When Capcom launched its slick remake of Resident Evil 4 in March, it felt like one thing was lacking. The motion survival-horror sport was a strong bundle, however some memorable moments had been excised from the GameCube authentic. With Separate Methods, a brand new add-on starring enigmatic tremendous spy Ada Wong, Resident Evil 4 feels full — after which some.
Separate Methods tells the occasions of Ada’s mission throughout Resident Evil 4’s important story. Her journey runs parallel to, and steadily intersects with, Leon Kennedy’s. Key moments from the unique sport are seen from her perspective; Ada does battle with most of the similar enemies and revisits most of the similar areas that Leon does in his story.
Ada’s mission remixes and recontextualizes a few of these reprised encounters, partially due to her distinctive gameplay mechanics. Whereas she largely performs like Leon, utilizing a mix of firearms, stealth, and melee assaults, she has a couple of spy devices that give her additional aptitude. Essentially the most outstanding differentiator is her grappling gun, which she makes use of to zip round environments and bypass a number of the lock-and-key puzzles that gradual Leon down. That gun additionally comes into play in fight; Ada can use the machine to shut the gap between her and surprised opponents, giving her a powerful tactical benefit in fights. Optionally, she will be able to use the grappling hook to grab shields from sure enemies.
![Ada Wong fires her Grappling Gun in the final boss battle of Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P552NdbNcwXwHs5_Xppl5B5sRbs=/0x0:3840x2160/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3840x2160):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24955064/RE4_Separate_Ways_Screen_08_png_jpgcopy.jpg)
Ada has one other gadget that feels borrowed from Batman: a high-tech contact lens that lets her spot clues like footprints or essential puzzle parts. Each gadgets give her marketing campaign a definite vibe, making her development by way of the roughly six-hour story really feel extremely speedy.
Resident Evil 4 gamers will discover a acquainted groove in Separate Methods as they revisit story beats, enemies, and key places, typically in a manner that seems like backtracking. Capcom has cleverly remixed some moments, like a battle in opposition to El Gigante that employs Ada’s grappling-hook acrobatics and one other tense boss combat that spices issues up with waves of enemies. Nevertheless, after integrating the grappling gun into that boss combat to spectacular impact, it’s largely absent in different encounters the place it might really feel naturally helpful. It seems like the sport underutilizes her new software, and it might’ve been enjoyable to see her depend on it much more.
Some areas and components are utterly new, although. One memorable boss battle minimize from the Resident Evil 4 remake returns, albeit in a really completely different kind. Capcom has even restored the delightfully goofy safety laser hall with a twist. Even higher, it now has a strong narrative cause to exist.
![Ada Wong rides a cable car while facing a series of enemies in Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ktTchcU0vDzbFV-7Ntb3fhYlMnY=/0x0:3840x2160/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3840x2160):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24955067/RE4_Separate_Ways_Screen_04_png_jpgcopy.jpg)
Narratively, the tweaks in Ada’s marketing campaign additionally assist to strengthen simply how far more succesful and assured Ada is in comparison with the put-upon Leon. She takes a lot of her mission in stride, and it turns into clear that Leon’s mission wouldn’t have been profitable with out her a number of interventions. She’s cool and dry, so deft at preserving her true intentions guarded that typically even the participant isn’t positive what her true motivations are. Sadly, Ada’s enigmatic character is flattened by her stiff voice appearing. Her dialogue is stilted and unnatural — at occasions, unrealistically devoid of emotion. I couldn’t assist however marvel if her English-language voice actor was given dangerous route, in an try to realize a distinct fashion of cool to additional distinguish her from Leon. Regardless of the case, it wasn’t profitable.
Resident Evil 4: Separate Methods vastly improves upon the storytelling and significance of Ada’s aspect story, serving as a template for future Resident Evil video games’ expansions. It’s a condensed and accelerated model of the remake’s story that fleshes out behind-the-scenes occasions, and its ending enticingly teases the subsequent attainable remake in Capcom’s horror franchise. It may possibly really feel repetitive in components, underrealized in others, nevertheless it’s a meaty piece of content material that’s value taking part in if the Resident Evil 4 remake left you hungering for extra.
Resident Evil 4: Separate Methods was launched on Sept. 21 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, and Xbox Collection X. The sport was reviewed utilizing a remaining “retail” PlayStation 5 obtain code offered by Capcom. Yow will discover extra details about Polygon’s ethics coverage right here.