Resident Evil 4 Remastered

There's no getting around this basic fact: This survival horror title is extremely, extremely hard, but its gameplay has managed to hold up well over time. It stands in stark contrast to many modern video games, which have multiple difficulty settings and will shower you with extra lives and health power-ups. Since RE4 Remastered bills itself as a survival horror game, part of the thrill and fun is derived strictly from surviving. Enemies are incredibly strong, and this game is known for making a few seemingly minor but actually seismic changes to how playing the classic Resident Evil works: The camera is more directly behind you, you can't aim while you're moving around, and you move very slowly. These are all calculated design choices that assure every time you play RE4 Remastered, you'll be paranoid and cautious. The fact that ammo isn't abundant only makes everything better and worse at the same time.

Unfortunately, for a remastered title, most of the tweaks come in cosmetic changes or "upgrades," especially since much of the bonus content has come out in portions here and there across other editions. There's not much in the way of radically new content, and the downloadable title's information page shows the main reason why this is a remastered edition: The game is presented "in full 1080p HD with an increased frame rate." Ultimately, whether you think RE4 Remastered is any good boils down to whether you want to be coddled or challenged in a video game. This game comes from an era when more titles opted for difficulty. For some, it will be an unfamiliar and uneasy experience. But there's room to get acclimated and used to it, and it's well worth sticking through the challenge, as the thrills and tension in the game are major reasons why this game is being restored and rereleased for modern audiences.