Resident Evil 4 Remake Unleashes Jaw-Dropping Thrills Beyond Chris Redfield's Legacy

Highlights

Chris Redfield, a prominent figure in the latest installments of the Resident Evil series, has assumed pivotal roles in both Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village.

Renowned for its unique combination of horror and tongue-in-cheek humor, the Resident Evil franchise evokes curiosity about the emphasis placed on Chris Redfield's solemn military persona.

Leon Kennedy's popularity should place him on par with Chris, yet for unknown reasons, he falls short. Placing excessive reliance on Chris Redfield disregards the potential implications for future games with Leon Kennedy being overlooked.

Resident Evil 4, released earlier this year, served as a reminder to fans worldwide of Leon Kennedy's beloved status in the franchise. Despite this, the series continues to focus on Chris Redfield, which is quite perplexing. Although Chris is not the protagonist in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard or Resident Evil Village, his presence is significant in both games. In the seventh installment, he appears towards the end, providing support to Ethan Winters and even starring in a separate DLC. Chris's role in Village was more prominent, although his intentions were not fully revealed until later in the game. With reports suggesting that Resident Evil 9 will center around Chris Redfield, it raises concerns about the franchise's over-reliance on this character.

Chris Redfield's History in the Resident Evil Franchise

Chris Redfield made his debut in the original Resident Evil game in 1996, where he served as one of the two playable characters. Since then, he has become a recurring protagonist in the series, appearing in seven additional canonical games. Throughout the series, his tumultuous relationship with the main antagonist, Albert Wesker, played a significant role in shaping the game's storyline, as did his close friendship with Jill Valentine.

In contrast to many other characters in the Resident Evil franchise, Chris Redfield's design has varied over the years, but his characterization has remained consistent. With the release of Resident Evil 5, the developers appeared to have settled on depicting him as a tough yet tormented soldier. He is portrayed as a serious individual who embarks on perilous missions, approaching everything with a solemn and melancholic determination. The games also explore the theme of Chris coping with the loss of fellow soldiers and comrades and how he navigates the constant sorrow and grief that accompanies it. This aspect ultimately sets him apart from Leon Kennedy, another prominent character in the series.

How Leon Kennedy Contrasts Chris Redfield in Resident Evil

Similar to Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy has made appearances in multiple Resident Evil games. In the fourth game, his portrayal established him as a fan-favorite character due to his lively and sarcastic attitude, which made him enjoyable to watch in cutscenes and play throughout the game. Unfortunately, Resident Evil 6 depicted him as overly serious, which was one of several aspects that didn't quite work in the game. Capcom later brought the character back into the spotlight through the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4. In the latest remake, Chris and Leon share similarities, yet they also have distinct differences.

The remake of Resident Evil 4 significantly alters Leon's character, initially giving the impression that the game is taking itself too seriously. Leon's demeanor mirrors Chris' in the later games, where he approaches everything with a grave and gloomy disposition. However, as the game progresses, Leon gradually lightens up, delivering more humorous lines, and regains the essence of the original Leon Kennedy.

The Campy Horror Tones of Resident Evil

Despite still being somewhat serious in comparison to the 2005 version, the character's depiction appears to be a fusion of the more serious Leon from Resident Evil 6 and the playful Leon from Resident Evil 4. This blend of tones seems to align better with the overall essence of the Resident Evil franchise, as opposed to Chris' consistently solemn demeanor. Considering the peculiar tone of the series, it is perplexing that it continues to emphasize Chris as its prominent figure.

The Resident Evil franchise is an incredibly peculiar series. While the games can be genuinely terrifying, they also have a tendency to embrace the absurd and comical. The original game essentially birthed the survival horror genre, but as the franchise progressed, it managed to inject humor and campiness into every ominous situation. Ultimately, the series struggled to reconcile these contrasting tones, which is partly what adds to its charm.

Certain players have a lesser appreciation for Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 compared to other entries due to their overly serious approach. These games featured a somber Chris Redfield, with RE6 also introducing a less entertaining version of Leon Kennedy, among others. It wasn't until the release of Resident Evil 7 and Village that the developer embraced the idea of combining horror with campy comedy.

In Resident Evil 7, the Baker family embodies a horrifying, Texas Chainsaw Massacre-like group that elicits a sense of terror, yet their dialogues and interactions are also amusing. Similarly, some of the standout characters in Resident Evil Village masterfully balance fear and humor. Lady Dimitrescu and Heisenberg possess exaggerated designs and personalities, but they are also some of the most menacing characters in the franchise's history.

While Chris Redfield serves as a supporting character in Village, his overly serious soldier persona stands out awkwardly amidst the other characters and tones. This raises questions about the franchise's decision to use him as the go-to legacy character in newer games. The situation becomes even more peculiar when considering that Leon in the Resident Evil 4 remake seems to strike a better balance between camp and horror.

At present, it remains uncertain how the franchise plans to handle these characters. Given their advancing ages, it is likely that the legacy characters of Resident Evil are facing potential jeopardy, and it wouldn't be surprising if at least one of them meets their demise in the upcoming 9th game. Despite this, it is strange that Chris continues to be portrayed as the franchise's main mentor, especially considering Leon's enduring popularity. It appears that the franchise may be placing too much reliance on the character of Chris.

Resident Evil 4 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.