Resident Evil 4’s famous village scene from the beginning of the game, where players are tormented by a horde of armed villagers and the terrifying chainsaw man, is not only more action-packed in VR, but it’s also scarier. The Oculus Quest 2 VR headset has directional audio that will leave players with a chilling sense of dread every time they hear an enemy infected with Las Plagas screaming their location or when they hear a chainsaw come to life. Moments like Resident Evil 4’s lake monster jumping out of the water and eating the Lion are more effective than ever. So not only does VR enhance the gameplay of Resident Evil 4, but it also breathes new life into all other aspects of the game. Resident Evil 4 VR is excellent from a gameplay perspective, but content-wise, it undeniably lags behind its predecessors. Unfortunately, Resident Evil 4 VR lacks content, including the popular Mercenaries mode as well as Ada Wong’s side missions. The lack of Mercenaries in Resident Evil 4 VR is especially disappointing, as the mode will allow fans to immediately jump into some fun enemy encounters without having to go back through the story. Some fans may also take issue with Resident Evil 4 VR’s cut dialogue, though it’s barely missed. Resident Evil 4 VR doesn’t do anything special with cut-scenes, instead pulling players out of the game world and watching them on a big screen as if they were sitting in a movie theater. Resident Evil 4 VR’s Oculus Quest 2 exclusivity means it has a very limited audience right out of the gate, and it’s hard to recommend someone buy a new VR headset to play this one game. However, hardcore fans of Resident Evil 4 might want to consider biting the bullet and doing that anyway, as VR completely revitalizes the game and succeeds in making a 16-year-old experience into new. Resident Evil 4 VR is out now, exclusively for Oculus Quest 2.