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Resident Evil 4’s remake might be scarier than the original

According to a report from Fanbyte, which correctly reported on both Final Fantasy Origins and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 before their official announcements, Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 remake will be revealed this year.

Calls to remake the beloved title, a horror classic that was released in 2005 and has since seen numerous ports and HD remasters, have been common since Capcom released remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3. According to Fanbyte’s report, Capcom began work on a remake of Resident Evil 4 after Resident Evil 2‘s extremely positive reception. The game is tentatively planned to be revealed to the public early this year.

However, the Resident Evil 4 remake, or whatever the project is eventually titled, won’t be a one-to-one recreation of the original game. Instead, Capcom is reportedly looking to shift the game’s entire tone to something much spookier. Instead of heading into the game’s iconic village during the day, for instance, Leon’s entrance will take place at night. Additional changes that give other characters more prominent roles, along with more screen time, are also reportedly planned.

One of the biggest changes that could come to Resident Evil 4 wouldn’t even affect the main part of the game. Capcom is instead looking to flesh out two of the game’s side stories: Assignment: Ada and Separate Ways. Both focus on Ada Wong, a minor character in Resident Evil 4 who shows up throughout the franchise. The two mini-adventures are planned to be merged into one expansion, although sources cited throughout the report could not confirm if it would be a paid DLC.

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Otto Kratky
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Otto Kratky is a freelance writer with many homes. You can find his work at Digital Trends, GameSpot, and Gamepur. If he's…
Resident Evil 4 shows that a remake doesn’t need to be completely faithful
Leon holding a gun in Resident Evil 4.

Back when Capcom announced its Resident Evil 2 remake, I was ecstatic. This was a game I had missed when it first came out, and it was an important part of a series I had grown to love. However, its outdated gameplay meant it was close to impossible to go back comfortably, and its age meant it was tough to play legally. If I wanted to play Resident Evil 2, I would either have to head towards emulation (which I have no patience for) or rely on the remake. The latter, as it turned out, was ideal.

You’ll find remakes across all of media, so the idea isn’t anything new. But video games are in the middle of a remake boom with studios spending a lot of money on taking existing IP and looking backward at a seemingly more frantic pace. Cynically, it’s just another way they can make money off of a beloved series, but it’s also a way to bring older, important games to newer audiences.

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Resident Evil 4 Shooting Gallery guide: locations, rewards, and tips
Leon holding a gun in Resident Evil 4.

The fact that Resident Evil 4 remake retains the original's ability to mix horror with campy fun is one of its greatest aspects. One moment you will be gripping your controller for dear life as a swarm of bloodthirsty villagers relentlessly pursue you, and the next Leon's making quips and performing suplexes. There was one small fun diversion in the original game that has been expanded and improved for the remake, which is the optional Shooting Gallery. This time there are multiple of these safe spaces to hone your aim, but also a fully developed system of challenges, scores, and, best of all, rewards. If you want to take a breather from all the horrors that await you in Resident Evil 4 remake, here's where you can find all the Shooting Galleries, what you can win, and some helpful tips.
Shooting Gallery locations

There are a total of five locations across all 16 Chapters of Resident Evil 4 remake, and they all are within the safety of a Merchant zone. Each one, except the last, will introduce a new set of three challenges, but all previous challenges from past Shooting Galleries will be present in the later ones. That means you could technically wait and only visit the final one to take on all the challenges there. Here's where you can find each individual Shooting Gallery in order of appearance:

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Resident Evil 4 Charms: all Charm effects and where to find them
Leon collecting a teddy bear charm.

Everyone loved the attaché case from the original game and was very excited to see that it would return in the Resident Evil 4 remake. This case brings back the delicate balance of managing your inventory space between healing items, ammo, weapons, and other items that you want to bring with you. What's new are the little keychains you can attach to your case called Charms. These are more than minor cosmetic flair, though, as each Charm has a unique buff that can help turn the tides in your favor. However, being brand new, even veterans of the survival horror classic won't know how to get or use them immediately. Leon needs every advantage he can get in Resident Evil 4 remake, so help him out by checking out all the Charm effects and where to find them.
How to get Charms

Since Charms are a new addition in the remake of Resident Evil 4, the way to get them is also somewhat new. Those who played the original might recall a small shooting range Leon could mess around in. In the remake, this mini-game has been expanded quite a bit. There are now multiple shooting ranges and within them multiple challenges. The first one you can encounter is when you find the Merchant in Chapter 3 after going through the Quarry. Whichever shooting range you pick, enter the ornate elevator to be transported to the range.

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