Our Resident Evil 4 (2023) review examines Capcom’s respectful reimagining of a 2005 classic, refining its legendary combat, expanding its characters, and modernizing the experience without losing the identity that made the original a masterpiece.
Resident Evil 4 (2023) At a Glance
Release Date
Mar 23, 2023
A Legend Reimagined
Resident Evil 4 (2023) launched on March 24, 2023, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PC. It later arrived on Mac and iOS, while PlayStation VR2 support was added later that year.
Directed by Yasuhiro Ampo and Kazunori Kadoi, the team behind Resident Evil 2 (2019), the project approached one of Capcom’s most influential games with unusual caution. Ampo openly admitted he initially “didn’t want to do it,” recognizing the challenge of revisiting a title that had reshaped the survival horror genre. Rather than reinventing it again, the team’s goal was to preserve what made the 2005 original memorable while modernizing its combat, storytelling, and presentation for contemporary audiences.
That philosophy is reflected throughout the reimagining. Leon and Ashley receive expanded characterization, Quick-Time Events are largely replaced by the now-signature knife parry system, and new mechanics such as stealth, side requests, and additional weapons broaden player choice without fundamentally changing the game’s identity. The result is a reimagining that respects its source material while feeling unmistakably modern.
Development team for Resident Evil 4 (2023) includes:
- Hidehiro Goda (Game Designer)
- Dead Rising, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil: Revelations 2
- Yasuhiro Anpo, Kazunori Kadoi (Director, Game Director)
- Yasuhiro Anpo: Resident Evil: Revelations 2, E.X. Troopers, Resident Evil – Resident Evil 2
- Kazunori Kadoi: Resident Evil 2 (2019), Resident Evil (1996), Resident Evil: Code Veronica
- Yosuke Yamagata (Character Artist)
- Resident Evil 4 (2005) – Resident Evil Village, Haunting Ground
- Kota Suzuki, Nozomi Ohmoto (Lead Composer, Composer)
- Kota Suzuki: Resident Evil 5-6, Tatsunoko vs Capcom, Devil May Cry 5
- Nozomi Ohmoto: Teppen, Capcom Fighting Collection, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
- Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, Jun Takeuchi (Producer, Exceutive Producer)
- Yoshiaki Hirabayashi: Resident Evil 4-6, Dragon’s Dogma, Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
- Jun Takeuchi: Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 7, Devil May Cry 5
Reviewer’s Perspective
True mastery isn’t just about survival: it is about the precision of the escape.
I’ve been playing the Resident Evil series since 2000, beginning with Code: Veronica on the Dreamcast, and have completed nearly every entry in the franchise. The only mainline exceptions are Outbreak File #2 and Survivor 2. I’ve completed Resident Evil 4 (2023) multiple times since launch, making this my first full replay in several years. Revisiting it immediately after Resident Evil 2 (2019) and Resident Evil 3 (2020) also provided fresh context for how Capcom’s three RE Engine reimaginings compare in design philosophy, pacing, and execution.
Into the Village
The Assignment
Six years after the destruction of Raccoon City, Leon S. Kennedy is no longer the rookie police officer who survived his first day on the job. Now an elite government agent reporting directly to the President of the United States, Leon is sent to a remote region of rural Spain to rescue the President’s kidnapped daughter, Ashley Graham, from the mysterious Los Illuminados cult.
Keep your guard up as you search the woods for your missing escorts!
Leon quickly discovers that Ashley’s disappearance is only part of a much larger threat. The isolated villages, towering castle, and underground laboratories are all connected by Las Plagas, an ancient parasite capable of turning entire populations into obedient hosts. As Leon searches for Ashley, he is forced to confront both a fanatical cult and the lingering scars left by the Raccoon City incident.
