TapTap

Games worth discovering

iconicon
Resident Evil 4
icon
A solid mobile port, except for the touch controls | Review - Resident Evil 4 Remake

A solid mobile port, except for the touch controls | Review - Resident Evil 4 Remake

3K View2023-12-21
✨Overview
The 2023 GOTY contender Resident Evil 4 has finally made its mark on Apple devices, bringing the recent and already iconic survival horror experience to mobile phones, tablets, and Mac. Capcom's decision to release this remake on Apple devices is a significant milestone for mobile gaming, especially considering the game's recent release this year for current-gen consoles and PC. This is probably the first time we are getting a 1:1 mobile port of a technically and visually impressive AAA game, in the same year.
As one of the early AAA game releases for Apple devices, Resident Evil 4 adopts a free-to-download demo model, with the full game accessible through an in-app purchase. The base price of $60 might be a bit high for arguably the worst platform you can play it on, but a 50% launch discount to 30$ sounds very enticing.
🟩Pros
+Same 1:1 gameplay experience, as its PC/Console counterparts
+Well balanced survival horror and action elements
+Fluid and satisfying combat
+Compelling story and progression
🟥Cons
-Touch control implementation is borderline unplayable. A controller is highly recommended
-Resolution and textures are not very sharp looking
⭐️Score: 7/10
📖Story and Premise
Resident Evil 4 continues the story of Leon S. Kennedy, picking up a few years later where Resident Evil 2 left off. Leon is on a new mission to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the US president. The remake introduces additional story elements and scenes, expanding on the original game and incorporating flashbacks from Resident Evil 2's remake. The tone of the story has shifted to a more serious and realistic one, eschewing the cheesy one-liners and presenting a more vulnerable Leon. While characters remain consistent with their original versions, some charm has been toned down for the sake of realism.

🎨Graphics and Art Style
Granted, this iOS/iPadOS port has undergone some noticeable visual downgrades compared to its PC and console counterparts, but it remains impressive considering they are current-gen games that released earlier in the year, now running on an iPhone. In general, the visual quality is still a significant leap from the original 2005 game, featuring realistic environments, lifelike lighting, and stunning character details. The dark medieval setting and meticulous attention to detail contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere. Character models and animations are well-crafted, and the realistic hair effects add to the overall visual appeal

🎮Gameplay
Resident Evil 4 Remake on mobile is the exact same game as its PC and console counterparts: a third-person shooter offering weighty movement and shooting mechanics that make players feel every action Leon takes. The game balances action-packed shooter gameplay with a terrifying horror experience. The linear, chapter-based adventure takes players through creepy cult-like settlements, providing a mix of enemy encounters and challenging puzzles. Boss fights with unique mechanics punctuate the journey, creating a well-rounded gameplay experience.

The remake in general introduces quality-of-life improvements, allowing Leon to engage in melee combat and counter enemy attacks. Optional challenges, mini-games, and bounties enhance exploration and offer additional content. The gameplay is more fluid and convenient than the original classic, providing players with freedom while preserving the core Resident Evil 4 experience.

I have no qualms about the game itself: it’s truly a wonderful reimagining of a masterpiece and a masterpiece in itself, with stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and an excellent narrative. I even rated it 5 out of 5 stars in my original review here
https://www.taptap.io/post/4925421. Most of my gripes come from the approach taken in the mobile version and its few shortcomings.
📱Mobile controls (Touch and Physical Controllers)
The touch controls are once again done in a similar approach to the implementation in Resident Evil Village. They just slapped a virtual on-screen gamepad on it and called it a day. It lacks full functionality and features you’d usually see in a native mobile game, making the touch-based experience clunky and challenging.

Movement and aiming feel cumbersome on touch, especially when moving, aiming, and firing simultaneously with the on-screen joysticks, LT and RT. Even navigating the menus feels very counter-intuitive. The virtual joystick overlay, while customizable, falls short of providing an optimal touch control experience.
Physical controllers, such as PlayStation or Xbox gamepads, are highly recommended for a superior gameplay experience, and perhaps the ONLY way to enjoy this title. This makes the game immediately more playable and comparable to let’s say playing it on a Steam Deck or a portable PS4.

