Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways Review (Rain)
If you want more RE4, Seperate Ways delivers just that, more RE4.
Mechanically it's very similar to the base game so it's nothing drastically new, but the base game was excellent so that's by no means a bad thing. The additions are a grappling hook and detective vision, both of which can only be used when dictated by the game and don't change the way you play in any meaningful way. Go in expecting the same sort of experience as Leon's gameplay.
You work your way through a mix of remixed familiar and brand new areas as you follow Ada's story adjacent to the main games. All these areas of course are set in the same 3 zones as the base game so it feels like a shorter remix of Leon's campaign. Some of the set pieces that were cut from the original RE4 make their appearance here too, which is a nice callback and in a way completes the adaptation of the original.
The DLC seems to be balanced on the assumption that you're already competent at RE4 and so is quite challenging right from the start. The bosses and several of the areas are in my opinion harder than anything from Leon's story. For me, this is a positive.
As for story, it goes where you'd expect it. Ada chasing the Amber with the help of Luis. If these are your favourite characters you'll appreciate it as there are plenty of interactions between Ada and Luis. Ada still has the kind of awkward sounding voice acting from the base game that gives her imo the wrong vibe.
As a whole the story didn't do anything particularly exciting but it was fine. In RE gameplay and atmosphere has always king. Wesker makes a couple of cameos but they're mostly just fanservice.
Length wise, it's 7 chapters long. An average run will take between 3-6 hours depending on how much exploring you do and how much you struggle during boss fights.
As what's essentially a condensed parallel to Leon's campaign, it makes for a fun speedrun. An S+ rank on professional/hardcore is 2.5 hours meaning you can attempt a high score without dedicating a whole afternoon to it. I had fun practicing during my second, professional difficulty run.
For the price, it's a great deal. You're essentially getting another half a game worth of content for not a lot. For a game that is as excellent as RE4, it's great that we get even more of it. If RE4R somehow wasn't your thing, Seperate Ways won't change your mind, as the setting and gameplay are not wildly different.
It's definitely one of the best RE dlcs capcom has made as no part of it feels phoned in, which is more than can be said for most RE DLCs.