Resident Evil Dev Explains Why 'Sexist' Content Had To Be Cut
Some things just don't age that well, and while Resident Evil might seem a little outdated due to its pixelated graphics and clunky dialogue of Albert Wesker being one of the hammiest villains to ever grace the video game industry, it's not just Capcom's 1996 original that hasn't grown old gracefully.
Despite being released nearly a decade later on the GameCube, Resident Evil 4 has been called out for its sometimes uncomfortable content and awkward relationship between Leon S. Kennedy and Ashley Graham. When it came to the recent VR release on the Oculus Quest 2, Armature Studio saw it as an opportunity to move with the times and fix the franchise's sometimes murky past.
What Was Cut From Resident Evil 4?
These days, Resident Evil is known for introducing colossal vampire women who'd stomp most men into the ground like Chris Redfield punching a boulder. While the shooter series has always included strong female characters like Jill, Claire, and Ada, the supporting cast members and general dialogue leaves a lot to be desired in some entries.
Ahead of the VR port's release, a Facebook spokesperson explained how the new RE4 "includes select changes to in-game dialogue and animations that we believe will update Resident Evil 4 for a modern audience." Previously, there were creepy moments like Ashley asking Leon if he's available for some "overtime" and unsavoury camera angles where you could look up her skirt. Despite Ashley officially being 20 in-game, it always felt like there was a much bigger age difference.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Armature Executive Producer Tom Ivey explained how some aspects don't "fit with the Resident Evil franchise these days." Ivey added: "The idea was that we're keeping every aspect of the rooms and the creatures that you fight, and the story and how it progresses and the plot points of the story. But, you know, just kind of saying it's the year 2022 - does this fit with the way that Resident Evil should be presented in this day and age? That's the concept there."
Will Capcom Remaster Resident Evil 4?
Click to enlargeEven though Resi purists will argue that RE4 should've been left in its original form, Ivey stands by Armature's decision and says it was the right thing to do. Whether you agree or not, taking out the odd line from Luis commenting on Ashley's body is hardly going to affect the main story of the game. Also, should you really be complaining you can't look up a young woman's skirt anymore? Trying out the terrifying RE4 experience in VR will have you forgetting censorship anyway.
Of course, Armature's work isn't the official Capcom remake that continues to do the rounds. We've heard about an official new-gen revamp of the cult classic for well over a year, but it's yet to rear its head. When (not if) the remastered Resident Evil 4 pops up, it will be interesting to see whether Capcom takes the same censorship route or we'll still be horny on Main with the shuffling shooter.
