2005’sResident Evil 4represented a major departure for the classic survival horror franchise. All the same, it was universally celebrated upon release.Resident Evil 5, which released in 2009, strays even further away from the series' roots and was a little more divisive. However, it is still a fantastic adventure to play.
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But the question remains: which game is better? Both titles have their unique strengths. Read on below to see five waysResident Evil 4is better, and five ways the sequel takes the cake. At the end of the day, horror fans cannot go wrong with either of them. Both games hold up excellently, even more than a decade later.
10Story - Resident Evil 5
As great asResident Evil 4is, the narrative is largely forgettable and barely connects to the rest of the overarching story.Resident Evil 5,on the other hand, is the culmination of over a decade of storytelling that started with the1996 debut entry.
Chris Redfield returnsalong with his arch nemesis and series villain, Albert Wesker.For those who stayed with the series since the beginning, the game wraps up a rivalry between these two iconic characters. If it was the last game in the series, it would have been a satisfying ending.
9Playtime Length - Resident Evil 4
On a first playthrough,Resident Evil 4takes about 16 hours.Resident Evil 5, on the other hand, is a little shorter, coming in at about 12 hours.
Bigger is not always better, but in this case the fourth mainline entry benefits from the longer runtime. It helpsResident Evil 4feel like an epic journey through three distinct areas. Fortunately, 12 hours is still decent for a campaign inResident Evil 5.
8Graphics - Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5is objectively better looking, and not just by virtue of coming out later and on more powerful hardware. The visuals hold up better than its predecessor, the environments are more varied, and there are more enemies.
The fifth installment seesChris Redfieldand Sheva Alomar take on not only those infected with Uroboros; the two also fight classic enemies like Lickers. ThoughResident Evil 4was also on the visual cutting edge at the time, the fifth game has a finer aesthetic.
7Scarier - Resident Evil 4
Even thoughResident Evil 4relies more on action than the prior entries, it is still scary. The tension is constantly ramped up and there are some extremely effective jump scares, most notably the enemy stuck in the oven.
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Resident Evil 5turns full tilt into action, leaving behind any semblance of terror. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but many veteran fans might be put off by the complete lack of frights inResident Evil 5.
6Co-Op - Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5is the first mainlineResident Evilwith co-op,and it is absolutely glorious. Co-op makes everything better, and while the campaign can be played alone, it is significantly better with a partner controlling Sheva.
Several moments see the two splitting up, but for the most part, Chris and Sheva are side be side throughout the whole adventure. It is not the easiest co-op game, though, so be sure both partners are at least halfway decent gamers.
5Innovation - Resident Evil 4
While some fans may not have liked the turnResident Evil 4took with the series, its impact on the gaming world is undeniable. It influenced action games for years to come.
The controls, enemy AI, and the wayLeon Kennedyinteracts with the environment all deserve commendation. MaybeResident Evil 5is a smoother experience, but it builds upon the strong foundation established by the fourth game.
4Mercenaries - Resident Evil 5
Mercenaries mode inResident Evil 4is something special, but there is little to do beyond achieving five stars in every stage with every character.Resident Evil 5goes a little further with its version of the classic minigame with more stages, characters, and even additional modes.
Players can drop in with a buddy, and there are even some competitive offerings. It is a little easier thanResident Evil 4’smode, but offers significantly more replay value.
3Bonus Single-Player Content - Resident Evil 4
Like pretty much every entry in the franchise,Resident Evil 4was re-released several times after the initialGameCube launch. Starting with the PlayStation 2 port, players unlocked the Separate Ways campaign after completing the main story.
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This additional storyline expands upon the narrative and gives a different perspective of the events.Resident Evil 5has two DLCs, but they are pretty short and uneventful. Separate Ways takes a few hours to play, and is essential to a completeResident Evil 4experience.
2No Ashley Graham- Resident Evil 5
While this sounds like a joke, most fans consider Ashley Graham to be the worst part ofResident Evil 4. Even though players only have to escort her through a small portion of the adventure, these segments are loathed by many. It is nothing personal against Ashley, though the way she yells Leon’s name easily gets on players' nerves.
InResident Evil 5,Chris fights alongside Sheva, who is fully independent in combat. Sometimes the player has to snipe and defend the second player controlling Sheva, but these are some of the strongest parts ofResident Evil 5.
1Progression System - Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 5borrows a similar economy from its predecessor, but it feels more comprehensive inResident Evil 4. The fifth title really encourages players tothink about how they will spend their moneyand what weapons they will use throughout a playthrough.
Weapon choice is largely dependent on personal preference inResident Evil 4.Resident Evil 5’slimited inventory is also a downgrade fromResident Evil 4’sattache case. Players love organizing Leon’s inventory.
