Capcom's recent Resident Evil titles have many things in common. All the games take place in desolate, dreary locales with superb level designs. Their characters (particularly the protagonists) are out of their depth and have to contend with powerful forces they don't fully comprehend. While the stories told don't always make sense, the atmosphere created by recent Resident Evil games are more than enough to keep players on their toes. The upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake will likely be more of the same.
One big factor that contributes to Resident Evil's horror tone is its myriad of enemies, including zombies, mutated humans, lycans, and bio-organic weapons. Coincidentally, every Resident Evil game since 7 has at least one invincible enemy that chases players throughout select segments. Jack and Marguerite Baker chase players through the first and second houses, respectively, in Resident Evil 7. Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters haunt the halls of Castle Dimitrescu in Resident Evil: Village. The Tyrant stomps through the Raccoon City Police Department in Resident Evil 2 Remake, and Nemesis similarly hunts Jill Valentine in Resident Evil 3 Remake. With Resident Evil 4 looking like it takes cues from recent games, Capcom has plenty of enemies that could pursue Leon Kennedy.
Chainsaw Ganados
There are many variations of the chainsaw ganados, but all of them possess an absurd amount of health, flinch resistance, and can kill players with one swing. The chainsaw ganados found in the starting village of the original Resident Evil 4 are scripted mini-bosses who can't move as fast as the player, but their iconic burlap sacks and the sounds of their chainsaws revving up are enough to send chills down players' spines.
It would be interesting to see the chainsaw ganados make a comeback as roaming enemies that chase Leon throughout the first act of the Resident Evil 4 remake. Not only would they create a sense of tension, they would also force players to pay attention to the layout of the village and where certain key items and ambush points are located.
Bitores Mendez
An imposing character thanks to his tall stature, beard, and flowing trenchcoat, the village chief's appearance doesn't look far removed from Mr. X in Resident Evil 2. His human form is resistant to firearms, while his mutated form is quick and deadly. Though Bitores Mendez was relegated to a boss fight and some quick-time events in the original Resident Evil 4, Capcom could give him more screen time by allowing his human form to chase players throughout the village. Seeing the towering Mendez push through waves of his citizens just to get at Leon would be a scary sight to behold.
Ramon Salazar's Verdugo Bodyguards
Though Ramon Salazar's human form is weak, and his transformed form is too big, the Verdugo bodyguards could serve as perfect foils to Leon and Ada as they make their way through the castellan's abode. Created by a fusion of human and insect DNA (as well as the Plagas parasite), the Verdugos hide their true form underneath colored cloaks.
When called to action, these monstrosities shed their cover to reveal grotesque, slender bodies that allow them to attack from any angle. Leon fights only one of the Verdugos in the original Resident Evil 4 (the other fuses with Salazar and the Queen Plaga for a boss fight), but it takes a lot of effort to avoid its attacks and wear the bodyguard down. Adding a roaming Verdugo to the castle segment of the Resident Evil 4 remake would make it even scarier to explore.
Regeneradors
Created by implanting multiple Las Plagas parasites into a single human, regeneradors can only be defeated by destroying all their parasites. In the original Resident Evil 4, Leon has to use a special scope on his sniper rifle to see the parasites - making the simple task of pointing and shooting the gun very stressful. Before acquiring the scope, the only way Leon can survive is by either stunning or running from them.
The regeneradors can be found on the island where Resident Evil 4's final act takes place, and serve as the ultimate test of the player's resource management and ability to stay calm in stressful situations. Since the regeneradors are so iconic, and their very nature requires players' to create space, Capcom will certainly have them return in the Resident Evil 4 remake.
Jack Krauser
While his addition to the original Resident Evil 4 seems like an afterthought, players can't forget Jack Krauser's relentless pursuit of Leon in the final act. A soldier at heart, Krauser lobs flash grenades, uses his TMP submachine gun, and engages Leon in hand-to-hand combat. When he realizes he can't defeat Leon using conventional methods, he starts deploying explosive robotic drones and unleashing his Plagas-infected left arm. Having such a versatile enemy roaming around the island would make things harder for players, but also make killing him that much more satisfying.
These are just a few of the many enemies that Capcom can turn into roamers for the Resident Evil 4 remake. Having an abundance of roaming enemies might diminish their appeal, but if done properly Capcom could justify making the Resident Evil 4 remake a more action-oriented experience. Giving players more ammo, weapons, and health recovery items is fine as long as they have reason to use them.
Resident Evil 4 remake releases on March 24, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.