Remakes can be tricky, especially for a game with as much hype as Resident Evil 4 Remake. Change too little, and there's not enough new content for players to justify buying the game. Changing too much risks alienating fans. Capcom has generally struck this balance well with their remakes of the first three Resident Evil games, and that trend continues with RE4.

Related: Resident Evil 4 Remake: Beginner Tips

So, what's different? We've highlighted some of the major changes from the 2005 original to the 2023 Remake. Check them out below if you're on the fence about returning to the stronghold of Los Illuminados.

Updated on April 30, 2023 by Matt Arnold: We've edited this article to make some entries clearer, particularly the one about Krauser's backstory.

This article contains spoilers, but nothing that will surprise you if you've played the original Resident Evil 4.

10 A New Look

A collage of Ada Wong in a dress inside the helicopter at the original game's end, and inside the helicopter with her new outfit in Resident Evil 4 Remake.

Resident Evil 4 was one of the best-looking games of 2005. While it still holds up appearance-wise, it can't hold a candle to the Remake in terms of graphics. Every environment is full of detail, from the parasite-infested Village to the decaying halls of Castle Salazar and beyond.

Related: The Best Charms In Resident Evil 4 Remake

Most of the characters have gotten new looks as well. While they're instantly recognizable, nearly everyone has gotten a costume revamp. Ashley in particular looks great in her preppy jacket and ruffled scarf!

9 No Health Bar For Ashley

ashley tearing up in resident evil 4 remake
via Capcom

Keeping Ashley alive is the main objective in the game, and it was not easy in the original. She had her own health bar separate from Leon's, and players needed to give her healing items from their limited supply if she got hurt. Worst of all, a single stray shot from Leon would instantly kill Ashley, even if it just clipped her shoulder.

Related: Things That Make No Sense In Resident Evil 4 Remake

It's much easier (but still not easy!) to keep Ashley safe in the Remake. The cultists will still try to carry her off, and they're a bit smarter about it now - one will nab Ashley while the others swarm Leon to keep him occupied. If Ashley takes damage, she falls to the ground. If she takes damage again before Leon can help her up, she dies. This goes for both damage dealt to her by enemies and by friendly fire from Leon, but Ashley is much better about ducking and staying out of the line of fire than she ever was in the original game.

8 Less Gruesome Deaths

Leon shooting at the Chainsaw Man in Resident Evil 4 Remake

It might not seem that way after watching Leon get decapitated, chainsawed, impaled, or otherwise forcibly ejected from this mortal coil, but the deaths in the Remake are actually less explicit than they were in the original. The 2005 version had some seriously graphic violence, but the Remake has toned it down just a hair.

Related: The Scariest Cutscenes In Horror Games

In particular, players are no longer forced to look at Leon's exposed skull after his face gets melted off by Novistador acid. Everything in the Remake is tame by comparison to that shocking shot.

7 A Better Story

major jack krauser in resident evil 4 remake

Resident Evil's storylines have never stood up to close scrutiny, but they were never meant to do so. The series has always been campy horror pretending to be Very Serious when everyone knows it's not. That said, the RE4 Remake fills several plot holes from the original, and even gives loads of extra detail on the origin of the Plagas, the history of the region, and even Luis' backstory.

Related: Resident Evil: The Scariest Locations In The Series

Krauser's story has seen a particularly helpful rewrite. In the original, Leon's former commander appears out of nowhere, with no explanation of who he is. The fact that in the English version he called Leon "comrade" doesn't help; although it's meant to establish that they were in the military together, it makes it sound like the pair somehow have Soviet ties. In the Remake, Leon's relationship with Krauser is established earlier, and Krauser calls Leon "rookie" instead. The storyline still doesn't achieve its goal of creating meaningful character growth for Leon, but at least it sort of makes sense now.

