With multiple development sources confiding in VGC that the next remade game from Capcom will be Resident Evil 4 Remake, we want to jump back into the game that reinvented the series. The trouble is, Resident Evil 4 is now 15 years old, and isn’t the best-looking game by a long way. Since we were looking at mods to improve the visuals, we thought we’d look at what else we could do with the game.
That’s why this list combines a couple of visual upgrades with some other mods that anyone who has ever played Resident Evil 4 will find interesting as a way to relive the game anew.
Visuals
As we’ve already mentioned, Resident Evil 4 isn’t the best-looking game out there anymore. For context, the original was 2005 game on the GameCube. These mods will help you get a much better-looking experience, one that’s superior to any other version, but especially that original release.
Resident Evil 4 HD Project
Resident Evil 4 HD Project is a massive mod. It takes the original game and completely overhauls it. Even the latest official version of the game, Resident Evil 4 Ultimate HD Edition, doesn’t look this good. If all you want is to give the visuals a boost, this is the mod for you.
Leon X
Leon X is a high-definition reskin of protagonist Leon S. Kennedy. Not only does it upgrade the look of Leon specifically, but it gives his character model a new skin, with a more realistic coat, hair physics, and more; you name it and it’s there.
Laser tweak
This is a mod that I wish I had on the GameCube version. It gives players the option to change the color of the laser for each weapon, across the campaign and Mercenaries mode. As an added bonus, it also has an option to turn the laser — and all other UI — off completely. That sounds like a much more hardcore experience than I’m ready for, but other Resident Evil 4 fans might have been yearning for this for the past 15 years.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Resident Evil 4 is pretty much perfect — if you don’t mind the tanky controls. Tank aside, it inspired a slew of other games, many of which diverted from horror completely. That’s why these mods are about altering your experience, not the gameplay itself.
Modded save games
This mod gives you a bunch of different save games to work through. They’re all modded to put certain characters in situations or parts of the campaign that they’re never meant to be in. It’s a good way to spice up a couple of sessions in the game, but might not be for everyone. Needless to say, this mod is far from lore friendly.
Re4generators mod
By far the most hellish mod on this list. Re4generators Mod adds a Regenerator to every room in the game. What’s more, you’ll need to start a new game just to use it! When I say every room, I mean every single area in the game now has a Regenerator. It makes the game feel like these almost invincible creatures have been let loose everywhere, truly terrifying, which sort of makes it essential. This mod is more for players who want a challenge run of the game above any difficulty level.
Impossible Save Game
If you’re bored of being able to complete Resident Evil 4 on the hardest difficulty every time you sit down to play it, this is for you. It’s a modded save that is nearly impossible to complete. The screenshot alone should be enough to put you off. We imagine some hardcore speedrunners have already completed it by now.
Mercenaries
The timed point-scoring mode, Mercenaries, is only unlocked once you finish the campaign of Resident Evil 4 at least once. It’s a great way to extend your time in the game, and get to some intense action without the story or long walks. These mods are just a couple of small improvements to expand upon that fun.
Predator Krauser
This mod alters Krauser’s appearance to look like a Predator. You can even replace his special attack with a Disc Blade attack that stays true to what you’d expect if you’ve ever watched Predator 2 — you can admit you liked it, we won’t tell. He probably won’t end up in Resident Evil 4 Remake, so now’s your chance to become the greatest hunter.
HUNK Mr. Death
HUNK (Umbrella security force from Resident Evil 2) is a great side character in the Resident Evil franchise. Somehow he has a huge backstory, despite the fact that he’s basically just a faceless soldier in a suit. However, in the Nintendo 3DS game, Resident Evil Mercenaries, he had a costume called Mr. Death. This mod brings that costume to Resident Evil 4.
And now for something completely different
Over the years, modders have created some really weird and wonderful mods for Resident Evil 4. We haven’t included the strangest in this list, but these are some of the ones we found that seemed a bit too far off the beaten track to link in with any other aspect of the game. Though we still thought they were acceptable for anyone looking to spice up their next playthrough.
Silent Hill atmosphere
The first four Silent Hill games are some of the best horror experiences in gaming. While Resident Evil is another franchise that contains some of the best horror games ever made, the two have never come together. This mod brings the atmosphere, that creepy fog which restricts your view in the Silent Hill franchise to Resident Evil 4. It also changes the game’s music, and adds some other surprises. Combining this with the Re4generators Mod would be a living nightmare.
Masked Bandit Dude
Masked Bandit Dude is nothing more than a cosmetic mod for Leon. It makes him look a bit like the game’s vendor. While it’s nothing special, the Resident Evil 4 community seems to absolutely love it, so it must be worth a try.
You could always pretend that you are the real Masked Bandit Dude, kill the vendor at every encounter in the game, and craft a cripplingly awkward playthrough.
Rescue the Nemesis
If you want to make your next playthrough of Resident Evil 4 as strange as possible, this is the mod for you. It changes Ashley’s armored costume to one that looks a bit like Nemesis. As a result, you’ll be rescuing Nemesis and bringing him back to the President over the course of the game. If nothing else, you won’t be able to miss that face when searching for him. Imagine telling Nemesis to go hide in a trash bin.
So that’s our choice of a collection of mods to try out while you await an official announcement from Capcom that Resident Evil 4 Remake is indeed coming our way in a year or two. Do you have any essential mods for the game that we missed?
