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|| A Timeless Gem Re-imagined. But how does it stack up? ||

The original Resident Evil 4 on the Nintendo Gamecube is without a doubt one of the most important games to have ever been released. Not only did it reinvigorate interest for the franchise within that console generation but it also set the core design foundations that modern games even to this day would still follow. And to add my own opinion, the fun that this game provides still outdoes most of those same modern games that I had referred to before. After all that said, did Resident Evil 4 really need to get a remake at the time that it did? Outside of updating the visual fidelity was there any other reason to give the game a remake despite the original already being available to purchase and play on every major modern platform?
It plays good. DAMN GOOD.
The gameplay in a nutshell basically builds upon the style that had been set by the Resident Evil 2 Remake but now cranked up by several levels to better match up with this game's action focus. Besides the addition of crouching which can help you dodge enemy attacks alongside the dash, they have also repurposed the knife so that it can be used as a parrying weapon. Crafting and the inventory management returns (as it should), both elements as far as I remember function nearly the same as the original outside of a few small QOL.
The gameplay changes aren't just limited to Leon (or the other playable characters):
> There are several new enemy types added alongside reworked enemy AI and behaviors to better fit your new movesets.
> The level designs in certain areas have been changed. Some only by a small margin and some are drastically different compared to the original.
> New set pieces, puzzles, and scenarios are added some of which even replace already existing ones. For example, the clock tower's floor in the village now breaks down if you try to camp there like in the original.
> The bosses have been redone for the remake. And some of them are even absent.
> QTEs are completely absent. Helps alot with the game's pacing.
> New currency to be spent at the Merchant which give new items like map pieces.
> A new form of side quests that can be found scattered throughout the world or given by the Merchant. These give out pretty decent rewards and are good incentive to explore the expanded areas.
> Some new weapons are added and old ones are readjusted to match the new playstyle.
There are more changes but those are some of the more commonly asked ones that people often bring up. As a whole I feel that the changes for the most part are positive additions that did help with the fun factor of my playthroughs. I am well aware that not everyone will entirely agree with some of the additions and especially some of the subtractions, but I also feel that the cohesiveness of the final product will still manage to satisfy.
"Where did everybody go? Bingo?"
The original game's scenario while not amazing was still very entertaining, very reminiscent of typical B-grade action movies at the time. Thankfully despite the remake's more grounded take and certain changes within the story, they still managed to keep a lot of the cheesiness and absurdness that RE4 was widely known for. There are even some well implemented changes here too. Most appreciated of all is the choice to make Luis more present in the story and having him bond with Leon much more than the original ever had him do. Sadly some of the changes regarding specific characters don't feel as well thought out. Ada isn't as expressive as she used to be and Salazar isn't as prominent as he used to be and he just doesn't come across as memorable either.

RE Engine is the GOAT again. For the most part...
Much like RE2R, RE3R, and a lot of Capcom's other modern releases Resident Evil 4 Remake was also made with their now staple in-house engine. The game also aims for that same "Photorealistic-esque" look that the other modern RE titles have. Outside of some well known RE engine quirks like some textures being lower resolution than they should be, I think that this is one of the stronger modern RE titles visually. The environments give off their own atmosphere well enough to separate each other apart and the character models especially have received a major glow-up.
One point of contention that I can see a lot of fans have about the visuals is the art direction. Not because its bad but more-so that the atmosphere and "vibes" that alot of the areas had are completely different in the remake. I would go as far as saying that alot of the atmosphere changes aren't really as interesting now. Sometimes an approach for closer realism can really affect alot about a game's creative presentation.
How does it SOUND?
Soundtrack-wise RE4R is definitely a step up compared to the other modern RE games. It isn't on the level of the classic titles but for what it is it's good enough. Outside of the ost the general sound design is still strong and meaty, just how a Resident Evil game should. English voice performances are also quite good though not as dramatic as the original which is to be expected with a more "grounded" take of RE4.

|| Worthy Reinterpretation despite it all ||

Resident Evil 4 , the original and the remake, are both extremely fun adventures. Both have their own shares of ups and downs but they are still some of the most exhilarating experiences that gaming can offer. And because of that I don't really see RE4R as being better or even worse than the original. Ultimately, I think that Resident Evil 4 (2023) is a worthy alternate take of the Resident Evil 4 experience and helps remind us just how influential the original really was.