The Hunt Begins
Resident Evil 4 (2023) builds on the original’s foundation rather than replacing it. Staggering enemies with carefully placed shots still creates opportunities for powerful melee follow-up attacks, preserving one of the series’ most satisfying combat loops. Advanced techniques such as using melee animations for invincibility frames remain intact, while stealth takedowns and knife finishers expand Leon’s toolkit by allowing players to silently eliminate threats before Las Plagas can emerge.
Every encounter feeds directly into the game’s resource economy. Defeated enemies regularly drop ammunition, crafting materials, money, and healing items, making each fight a balance between risk and reward. Exploration remains equally important, with weapon parts, treasures, and hidden resources rewarding players willing to thoroughly search each environment.
Inventory management continues to revolve around the iconic Attache Case. Item storage is now integrated into the typewriter, while Key Items can be discarded once they’ve served their purpose, helping free valuable inventory space. Combined with the return of Yellow Herbs, which permanently increase Leon’s maximum health, the game constantly asks players to make meaningful decisions about what to carry and what to leave behind.
In the quiet glow of the typewriter, you decide what stays and what is left behind.
Mix this yellow herb to permanently boost your maximum health!
Environmental puzzles provide welcome breathing room between the game’s larger combat encounters. Whether deciphering mechanical contraptions, tracking down key items, or solving elaborate locks, they reward exploration and observation before throwing Leon back into another fight for survival.
A Familiar Mission, Rewritten
Leon S. Kennedy is no longer the quip-heavy action hero of 2005. While he still delivers moments of dry humor, the reimagining presents him as a man visibly shaped by the Raccoon City outbreak, adding greater emotional weight to his mission. That growth naturally strengthens his relationship with Ashley Graham, who is transformed from a passive escort into a capable companion with her own fears, determination, and agency.
The supporting cast benefits just as much. Luis Serra receives a substantially expanded role that makes his contributions feel essential to the story, while Ramón Salazar and Osmund Saddler gain stronger motivations and a more intimidating presence. The most meaningful addition, however, is the incorporation of Operation Javier from Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. By giving Leon and Jack Krauser a shared military history, their rivalry feels earned rather than abrupt, turning one of the original game’s weakest narrative threads into one of the reimagining’s strongest.
A World Consumed by Las Plagas
Resident Evil 4 (2023) shifts the original’s campy action toward a darker, more oppressive thriller. The RE Engine renders the Spanish countryside with remarkable detail, from rain-soaked villages and crumbling castles to dimly lit caverns and laboratories. Subtle lighting, dense foliage, and highly detailed environments create a world that feels grounded while still embracing the series’ supernatural horror. Even encounters with animated suits of armor feel believable within the game’s visual style.
Tread carefully and use environmental sounds to distract the lethal Garrador!
Sound design is equally impressive and frequently becomes part of the gameplay itself. The Garrador is the best example: this blind executioner hunts entirely by sound, turning every footstep, gunshot, or shattered object into a tactical decision. Environmental audio, enemy vocalizations, and Leon’s own movements constantly reinforce the tension, making silence just as valuable as ammunition.
Standout Tracks:
The Drive
A somber, flamenco-inspired opening theme that immediately establishes rural Spain while setting a tone of isolation and unease.
Serenity
The reimagined Save Room theme preserves the original’s calming melody while adding a melancholic undercurrent that reflects Leon’s lingering trauma.
Witness The Power
A relentless, percussion-driven battle theme that perfectly complements the aggressive pacing and rhythmic knife-parry duel with Krauser
Beyond The Original
Ashley is no longer a passive escort but an active partner throughout the campaign. Rather than managing a health bar, you now direct her positioning and assist her over obstacles to access new areas and treasures. These interactions make her feel like a genuine companion instead of an objective to babysit, reinforcing the stronger characterization established by the story.
Give Ashley a boost to reach treasures you cannot access alone!
The knife parry is the defining addition to Resident Evil 4 (2023). Perfectly timed parries can deflect melee attacks, arrows, thrown weapons, and even chainsaw strikes, opening enemies for devastating counterattacks. Because every parry consumes durability, each successful defense becomes part of the game’s broader resource management, forcing you to balance aggression with long-term survival.
