I’ve only played the original version of Resident Evil 4 two times, once on the Nintendo Wii back when it launched and then again on the Quest 2, which quickly became my favourite version of the game. Sadly, however, that version of Resident Evil 4 never got the Separate Ways side DLC.
By the time Resident Evil 4 (2023) rolled around, I was anxious but optimistic that Capcom would eventually reintroduce the missing content in a future update, completing the package and (finally) delivering the definitive version of RE4, long, long after its escape from its Gamecube exclusivity prison. Well, that update is here, and I’m happy to say that Separate Ways is now better than ever, despite it still largely consisting of the same environments and levels found in Resident Evil 4 proper, much like its original iteration.
Separate Ways stands out in that it better contextualizes the story of Resident Evil 4 in a way that feels better realized than its 2005 counterpart. Instead of just retreading through old levels, thanks to the inclusion of a grapple gun and sleuthing tools, many of the familiar locations of Resident Evil 4 feel fresh again. This is thanks to the freedom provided by Ada’s grapple, which, although only usable in very specific anchor points, is prevalent enough that each level of the brisk 5-hour campaign has a real sense of interconnectedness, paralleling Leon’s story.
The parallel storytelling elements also bleed into the cutscenes, which give better context to events of the main campaign of Resident Evil 4 while introducing new dialogue with some beloved characters, including getting to see a less calm and collected Luis, who fumbles about and is a nice contrast to his couth demeanour when he’s around Leon and Ashley during the events of the base game.
“Separate Ways stands out in that it better contextualizes the story of Resident Evil 4 in a way that feels better realized than its 2005 counterpart.”
Outside environmental puzzles and parkour, Ada’s grapple gun also allows the player to manage crowds of Ganados quickly and even melee them from a distance, in addition to a cool sequence against the El Gigante, which, after completing, gave me total confidence in Ada Wong’s survivability rate if she were to be thrown into the world of Attack on Titan.
In terms of new encounters, Separate Ways reintroduces players to the tall and foreboding hooded Ganado, who can now finally be fought, taking the form of a ghost-like apparition that Ada must fight several times during the length of the campaign. Other minor but worth mentioning changes include Ganado’s with glasses, which, when killed, can be sold for some extra credit at the merchant, who also brings with him a few new requests, such as shooting medallions or finding the whereabouts of Leon’s iconic Bomber jacket.
Finally, thanks to its relatively short length, Separate Ways has some of the best pacing in a game in recent memory, particularly for returning players, as the game feels challenging and never holds your hand, even from the onset, something that not only makes for a fun time but one that fits Ada’s femme fatale and stoic nature, contrasting Leon’s worthy but untested aptitude in a foreign land.
