Resident Evil 4 is one of the most beloved games in the franchises rich history. Because of this, it has been ported to just about everything. Originally released in January 2005 exclusively on GameCube, the smash hit was quickly ported to PlayStation 2 in time for the holidays that same year. Since then, various editions have been released on PC, Wii, PS3/360, mobile, PS4/X1 and most recently Nintendo Switch. So with the game available on pretty much everything except a toaster, a new idea arose. A way to play this classic with more immersion than ever. Virtual reality.
Adapting such a classic game can be a daunting task though. You have to get it just right or there will be hell to pay from the hardcore fans. Converting existing games to VR has yielded mixed results in the past, but the likes of L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files is one I always point to as an example of a good port. So when I go out on a limb and say this is the best VR port yet, you know you’re onto a winner.
Being on the Oculus Quest 2, Resident Evil 4 VR is able to utilise superb motion controllers and it does so expertly. There are various comfort options, but I decided to go all in. Standing, free movement as opposed to teleporting, smooth turning and tunnelling off. Leon’s movement speed may feel a little too fast at first, but soon you’ll get used to tilting the left stick a little to walk and fully extending it when you want to run.
You can also choose if you want to have immersive or simple weapon management. Immersive allows you to pick up the handgun from your hip, the knife from your chest, shotgun from over your shoulder etc. You also have to not only pick up the health spray but manually douse yourself with it like a teenager ready for his first date. Alternatively, you can trade that for holding the left trigger which brings up a weapon wheel and select your desired item in an instant. There are lots of little quality of life add-ons to this as well, like tapping the left trigger to switch between the handgun and knife.
This is doubly helpful when you realise that for once in a Resident Evil game, the knife is actually a decent instrument to use – especially on common enemies. Early on I found myself hemmed in and in need of an escape. Grabbing my knife and windmilling like an absolute lunatic actually worked! Even better is the ability to hold the knife in one hand and a handgun in the other. This allowed me to seamlessly go between both and save precious bullets as a result. Leon still has his signature roundhouse kick, which is very handy at times. Thankfully, this animation is handled by the camera briefly switching to a third-person perspective, as the alternative would likey be the closest you would ever feel to being decapitated.
Given that the game is over 16 years old you’d be forgiven for being concerned about how the graphics would hold up in first-person VR, but while the visuals do show their age at certain times, they mainly hold up admirably. This is in large part thanks to over 4,500 uprezed textures. Everything is crisp and clear, and while you could argue that the colour palette is lacking at times, this was the case with the source material. When it’s time for a cutscene the camera pulls back and plays the original cinematic on a screen in front of you, surrounded by darkness. This certainly does break the immersion at times, but it was to be expected.
The story remains as enthralling as ever. We pick up a few years after the events of Resident Evil 2. Leon has traded the police to become an agent for the US President and is quickly deployed to the rural Spanish village when the president’s daughter, Ashley, is kidnapped. Leon’s hopes of a quick resolution are squashed almost immediately when the villagers become hostile. They’ve all been infected by a parasite that has transformed them into deranged maniacs, led by a cult leader.
Gameplay as I said earlier feels great in VR. That doesn’t mean that some legacy sections don’t still suffer from the same annoyances as they did in 2005 though. Escort missions are still a pain. Ashley will now duck when you point a gun at her, but this can become problematic during tense sections with enemies bearing down on you. Instructing her to hide in containers until the coast is clear remains the best method if you want to avoid frustrations. Vital details are available at any time by way of a watch on your non-dominant hand. Here you can see the likes of health and the number of bullets left in the clip.
While the entirety of the Resident Evil 4 campaign is present and accounted for here, unfortunately, both the Ada Wong and mercenaries mode is not. Hopefully, if the game is a success we could see these added down the line as DLC, especially the mercenaries mode given how well implemented the combat is.
Overall Resident Evil 4 VR is a triumph for the platform. This game is often put on a pedestal and so when I say that this is the definitive way to play this classic, I don’t say it lightly. Legacy issues like escort missions and the inevitable immersion-breaking cutscenes aside, this is not only one of the best games on the Quest 2, but one of the best virtual reality games I have ever played.
-Craig 🧐