📊Technical Performance
I played the game on an iPad Pro M1 model which targets a 1600x1118 resolution at 30FPS, but the game is also available for the iPhone 15 Pro which targets a 1560x720 resolution at 30FPS. For simplification purposes, let’s just say M1 devices target around under 1080p while the new iPhones target a little over 720p. Performance is a little bit better here now in my experience compared to RE: Village, and for a 30FPS portable experience, it’s even a job well done.
The visuals is also less than optimal in my eyes, with lots of aliasing (jagged edges). The graphics is a bit grainy looking and sometimes results into awkward looking visual artifacts especially during cutscenes, and it's definitely noticeable here especially if you have experienced this title in more powerful hardware such as on the PC or PS5.

In terms of settings, the game on iPad and iPhone does not support the adjustment of resolution or frame rate settings. This is noticeable different from Resident Evil Village’s approach where you can tweak all aspects of the graphics, which, in my opinion, is better here as having an optimized setting is probably the ideal way to experience the game, rather than attempting to maximize every aspect. Nevertheless, having the option to tweak some settings through an advanced option, instead of outright locking them, would have been a more nicer.

⚖️Conclusion
Resident Evil 4 is still that remarkable 2023 remake, just now on iPhone/iPad/Mac. Showcasing great attention to detail, visual fidelity, and gameplay improvements that position it among the best remakes to date. The game skillfully balances action and horror, providing a fresh experience even for those familiar with the original. Despite some minor drawbacks in this portable release, such as the subpar touch controls, noticeable visual downgrades, and limited 30FPS performance, Resident Evil 4 easily squeezes itself to my top 10 mobile games for this year and deserves your attention. Just ensure you have a controller to play this with and don’t even bother with the touch controls.
Mentioned games
Comments
Old_is_always Gold
Old_is_always Gold
icon
3

I was right all along since the trailer the controls were bullshit

2023-12-22

Author liked
lyndonguitar
lyndonguitar Author
icon
2

I recommend connecting a controller to play

2023-12-22

Open TapTap to view 1 more reply
Discover more discussions on TapTap
Related Posts
RESIDENT EVIL 4 - Remake is Better than ORIGINAL! // QUICK REVIEW [PC/ iOS]
Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president's kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals. And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect. This video review of Mobile/ PC/ Console Game will show you some gameplay and help you to decide if you should invest your time into this game, we will discuss game mechanics, combat, progression, mechanics and f2p or p2w aspect of the game made in 2024. ❤️ HELP ME REACH 20 000 FOLLOWERS 🔔 FOLLOW FOR MORE GAME REVIEWS 🌲 LINKTREE (ALL THE LINKS):
Kosh4K2023-12-21
RESIDENT EVIL 4 - You Have to Play THIS! // GAMEPLAY [PC/ iOS]
Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president's kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals. And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect. This video review of Mobile/ PC/ Console Game will show you some gameplay and help you to decide if you should invest your time into this game, we will discuss game mechanics, combat, progression, mechanics and f2p or p2w aspect of the game made in 2024. ❤️ HELP ME REACH 20 000 FOLLOWERS 🔔 FOLLOW FOR MORE GAME REVIEWS 🌲 LINKTREE (ALL THE LINKS):
Kosh2K2023-12-21
A beautiful reimagining of a classic survival horror game | Full Review - Resident Evil 4 Remake
Resident Evil 4 is the remake of the survivor horror classic bearing the same name back in 2005, as players continue the story of Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 2, and his brand new mission to find the kidnapped daughter of the US president. 🟩Pros +Stunning graphics +Well balanced survival horror and action elements +Fluid and satisfying combat +Compelling story and progression 🟥Cons -No cons 📝
lyndonguitar1K2023-03-28
TapTap
Upcoming
湮滅:邊界線
Get iconicon
Honkai: Star Rail
Get iconicon
Genshin Impact - Lantern Rite
Get iconicon
Adventurers: Mobile
Get iconicon
Final Rumble
Get
iconView desktop site

TapTap looks better

on the app love-tato

Open with TapTap