Resident Evil 4 Remake Separate Ways DLC Review

Contents:

• What is Separate Ways
• The Separate Ways remake is Resident Evil 4 with only the best parts intact
• Separate Ways brings back three iconic scenes cut from the main campaign to Resident Evil 4
• Even the story in Separate Ways works better than in the main game

Resident Evil 4 is a landmark game that had a significant influence on the third-person action genre. Its legacy is felt in modern games like Gears of War, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. The success of the Resident Evil 2 remake confirmed the need for an update to the classic, and in early 2023, the remake of the fourth part was released. This release not only refreshed the original but also introduced new elements that attracted the attention of both long-time fans and new players. Resident Evil 4 remake was an important step in the evolution of the series, continuing its influence on the video game industry.

The updated version of Resident Evil 4 received positive reviews from both the press and players. However, the developers made several significant mistakes. Interestingly, the inexpensive, ten-dollar add-on managed to miraculously solve many of the problems inherent in the main game.

What is Separate Ways

In the original version of Resident Evil 4, a bonus campaign was added with the release of the game on the PS2 platform. Initially, the game was released only for the GameCube console. This additional content became a significant addition that expanded the gameplay and attracted new players. The bonus campaign provided the opportunity to explore new storylines and characters, which made Resident Evil 4 even more exciting and multifaceted.

During his journey through remote areas of Spain, seeking to save the president's daughter, the game's protagonist, Leon Kennedy, repeatedly encounters his old acquaintance Ada Wong. She pursues her own interests and doesn't reveal whose side she's on, but she occasionally provides Leon with assistance in his difficult mission. Afterward, she disappears again, leaving behind numerous questions and mysteries. These encounters add intrigue to the game's plot and highlight the complex relationships between the characters.

The Separate Ways campaign reveals what Ada Wong has been up to while Leon fought the zombie villagers. While the main story offers a captivating adventure spanning dozens of hours, Ada's story is completed in just two hours. The original Separate Ways isn't a full-fledged second playthrough from an alternate perspective, but rather an optional bonus that expands the main storyline and adds new elements to the overall gaming experience.

The Resident Evil 4 remake has caused a stir among fans of the series, especially due to the lack of additional materials in the initial release. Many fans expressed dissatisfaction, believing that the intention to release DLC in the future indicated greed on the part of Capcom. This move sparked discussions about approaches to content monetization in the gaming industry and player expectations regarding the completeness of the offered product.

With the release of the DLC, it became clear: the optional bonus story has turned into a full-fledged game that will take about seven hours to complete - more than the entire Resident Evil 3 remake. Moreover, the developers managed to maintain the high level of production of the main campaign and in some ways improved it. This addition not only expands the story, but also offers players new mechanics and gameplay elements, making it a must-play for all fans of the series.

Separate Ways Remake is Resident Evil 4 with only the best parts left.

Ada Wong explores the same locations as Leon and faces similar enemies. However, the pace of her story is different. This is due to two main factors: Ada has a firm grasp of her goals and directions, and she uses a grappling hook, which allows her to move around and solve problems efficiently.

In Resident Evil 4's Separate Ways expansion, players will see Ada Wong traverse locations faster than Leon. While Leon spends hours finding shortcuts and solving puzzles, Ada uses a grappling hook to bypass all obstacles. This avoids the drawn-out gameplay found in the original version. As a result, Separate Ways feels like a dynamic remix of the main campaign. Locations change every 10 minutes, making the game more intense and engaging. Those who left the Resident Evil 4 remake should switch to Separate Ways for a faster and more engaging experience.

The accelerated pace of the game covers all aspects of the gameplay. Ada's arsenal of weapons is not significantly inferior to that of Leon. However, Ada begins the game not with just a pistol, but with two firearms. This allows her to act more effectively and take risks from the very first minute. New weapons are unlocked faster for Ada, and they are also upgraded more quickly thanks to the larger amount of coins and treasures she finds for sale.

The developers managed to achieve a near-perfect balance in the amount of ammunition, which is an important element of the Resident Evil series. At critical moments in the game, ammunition is distributed so that the player can effectively fight bosses or difficult opponents using almost all of their resources. However, there is always room for maneuver, and the player will not have to resort to using a knife in desperate situations. This balance is especially noticeable on the medium difficulty level, while on the hard level of the game, a completely different atmosphere is created, requiring a more thoughtful approach to resources.

