Capcom announced today that Resident Evil 4 is heading to the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in high definition, and the obvious first question is how much better it actually looks. The first screenshots of the HD version have landed, and lining them up against the standard definition original gives a useful early read on what Capcom means by upgraded visuals.
Higher Resolution Brings Clarity To Leon’s Journey
The main takeaway from the side by side images, including the comparison gallery at God is a Geek that pairs the old SD version with the new shots, is clarity. Leon’s trek through the village, the castle and the island has always had strong art direction, and at a higher resolution the game simply looks cleaner, with crisper edges and more readable detail in the environments and character models. It is the difference between a game you remember fondly and one you can comfortably play on a big HD set without squinting through the blur.
It is worth being clear about how much a still image can tell you, though. Capcom’s announcement speaks of upgraded visuals, and early reports put the remaster at 720p, but so far the publisher has not detailed whether textures, lighting or character models have been reworked beyond the jump in resolution. Screenshots are also chosen by the publisher, and they do not show how the game handles in motion. Frame rate, loading and the look of the cutscenes will all have to wait until there is footage or hands on time.
Separate Ways, Trophies And A Fall Release
The PS2 version makes for an interesting point of comparison. When Resident Evil 4 moved from GameCube to the PS2 in late 2005, the port was widely judged to be a step down visually, with simpler lighting and less detailed textures than the original. In exchange, PS2 owners got new content, most notably Separate Ways, the extra campaign that shows Ada Wong’s side of the story. The HD release keeps that extra material, since Capcom says it includes all of the bonus content from earlier versions, and it adds trophies on PS3 and achievements on Xbox 360.
Resident Evil 4 is arriving alongside an HD version of Code: Veronica X as part of Resident Evil’s 15th anniversary celebrations. According to Engadget’s report on the announcement, both games will be sold as separate downloads in North America this fall, while Japan gets them bundled together as Resident Evil Revival Selection. Capcom has not yet announced pricing or a firm release date.
For now, the screenshots are encouraging without being a revelation. The higher resolution alone should make a big difference for anyone who has only seen the PS2 version on a modern TV, and if Capcom has done more under the hood, we should find out once the game is shown in motion.