The original Resident Evil 4 single-handedly changed the course for the iconic horror series when it first came out in 2005. Injecting just enough of a new action element while still keeping very much to its established roots of horror and tongue-in-cheek comedic moments, the game essentially set a new standard and attracted a fresh demographic of players that avoided the infamous “tank-style” gameplay of the first three entries. For those who still never got the chance to play the original version of RE4 though and are now looking to try out the remake, here are 10 Tips and Tricks for Beginners in Resident Evil 4 Remake.
Conserve Your Ammo and Shoot Wisely
Many horror games that feature gun weaponry often keep ammo in shorter supply to up the challenge and amplify the tension, and Resident Evil has always been no exception. This means that you definitely want to conserve the ammo you find throughout the game, and decide the best situations to use it in to increase your odds of survival.
That means you don’t want to waste a whole clip of bullets on one single enemy rather than an entire mob you may need to kill to progress. Should you run out of ammo at any point, you’ll be left pretty helpless and likely forced to start a chapter or get a game over.
Luckily, just like in the original version, Resident Evil 4 employs a handy way to use ammo in the most efficient way possible. As Leon, you can shoot an enemy in a weak spot such as the face or leg with one bullet that stuns and opens them to a follow-up melee/knife attack. Classic headshots also down an enemy much quicker in general. We highly recommend practicing this method of combat, as you’ll find yourself using it quite a lot in the game.
Keep Distance Between Yourself and the Enemy
While Resident Evil 4 employs a grand mix of ranged and close-up combat, when it comes to fighting certain enemies in the game, distance is always your friend first and foremost. It allows you to better line up your shots — especially when it counts — and keeps you from taking unnecessary damage. Many enemies in the game approach you at a slow pace, so that only makes it easier. Every time you enter a new area, do your best to become familiar with it as soon as possible, so you know where to retreat to or how to use certain obstacles to your advantage.
Have a Weapon For Every Situation
Just as conserving ammo is important in the game, so is having a well-rounded assortment of weapons for every kind of fight situation. While a handgun is good against regular, weaker enemies, we don’t necessarily recommend using it in difficult boss fights. You want to have powerful guns suited for close range, medium range, as well as at least one for long range.
We recommend implementing a handgun for reliable, close-range headshots and those melee combo attacks mentioned earlier. A shotgun specializes in close-range power and crowd control, and therefore is especially important for containing mobs of enemies. A rifle is best suited for long range confrontations, and is your best way to keep distance from powerful enemies.
Lastly, a super powerful magnum-style gun, which is a classic weapon in most Resident Evil games, is especially good for boss fights, or for mini-bosses that you need to take down quickly. Note that ammo for this type of gun is exceptionally rare, and should be used as conservatively as possible.
Having this array of weapons at your disposal along with your knife will ensure that you stay on top of almost any dangerous situation in the game.