I’ve played close to 100 VR games, and I’ve never had an experience like Resident Evil 4. There are better-looking, more immersive, and higher quality games out there, but none have ever given me as much joy and nostalgia as playing Resident Evil in VR has. As soon as the opening cutscene ended and I took control of Leon, I was instantly transported. I know every inch of RE4’s village, castle, and underground mines, but I never felt like I’d been to these places until now. RE4VR feels like the difference between looking at a picture of the Parthenon versus traveling to Greece and standing in the center of it. Seeing RE4 on a screen is incomparable to seeing it in person, and experiences like this have the potential to sell VR to even the most reluctant play

Despite Breath of the Wild being recognised as a masterpiece, its storytelling aspects are one of its most criticised elements. Given the nature of its narrative, and how Link finds himself awakening a century after the world began to fall apart, it’s natural that a number of critical Mario Side characters have either perished, moved on, or just aren’t part of the picture anymore. It’s a lonely game, but deliberately so.

But, assuming that Resident Evil 4 remake is in the works, how should Capcom approach its re-imagining? Well, given that Resident Evil 4 will be the fourth major remake of a mainline Resident Evil game, it stands to be one of the best. The reason for this is that Capcom has already remade the first three Resident Evil games, with each game giving the studio feedback from fans and critics on which elements of the remake did or did not work. Now, based on the reception of each of the Resident Evil remakes, here are the lessons that Capcom should implement in the development of Resident Evil

In the original Resident Evil 4 storyline, the parasites were found in a particular cave in a mountainous region of Spain, and had been used by Los Iluminados cultists hundreds of years ago to mutate themselves and obtain incredible strength and resilience. This all stopped when the Spanish Inquisition flexed its power and crushed them, leaving successors known as castellans to guard over the cave from their castle, and ensure its clos

The classic approaches weren’t bad or archaic. It’s a common misconception. They often had janky controls, poor accessibility, or even overly difficult game design - but the aesthetic was never to blame. The industry has ironed out a lot of these creases over the years to create much smoother experiences, and the indie space is proof enough that 2D doesn’t mean old and obtuse. The Binding of Isaac takes the original Zelda and makes it a roguelike, even sharing its UI, dungeon format, and item pickup animation - the inspirations ooze. Undertale is a 2D RPG that has combat expressed through a small box that has you avoiding the bullet-hell barrage - it doesn’t rely on fancy graphics. Little Dew is a more comedic Zelda that feels like an HD rendition of the classics with a quaint, cartoony art style. These are all iconic titles, despite not being 3D triple-A blockbusters. Meanwhile, when Nintendo wants to revive its classic library, it does so by modifying its 2D approach, 3Dizing them instead. Look no further than the upcoming Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Pokemon gam

It’s heartbreaking, with Zelda’s increased trepidation as she marches towards oblivion reflected in her distrust of Link, an aura of royal pretentiousness that inevitably morphs into fondness over time. Link begins his journey as a knight tasked with watching over the princess, but eventually becomes a close friend she can confide in when everything seems lost. It’s powerful, and the fact something this emotionally resonant is told through the medium of discordant flashbacks is quite an accomplishment.

Princess Zelda’s new look could be little more than an aesthetic makeover, but that would cheapen what her character is capable of, especially given how much room she’s given to shine in Breath of the Wild. While she’s seldom seen outside of flashbacks and cutscenes, watching her initial reticence to Link ’s presence and how it evolves into a willingness to confide in the Hero of Time as a lasting companion is emotional to watch, especially once we become aware of everything Zelda has lost and seeks to regain while keeping Calamity Ganon at bay. She’s the integral fabric of this narrative, while Link is the weaver who joins all of these incoherent threads together.

Female characters parting with their hair has been a deliberate sign of growing maturity in media for decades, a changed appearance highlighting that women are willing to leave behind everything in service of something greater. Mulan is the most popular example, with the titular character cutting her gorgeous hair to join the army and assist her ignorant father. It's the opposite of Zelda’s situation - instead of pulling herself away from the royal family, Mulan is doing everything she can to preserve it. But the core motivation remains the same: these are two women who realise a sacrifice must be made, even if it means altering their appearance and walking away from a life of security.