Progression extends well beyond weapon upgrades. The Attache Case now provides passive bonuses through different case types, while collectible charms earned from the shooting gallery offer additional perks such as reduced repair costs or increased item drops. Merchant Requests further reward exploration with Spinels that can be exchanged for exclusive upgrades and rare items, making optional objectives feel worthwhile rather than disposable.
Like previous modern Resident Evil titles, a hidden adaptive difficulty system continuously monitors player performance, adjusting enemy aggression and resilience to maintain pressure. Once the campaign is complete, The Mercenaries offers an arcade-style score attack mode that strips away the story and challenges players to master the combat system through speed, efficiency, and precision.
Seiyuu Performances
The Japanese voice cast delivers consistently strong performances that complement the reimagining’s darker tone. Familiar characters retain their personalities while feeling more grounded, helping sell both the emotional moments and the heightened horror without losing the charm that made the original memorable.
Strategic intel is the only lifeline in a mission fueled by shadows
- Leon S. Kennedy — Toshiyuki Morikawa
Notable roles: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy), Yoshikage Kira (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), Dante (Devil May Cry) - Ashley Graham — Akari Kito
Notable roles: Na’el (Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed), Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer), Serena (Pokémon Masters) - Ada Wong — Junko Minagawa
Notable roles: Eliot (Dead or Alive), Cornelia li Britannia (Code Geass), Erica Anderson (Catherine) - The Merchant — Shigeru Chiba
Notable roles: Raditz (Dragon Ball), Megatron (Transformers), Lau Chan (Virtua Fighter) - Luis Serra — Kenjiro Tsuda
Notable roles: Seto Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh!), Jack Garland (Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin), Sigurd (Fate)
Resident Evil 4 (2023) Linux Performance
Resident Evil 4 (2023) delivered a consistently smooth experience on Linux using Proton Experimental. At 1440p with a mix of High and Off settings, the game averaged 139 FPS with 1% lows of 89 FPS, while frame generation and upscaling remained disabled throughout the review.
Across the entire playthrough, I encountered no crashes, noticeable stuttering, or graphical issues. Load times were quick, frame pacing remained stable, and the RE Engine translated exceptionally well to Linux, making this another excellent showcase for the platform.
Final Verdict
Resident Evil 4 (2023) is the strongest of Capcom’s modern Resident Evil reimaginings, faithfully preserving the 2005 classic while refining nearly every aspect of its design. The knife parry transforms combat into a tense test of timing and precision, while expanded roles for Ashley, Luis, and the supporting cast add emotional depth that the original only hinted at. It modernizes a landmark game without losing sight of what made it special.
That modernization comes with a few compromises. The darker, more grounded tone sacrifices some of the original’s B-movie charm, while adaptive difficulty and knife durability discourage complete mastery of the combat system. The decision to move the U-3 encounter into paid DLC is also a disappointing omission from the base game.
Even with those shortcomings, Resident Evil 4 (2023) remains an exceptional survival horror experience. Its oppressive atmosphere, refined combat, and expanded storytelling set the benchmark for Capcom’s RE Engine reimaginings, proving that even one of gaming’s most celebrated classics could be thoughtfully modernized without losing its identity.
Review Summary
Resident Evil 4 (2023) (Linux)
Resident Evil 4 (2023) delivers refined combat, expanded character writing, and the strongest gameplay of Capcom’s RE Engine reimaginings.
Despite a few questionable design decisions, it remains an exceptional survival horror experience and an essential entry for both newcomers and longtime fans.
Tested On
CPU: Ryzen 7 5900X | GPU: AMD RX 9070XT 16GB | RAM: 64GB DDR4 | Storage: Crucial P5 Plus NVMe SSD
OS: Nobara Linux | Resolution: 1440p | Settings: High/Custom | Framerate: Uncapped