6 Bear Traps Don't Deal Damage

leon kennedy evades a bear trap in the abandoned ironworks in resident evil 4 remake

Hurrying through a new area can lead to trouble in both versions of Resident Evil 4, as it's possible for Leon to walk right into one of the dozens of bear traps that the cultists have set up. It takes several seconds to escape a trap if you're caught in one, leaving Leon wide open to attacks.

Related: Resident Evil 4 Remake: All Village Treasure Locations

While it still sucks to get caught in a bear trap, even if there are no enemies around, it should soften the blow knowing that bear traps no longer deal damage. There are a lot of things in this game that will quickly drain your supply of eggs and Green Herbs, but bear traps aren't one of them. It may not make sense, but we're not complaining!

5 More Side Quests

the merchant in his hideout in resident evil 4 remake

The original game had a handful quests issued by the Merchant via notes left around the Village. These were few and far between, but were generally worth pursuing for some extra rewards. This time around, there are plenty of optional objectives and a trade-in system that lets players choose what they get for their trouble.

Related: Resident Evil 4 Remake: All Wind-Up Doll Locations

From the classic Blue Medallions to hunting rats and fighting elite mini-bosses, completing Merchant Requests yield Spinels, special gems that can be traded to the Merchant directly for exclusive goods. This is the only way to get certain weapons and upgrades!

leon kennedy waits for a sailor to pass before firing at a dynamite pirate in the merchant's shooting gallery of resident evil 4 remake

If you ever need to take a break from battling evil bugs and bloodthirsty cultists, the Merchant has a pirate-themed shooting gallery where you can blow off steam. Each chapter has several challenges that will teach you the ins and outs of the game's firearms, and you can even earn tokens to trade in for Charms!

Related: Resident Evil 4 Remake: Shooting Gallery Guide

While the original game had a target range in some of the Merchant's hideouts, the new fairground-style minigame is a thing of beauty. Don't bother wondering just how he managed to set up four identical attractions under the cult's nose - this is one of the deliciously weird additions that makes Resident Evil so much fun.

3 Ammo Crafting

Leon's attache case inventory in Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil has always allowed players to mix different-colored Herbs to produce new healing items. The later games have also introduced ammo crafting, and this system has been introduced in RE4 Remake. By combining Gunpowder with Resources, players can make the ammo they need on the fly - that sure beats running around smashing barrels and hoping for the right ammo type to drop!

Related: Resident Evil 4 Remake: Combat Tips For Beginners

Resources and Gunpowder are rare enough that you'll still need to make meaningful decisions about what you decide to craft, but the added versatility means it's harder to feel shut out of a fight because you don't have enough bullets in the best gun for the job.

2 New And Revamped Enemies

leon kennedy comes face-to-face with a regenerador in resident evil 4 remake

Most of the classic foes from the original game return in Resident Evil 4 Remake. From the chanting Ganados to the berserk Garradors and creepy Regeneradors, longtime players have plenty to look forward to as they battle their way through the cult's lair. Without spoiling anything, a few monsters from the original have learned some new tricks in the last eighteen years...

Related: The Scariest Monsters In Resident Evil 4 Remake

There are also new enemies and improved AI, so there will be unexpected challenges even for the most experienced players.

1 Your Knife Can Break

the combat knife on the merchant's desk in resident evil 4 remake

Ah, the knife - the staple of speedruns and weapon of last resort when ammo runs out. It sure would be a shame if something bad were to happen to the most precious weapon in Leon's arsenal.

Leon's knife now has a Durability rating, and degrades each time you attack, parry, or perform a finisher. Once the knife's Durability hits zero, it breaks and can't be used again until you pay the Merchant to repair it. You can find smaller knives to use in the meantime, but these deal less damage and break after only a few uses.

Resident Evil has always been about conservation of resources, and now even the trusty knife needs to be deployed sparingly, or else you'll find yourself with no defense when you need it most. If there's anything in the Remake that takes getting used to for longtime players, it's seeing your knife break during the first village battle.

Next: Resident Evil 4 Remake: All Blue Medallion Locations