Summary
- President Graham's decision to send Leon alone sparks debate due to perceived casual disregard for his daughter's safety.
- Villain Ramon Salazar lacks depth and fails to resonate with fans, potentially functioning more as comic relief.
- Different perspectives exist on characters like Ashley and Ada in the Resident Evil 4 remake, raising debates on their development and portrayal.
- Character count check:
The Resident Evil 4 remake introduced numerous anticipated and well-received changes, making it one of the top remakes in the industry. Many of these changes focus on the game’s vibrant and beloved characters, now portrayed with more realism and relatability.
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However, despite these positive revamps, some characters have stirred controversy and sparked online debates. Here are five examples of characters from the Resident Evil 4 remake who, despite the changes, remain topics of discussion.
5 Mr. President (Graham)
Dispute: Was He Right to Send Leon on a Rescue Mission Alone?
Plot-wise, Resident Evil 4 opens with a premise that some fans find polarizing: President Graham sends Leon to Spain to search for his kidnapped daughter, almost as casually as a simple errand. However, there’s more to the story. For those who read the mission files, Graham's decision has a rationale—at the time of Ashley's abduction, Leon is the only agent the White House fully trusts, as most others are under investigation for misconduct. The files also clarify that Leon isn’t on a rescue mission; he’s only following a lead to gather intel on her captors.
Despite this context, many fans still find Graham’s decision puzzling. They see it as irrational to send the only reliable agent overseas and criticize both the president and the national security agency for appearing to treat his daughter’s kidnapping with such casual disregard.
4 Ramon Salazar
Dispute: Is He Actually a Memorable Villain?
Though Resident Evil 4 and its remake are action-focused, they effectively present mostly sympathetic villains with understandable motives. However, Ramon Salazar has struggled to join the ranks of Resident Evil’s top villains.
The problem with Salazar, both in the original and the remake, is his portrayal as a malicious, ill-mannered, and ruthless character without a compelling or relatable backstory. He comes off more like a bratty child bent on annoying adults, which contributes to his lack of popularity among fans of Resident Evil villains.
Some fans argue that Salazar’s shallow character adds comic relief to the story. They cite Leon’s quips, like “Who the hell are you?” And “You talk too much” before shooting him, as evidence that the writers and developers designed Salazar to be a ridiculed villain in contrast to the more intimidating antagonists who can actually challenge Leon.
3 Luis Serra Navarro
Dispute: Did He Deserve His Fate?
Luis Serra was initially introduced as a temporary sidekick for Leon, featuring an intriguing yet shallow backstory. He was simply portrayed as a former scientist involved in the Las Plaga outbreak in the village. The remake addressed this by giving Luis a richer background, revealing him to be a former UMBRELLA employee and the grandson of the village’s former chief. But was this enough to save him from controversy? No.
Fans have debated whether Luis deserved to die as he did. His new tragic backstory, which includes witnessing his mother's death at a young age, did little to change this perception; if anything, it intensified it. Many fans argue that, in addition to aiding Los Illuminados in creating a parasite, Luis also played a role in the Raccoon City disaster, according to his revamped narrative.
On the other hand, some supporters of Luis believe he was a pawn in larger schemes. They argue that he never intended to harm anyone and aimed instead to help people by developing cures for diseases and viruses. These fans feel he didn’t deserve to die and contend that he should have been given a chance to redeem himself and rectify his past mistakes.
2 Ashley Graham
Dispute: Is She Still the Annoying Damsel in Distress She Used to Be?
In the original Resident Evil 4, Ashley was portrayed as a stereotypical damsel in distress, often curling up in fear at the sight of zombies. Many fans, especially those craving non-stop action, criticized her skittish behavior and reluctance to help Leon, feeling she mostly caused him trouble.
The RE4 remake transforms Ashley into a more realistic, well-rounded character, yet some players still view her as the same irritating, spoiled daughter of the president. Others, however, appreciate the new Ashley, seeing her more mature persona as a fitting update for the plot. They argue that Ashley doesn’t need a major role in combat, as her presence adds a gameplay challenge rather than easing it.
Debates also surround Ashley’s appearance. In the original game, she looked like a teenager despite being twenty, and her outfit was deemed sexualized, conflicting with the storyline. While the remake aimed to present Ashley as a more realistic 20-year-old, some players feel a couple of Ashley’s outfits remain sexualized, missing the mark on creating a more grounded character.
1 Ada Wong
Dispute: Is Ada’s New Voice Actress Better?
The biggest controversy in the Resident Evil 4 remake erupted when Ada’s new voice was revealed, sparking one of the most polarizing debates in the franchise’s history. Fans were quick to discuss whether replacing Sally Cahill, the original voice actress, with Lily Gao, the first Asian actress to voice Ada, was the right choice.
Those against the change argue that Cahill’s voice evokes nostalgia, which would benefit the remake. They also feel the new voice is less "feminine," diminishing Ada's seductive persona—a quality many long-time fans admire.
On the other hand, supporters of Gao’s portrayal believe her voice brings a more realistic presence to Ada. They also argue that the Resident Evil franchise has often struggled to portray women in a non-sexualized way and that changing Ada’s voice actress is a small but positive step, though they acknowledge more progress is needed.