The grappling hook significantly changes the dynamics of combat clashes. While free movement through locations like in Sekiro is often impossible with this device due to the rigid scenarios, the battle with El Gigante, who is absent from the original Separate Ways campaign, opens up new possibilities. Buildings scattered throughout the arena allow for quick jumps, making the battle with El Gigante as Ada more exciting and strategically intense than the fight as Leon. The latter faces the same boss in his campaign, but without these additional tactical elements.

Hook in Resident Resident Evil 4 gives players the ability to pull stunned enemies from a distance, making it easy to knock them to the ground with a powerful blow. This mechanic becomes an important element of strategy, as the "stun, strike, finish" combination is key to the game. This innovation significantly improves the dynamics of combat, encouraging players to move more actively and simplifying crowd control. Particularly useful is that Ada's melee attack can also hit other enemies near the stunned enemy. Therefore, Ada, unlike Leon, often faces large groups of enemies, which makes her playstyle more aggressive and tactical.

Separate Ways brings back three iconic scenes cut from the main campaign to Resident Evil 4

The U-3 boss, a sinister creature with a long tongue, has returned. The battle with him took place in the final part of the original game on a militarized island. This island was considered one of the weakest and most drawn-out locations in the original, but in the remake it was optimized, making it more engaging. However, the developers decided to cut the fight with U-3, which disappointed many fans who appreciated it. In Separate Ways, this terrifying enemy not only returns but also has significantly improved abilities. From the very beginning, he actively pursues Ada Wong, occasionally interfering with her plans. The final battle with him was truly impressive. While the original version had players dodging U-3s in narrow corridors and blowing up red barrels, the remake moves this battle to an open arena and features two challenging phases.

The remastered version of Resident Evil 4 returns with a thrilling cable car shootout and the iconic laser-filled corridor scene. While Leon displayed agility in the original, this dynamic is now demonstrated by Ada. The gameplay implications of this scene remain negligible, as it's simply a quick-time event in both the original and the remake. Nevertheless, this scene remains one of the most memorable moments not only of Resident Evil 4, but of the entire series as a whole.

Even the plot in Separate Ways works better than in the main game

To fully understand the plot of Separate Ways, it is necessary to have an understanding of the events of the main campaign of Resident Evil 4. While Ada Wong's story can be understood without knowledge of the adventures of Leon Kennedy, a general understanding of the Resident Evil 4 universe will be difficult. Separate Ways does not explain what Las Plagas is, why a special forces unit is operating in a Spanish village, or how this is connected to the castle where a character with an unusual appearance lives. Understanding these aspects will help you delve deeper into the story and appreciate the character development.

The Resident Evil 4 remake made significant changes to the original story, improving some aspects and worsening others. The developers paid more attention to the secondary characters, especially Louis, which allowed them to develop their motivations and personalities in greater depth. This can be considered a definite plus for the game. However, the overall tone of the game became darker and more serious, which, according to many fans, did not benefit the atmosphere of Resident Evil 4.

While the original was scary in places, it was perceived more as an absurdist comedy with comical jokes and scenes from crazy B-movie action films. The remake retained this absurdity, although the number of jokes was reduced, which created an odd contrast with the new dark atmosphere.

The add-on successfully solves this problem. The trend towards deepening the characters remains, while the overly dark tone disappears. Ada Wong no longer moans and suffers like Leon, despite also being infected by the parasite in the remake DLC. When Ada speaks, her voice is cold and reserved, sometimes with a touch of irony. Even the voice actress, whose work in the main campaign was criticized by fans, did a much better job in this DLC.

Coupled with the "spy" music in the background, Separate Ways is a B-movie action movie, but without the harsh contrasts. This statement may seem surprising, but this project turns out to be more cohesive than the Resident Evil 4 remake itself. The film successfully holds viewers' attention thanks to a dynamic plot and well-developed characters, emphasizing the emotional component and tension.

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Separate Ways is a dynamic and intense remix of key moments from Resident Evil 4. Despite its compact size, it maintains its integrity and stands alone as a standalone work. This project is ideal for those who want to experience the game's story and atmosphere but don't have the hours to complete it. Separate Ways is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Resident Evil 4 in a compressed format, while preserving all the core elements that make this game iconic.