Even before the launch of Resident Evil 4 Remake, Capcom expressed its desire to adapt the game in virtual reality. A PSVR 2 exclusive which should revive interest in the headset in the coming months, provided that the port is of quality. And we were invited by the Japanese publisher to discover the playable demo of the Tokyo Game Show 2023. A mode that will cause heart attacks?
We can’t read into a crystal ball to predict the long-term future of VR, but we can’t say that Capcom hasn’t played the game. Between RE7, Resident Evil Village VR, and Resident Evil 4 original on Meta Quest, the publisher has pulled out all the stops to not only offer ephemeral experiences. And get ready, because Resident Evil 4 Remake VR is well on its way to being a future must-have for PSVR 2.
From 3D to VR
With the old PSVR demo “The Kitchen”, Capcom was immediately able to capture the interest in virtual reality as a new technology, but also to realize the added value for a survival horror. As early as Resident Evil 7, the developers have been able to show their mastery of the accessory and it is therefore not surprising to see them continue on this path with Resident Evil 4 Remake VR. A much bolder bet since the game is basically a TPS, and not a subjective view title, which involves rethinking everything starting with the point of view. A major challenge, even though Capcom was able to leverage its experience with RE4 on Oculus Quest 2.
The demo that we were able to try took place at the very beginning of the game and stopped before entering the village square. So it was very (very) brief, especially when you know everything that is going to happen. But nevertheless, that didn’t stop us from sulking our pleasure from the start of our game. With the power of the PS5 and the leap forward made by the PSVR 2, the first seconds are striking. Obviously, as always, there is an obligatory visual loss, but Resident Evil 4 Remake VR looks very good.
After admiring the animal corpse on our route up close, we head to the cabin for a tête-à-tête with an infected farmer and it’s a disappointment. The cutscene, triggered by our arrival in the room, is displayed as on a flat screen. The excellent initial immersion is therefore spoiled by this discovery, even if we suspected that this would be the case. To have first-person sequences from A to Z, Capcom would have had to break everything to rebuild everything, which of course requires a lot of work. And knowing that it is a free mode, the publisher has made it as simple as possible. It’s a shame, clearly, but we can’t entirely blame them since some paid games do the same. And then the rest is still much more reassuring.
Resident Evil 4 Remake on PSVR 2 is ultra immersive
After this meeting with the villager, it is time to go deeper into the basement of the shack with the gun in one hand and our flashlight in the other. Because yes, this is one of the big new features of Resident Evil 4 Remake VR, we can now pretend to be an FBI agent sweeping a crime scene. We could already guess it in the gameplay trailer, but it was important to see the in-game responsiveness. Well, RAS, the tracking is excellent, the controllers don’t stall or do weird things. It’s a very simple addition, but really immersive, and it’s this kind of interaction that we’re looking for. Note that if you don’t want to bother, or your hands are full enough, the flashlight can remain on your head to provide light in all circumstances. To retrieve it, simply bring the controller to forehead level and press the associated button.
When an infected person shows up in the cellar to try to devour us, we have to let the powder speak. And here again, what we have seen is already very well developed. No problem moving the controller to eye level to aim more precisely by closing one eye. It’s fluid and the shooting sensations are there thanks to the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the PSVR 2 Sense. On the other hand, we would have liked body awareness so that our national Leon does not transform into Rayman with two hands suspended in the air, without connection with the rest of the body. Although the combat is not impressive in itself, in VR it is immediately more stressful and we are more afraid for our survival. After having knocked down our host, we tried to finish him on the ground with multiple stabbings in Chucky or Ghostface mode. We didn’t get dismembered, but just being able to do the action was enough for us.
In Resident Evil 4 Remake VR, when emptying a magazine, you have to be much more careful than with the normal game. Here, there is no automatic loading following a button press, but steps to follow. You have to eject the magazine, grab a new one on the waist, insert it and then replace the slide. We admit, we were very surprised to have to do this, but so much the better. It adds a little anxiety, which forces you to take shelter more or less, in addition to reinforcing the immersion. Unfortunately, given the length of the demo, we were not able to test all the possible interactions such as countering with a blade. On the other hand, we know that it is now possible to throw a knife at an opponent by mimicking the gesture, and it works very well.
We’re waiting for it… a lot
This first contact with Resident Evil 4 Remake VR was extremely brief, but nevertheless very promising. If we regret the display of cutscenes as on a flat screen and the absence of body awareness, this new version promises to be under the best auspices. It’s beautiful, immersive with new interactions, and certain sequences should be much more stressful in virtual reality. In short, as with Resident Evil 7 and Village, Capcom seems to have mastered the technology and we can’t wait to rediscover the title in a new light.