Resident Evil 4's remake reimagines a fan favorite that slightly alters the appearances of classic characters. The title’s main protagonist, Leon Kennedy, has seen a massive upgrade graphically not only from the original Resident Evil 4 but also from his new look in Resident Evil 2's remake. Since the remake of the second game, the iconic Resident Evil characters have been modified further to meet current hardware standards. The base version of RE4 was released three console generations ago, meaning some of its characters in the remake have changed quite dramatically.
Resident Evil 4 pioneered the franchise’s third-person survival gameplay. This style of play was repurposed in remaking both RE2 and 3, which were originally under a fixed camera, so when it came to RE4’s remake not as much needed to be done in that regard. Where RE4's remake has been changed the most, however, is its overhauled visuals. For characters, it wasn’t a simple HD touch-up; most, if not all, have different outfits while others look completely different.
Leon Kennedy's Iconic Resident Evil 4 Look Remains Intact
The star of RE4 didn’t change all that much in the remake. Leon’s appearance is just as distinct as it was years ago, curtain haircut and all. His signature jacket looks slightly darker and less brown compared to the original, but its overall design relatively stayed the same. The change to his turtleneck underneath his jacket however is more apparent. In RE4, Leon’s turtleneck changed from dark green to navy blue with his holster remaining the same. With such a cherished design Leon didn’t really need too many tweaks from his outing in 2005.
Resident Evil 4's Presidential Daughter, Ashley Graham
In contrast to Leon, Ashley received a more significant revamp in the new, gorier Resident Evil 4 remake. She lost one of her defining features - in the original Ashley’s ears were visible but in the remake they are covered by her hair. This could be due to fans poking fun at the size of her ears over the years, or maybe Capcom just wanted to spice things up. Adjustments made to Ashley’s facial appearance were done to more accurately capture the look of her new character model, Ella Freya. The last change to Ashley was her outfit. In the remake she wears a light brown blazer over her turtleneck. She still has her scarf and green skirt, but her belt was removed, and she now wears leggings.
Ada Wong Appears More Practically Dressed
Just like Leon, Ada also got a new design in Resident Evil 2's remake, and will be having another in 4. Ada was shown very briefly in RE4's latest trailer, but she also received some changes. No longer donning her dress, Ada now wears her own turtleneck. As with every appearance made by Ada Wong, her outfit is the color red. Until more screenshots or footage is shown of Ada, players won’t know for sure if this is her attire for the entire game or if she will appear in a new version of her original dress later on. Given the location of where the game takes place, Capcom may be covering up its characters more to better fit with the climate.
Luis Sera Is True To His Original RE4 Design
Luis’ appearance in Resident Evil 4's remake changed certain aspects of the character while keeping everything that made him stand out in the original. In the remake, Luis wears a brown jacket over a white button-down shirt. In his first design, he wore something similar but instead of the brown jacket he wore a vest where his white sleeves would show. His hair is now darker and he has a little more stubble on his face than before. For the most part, Luis stays true to his debut design while adding a few new features to keep the character looking fresh.
The Remake Changed Ramon Salazar Completely
Out of all the characters shown so far in the remake, Ramon Salazar’s new look is the most drastic. With the graphical limitations of the time in the original, Salazar could almost appear as childlike, but in RE4's remake he looks more mature like Leon and the rest of the cast. His face is extremely detailed this time, giving players a full view of every abnormal wrinkle the 20-year-old possesses. Salazar’s proportions still remain the same, with the only other difference in his design being his hat. In the remake, the Valdelobos nobleman apparently goes hatless.
Bitores Mendez Has New Accessories In RE4's Remake
Chief Mendez was featured very briefly in the remake’s story trailer, but he received something new for the remake as well. Unlike Salazar, who had his hat removed, Mendez acquires a new one. Besides the hat not much has changed for the chief of El Pueblo. He still has his multicolored eyes and facial hair. The only other notable addition he got was a necklace; his garments are practically the same.
El Gigante Is As Intimidating As Ever
A majority of the antagonists and bosses in Resident Evil 4's trailer have small moments of camera time, and for El Gigante it was no exception. Overall, the monster looks as gruesome as ever and still lives up to the name. There aren’t many noticeable differences besides the obvious jump in graphics. However, it does seem like El Gigante may have been given a few more teeth, but its design appears to be pretty faithful to the original RE4.
Osmund Saddler Briefly Appears In RE4's Remake Trailers
A hooded figure was shown for a few seconds in the RE4 remake trailer, leading fans to believe it is the leader of Los IIuminados. Rumors suggest that RE4's remake is supposed to be scarier than the original, and with Saddler new redesign, it makes sense. Unfortunately, with his showing being so quick, only parts of his face and hood were revealed. It seems like Capcom isn’t ready yet to fully show Saddler’s makeover for the remake. In the trailers, it does look like he is still wearing his purple cloak at the very least.
Resident Evil 4's Iconic Merchant
RE4's darling, the merchant, also got an updated look. In what players have been able to see so far the merchant's face appears to be more obscured than it was originally. He still wears his fingerless gloves, backpack, and cloak. The only unfortunate part is that it looks like players won't be able to look the merchant in the eyes when he says his legendary line, "What're ya buying?" With the merchant being one of the most recognizable characters in RE4, he will also be one of the most important characters in RE4's remake to get right.
The story trailer for Resident Evil 4 Remake gave fans a sneak peek of not only what the game will look like, but what changes its characters received as well. The original RE4 is regarded by some as one of the best video games of all time. Players will be able to find out on March 23, 2023, if the remake can live up to its legacy.
