Resident Evil 4: Separate Methods Evaluation (PS5)

This 12 months’s Resident Evil 4 is among the best remakes of all time, however purists — or a minimum of those that had already performed the PS2 model — will let you know it was nonetheless lacking one thing. When the Nintendo GameCube authentic was ported to Sony’s second residence system, it got here bundled with new campaigns all about facet character Ada Wong. Separate Methods was crucial of the bunch, and 6 months after the PS5, PS4 remake’s launch, it is again as DLC for Capcom’s latest masterpiece. 18 years later, it has the identical impact: Separate Methods meaningfully expands the Resident Evil 4 story and offers a tantalising cause to return to among the finest video games ever.

Advised from the attitude of the mysterious red-dressed character, Separate Methods reveals what Ada Wong is as much as whereas Leon S. Kennedy is busy saving the president’s daughter. She’s there on a mission from Albert Wesker to steal the Amber from the clutches of Osmund Saddler, with Luis appearing as sidekick. Seven chapters fill within the gaps when Ada is off doing her personal factor, which broaden the bottom sport’s village, fortress, and island places with new areas and options to make them feel and look recent for a second go to.

It performs like a “Best Hits” tackle the unique expertise as Separate Methods strikes at such a breakneck tempo there’s little time to take a breather. Already acquainted with the controls and the unbelievable, action-focused gameplay loop of the PS5, PS4 remake, Capcom cranks issues up a notch with extra enemy density and harder boss battles in amongst most of the similar spots from Leon’s marketing campaign. Principally forgoing the explorative nature of Resident Evil 4, the enlargement is extra condensed and linear to make battle its major draw. You may observe the same construction as the bottom sport (beginning within the village earlier than heading contained in the fortress after which offshore to the island), however new devices give Ada’s narrative its personal really feel and magnificence.

Her trademark grappling gun is what units Separate Methods aside probably the most, permitting Ada to rapidly traverse the atmosphere and keep away from hazard or attain new areas. With grapple factors indicated by round in-game icons, you’ll be able to swing in regards to the map and get the drop on enemies ought to they be in vary upon touchdown. The gizmo is simply as helpful throughout customary fight encounters: upon staggering a Ganado, you’ll be able to observe up with a ranged melee assault that makes use of the grappling gun to drag Ada in direction of an enemy and end them off with a swift kick to the top. Whereas the weapon is simply usable when the sport says so, it ties into the extra agile nature of the character.

That is demonstrated finest by the actual fact stealth is a way more viable strategy within the DLC. Whereas it’s doable to keep away from a battle or two as Leon, the unique title by no means actually feels purposefully designed to assist covertness and firefights on the similar time. In distinction, Separate Methods allows you to fairly comfortably clear lots of its situations with out firing a bullet, as a substitute counting on Ada’s knife to do the soiled work. And when she does go loud, new weapons just like the Blast Crossbow and a sawed-off shotgun diversify your loadout past the pistols, rifles, and sub-machine weapons of the bottom marketing campaign.

There’s even a brand new puzzle-solving mechanic known as the Interactive Retinal Inquiry System. Letting Ada scan footprints and keypads, she’s capable of monitor characters or work out what numbers have to be pressed to unlock a door. With its personal little HUD to accompany monitoring, it is an additional layer to Separate Ways in which leans into Ada’s spy-like tendencies.

All of it makes for a narrative that ties neatly into the general plot of Resident Evil 4, whereas feeling distinct sufficient to make Ada very a lot her personal character. Cutscenes reveal how Ada impacts a number of the occasions in Leon’s marketing campaign, however then Separate Methods goes above and past with neat, context-sensitive touches. For instance, it is revealed Ada is the one who rings the church bell at first of the sport to rescue Leon from the Ganados horde attacking him within the village. Nevertheless, in the event you discover the church space a bit as Ada, you will hear Ashley crying inside as she waits for the blonde-haired heart-throb to rescue her.

Small particulars like this actually elevate the expertise, particularly for followers. The truth is, the enlargement brings again a handful of scenes from the 2005 authentic that did not make it into the complete remake. It was a pleasing shock to study these fan-favourite sequences hadn’t solely fallen by the wayside even when they did not seem of their authentic context.

One other spotlight is the boss battles. Ramón Salazar’s right-hand man monster, the Black Gown, will get its due throughout a number of encounters that discover a extra supernatural facet of Resident Evil 4 — maybe a nod to a route Capcom thought of for the 2005 authentic throughout improvement. In the meantime, fights with El Gigante and Osmund Saddler play very in a different way to their base sport counterparts, making every brawl a pleasure once more.

The one concern Separate Methods runs into is a way of disjointedness, which comes from the actual fact it has to plug within the gaps of a separate marketing campaign. Notably when Leon is concerned in a cutscene, the DLC will all of a sudden fade to black and a time skip will happen. You may regain management in a unique space with a unique goal, missing a proof of what obtained Ada to that time following the cutscene. It feels a bit awkward within the second, as if Separate Methods is a collection of standalone situations stitched collectively moderately than one cohesive narrative.

That mentioned, it does a minimum of handle to supply a powerful quantity of content material. Your first playthrough will take as much as six hours to complete, after which you’ll be able to go for higher ranks and unlock particular weapons in New Sport+. To place that into context: a chunk of DLC for Resident Evil 4 is identical size because the entirety of Resident Evil 3. That assertion might be extra damning for Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 follow-up than anything, however to get the identical quantity of playtime out of an enlargement continues to be spectacular.

Conclusion

Separate Methods is about nearly as good a DLC of this dimension can get, filling in narrative gaps and expertly tweaking a chic gameplay loop. Enjoying as Ada Wong feels totally different sufficient because of new devices and weapons, whereas expanded areas present recent surroundings for a second go to. A way of disjointedness frays the sides, however Resident Evil 4 feels entire with Separate Methods by its facet. A worthy enlargement for one in every of 2023’s best titles.