Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways review - slick Ada Wong steals the show

Resident Evil 4 remake is a prime example of how a remake should be done. This should come as no surprise when you consider that Capcom has already given us at least two fantastic remakes of this iconic series, such as Resident Evil 2 (2019) and Resident Evil 4 (2023) both of which had taken what we loved from the original games, but perfectly balanced new and familiar.

Yet, if there were a couple of common complaints with the Resident Evil 4 remake, it would be that some locations and enemies were cut from the main campaign. Additionally, the remake never included either Assignment Ada (the other bonus campaign from OG RE4) or Separate Ways. Thankfully, the modern version of Separate Ways addresses all those concerns in a single shot by combining cut content from the base game as well as Assignment Ada and Separate Ways with an added cherry on top.

Check out the Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways trailer below!

Separate Ways in 2023 is largely different to the one that we would have played in 2005 post-Nintendo GameCube. The original version of Separate Ways was basically Ada revisiting locations that we had previously seen when playing as Leon, heck, it even used much of the same cut-scenes. Yet in the 2023 version, we not only get to visit new locations (which I’ll keep spoiler-free), but we even get new and returning enemies, as well as areas that were seemingly cut from the remake, and we get some new weapons. Another aspect that sets the 2023 version apart from the original, is that Ada is now visited by the lovable merchant complete with weapon upgrades, side-quests and more.

Ada also has a new ability that makes so much sense, that I’ll never know why it was never included in the original Separate Ways. Fans of the Resident Evil series will be aware that Ada loves a grappling hook and until now, players have only used this device to traverse the environment, however, the grappling hook can now be used as a weapon to attack stunned enemies from a distance. What’s more, as long as you unlock a certain perk, the grappling hook can even be used to pull shields away from Ganados. Ada even has cybernetic enhancements that give her a Batman-inspired investigative vision to look for clues or as Capcom calls it ‘I.R.I.S (Interactive Retina Inquiry System)’.

Capcom

The story of 2023’s Separate Ways adds extra depth with its multilayered tale of Ada and Leon, and even the charismatic Luis Serra Navarro gets some much-needed love. Fans of the original Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 will also have their nostalgic senses tingling with how Capcom implements tracks from the original games which will no doubt give some fans goosebumps.

I wouldn't normally be one to include the price of a video game or DLC in a review, but Separate Ways is an exception to that rule with its incredibly modest price of just £7.99/$9.99 USD. On my first playthrough, I spent over seven hours with this DLC. Furthermore, just like the main game, Separate Ways has a New Game Plus, additional difficulty settings and plenty of unlockables to acquire. This is without question one of the best value pieces of DLC that I’ve ever experienced. If Capcom had charged double its price, it would still have represented great value for money.

Capcom

Separate Ways expands upon what was already a great product with the Resident Evil 4 remake, but it also introduces new features into the series that I hope will be carried over into new entries. Resident Evil 4 is already a must-own game for fans of survival horror and now that this version of Separate Ways has entered the fray, it’s elevated the remake to new heights. Oh, and I think it’s time for Ada Wong to have her own fully-fledged game.

Pros: Separate Ways (2023) not only expands upon the original campaign but also the Resident Evil 4 remake, offers incredible value for money

Cons: The campaign has to end at some point

For fans of: Resident Evil

9/10: Exceptional

Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways is out now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Review code provided by Capcom. Read a guide to our review scores here.