NOT a bait thread, but Why I Think This Game is (Partly) Woke

[ElfPrince1937]

Like the title says, NOT a trolling/baiting thread. All I ask--from both the moderators as well as everyone else on Steam--is the chance to make my case.

So, Resident Evil 4 Remake. Woke or not woke? Personally, my answer is, "Yes and no." For starters, I'll paraphrase Billy Crystal here:

"See, there's a difference between mostly woke and all woke. With mostly woke, there's still enough non-woke material to keep the game entertaining..."

And that's where I think this game is: much of it is very much entertaining in terms of combat and exploration. Other parts, however...not so much.

So, which parts do I think are woke?

My argument will be framed through the examination and analysis of two of the big baddies, specifically Jack Krauser and Osmund Saddler, and how their characters have been changed from the original 2005 game.

Let's get into it.

1. Jack Krauser

When Leon first "meets" Krauser in the original Resident Evil 4, we already know the two soldiers have a shared history. At that point in time, it's unclear what that history is, though their backstory is later revealed in the "Operation Javier" scenario of the rail shooter Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, released on the Nintendo Wii.

That's an important point, because after finally defeating Krauser in his Plaga form, after shot at, slashed/stabbed, nearly blown up and nearly kicked off a ledge, Leon has this to say upon examining Krauser's "corpse":

"Krauser...what happened to you? You used to be a good guy...

Clearly, Leon knows something about Krauser that we, the player, do not. He's literally reminiscing on a time when Krauser wasn't just an ally, but a fellow soldier, a brother-in-arms.

For those who, like myself, have played Darkside Chronicles, we see for ourselves the bond that these two guys formed as fellow soldiers in the field. Krauser was initially skeptical about Leon's experience--as well as whether Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) even existed--but gradually comes to accept Leon as a competent partner. By the second-to-last chapter, Krauser outright pledges loyalty to Leon's cause of ridding the world of viruses, acknowledging that, "If your orders come from the President, then I'm on your side." This scenario perfectly sets the stage for Leon's shock and disappointment at what his old comrade has become two years later, during the events of the original Resident Evil 4.

Literally all of that gets erased with the Remake, and I mean ALL of it.

For starters, we see during the intro video that "Major" Krauser was actually Leon's training overseer after Leon was recruited by the U.S. Government, rather than his partner in the field. On top of that, what little we know of the Remake version of Operation Javier strongly implies that it, too, has been completely remade.

Gone is the bonding in the field between two brothers-in-arms.
Gone is Krauser's grudging admiration for Leon's skills.

Instead, we only get an incredibly vague mention of Krauser and his "unit" being left for dead by the United States Government, and now he's out for revenge and power because "if they have it, why can't I?"

So now, not only was Leon never even part of the mission, but neither do he and Krauser have nearly as much personal history as their original counterparts. In contrast to the more sympathetic OG-Krauser--who, we learn in Darkside Chronicles, sought out Wesker in order to have his arm healed after sustaining an injury during Operation Javier--Remake Krauser now comes across as a bitter and petty stand-in for everyone screwed over by the American government.

That's important to keep in mind, because of the next point:

2. Osmund Saddler

In the original Resident Evil 4, Saddler is exactly what he appears to be. Telling Leon in a clearly-European accent, "No longer will the United States think they can police the world forever," the very clearly Pagan cult leader outlines his plan to use Ashley, the First Daughter, to launch a terrorist attack on the United States of America.

And right here, a bit of context might help put all this in perspective.

The game takes place in Spain. All the villagers and cultists clearly speak Spanish.
There is also a note from Salazar very clearly designating Los Illuminados as a pre-Christian Pagan cult, even portraying their "oppression" at the hands of the pro-Christian Spanish Inquisition.

On top of all of that, we have two very revealing lines in the original game that show us exactly how Osmund Saddler feels about the United States of America:

Krauser: "I needed her [Ashley] to prove Saddler's trust in me. Like you [Leon], I'm an American."

Saddler: "Did you really think I'd trust an American?"

Clearly, the Euro-Pagan Saddler is prejudiced against Americans. But that's ok; it's consistent with his character, because, well...Saddler's the villain. Leon, the American agent, is the protagonist. It works.

And this is where another important piece of context becomes helpful:

The original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005, just four years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001. Just in case you think it's a coincidence, consider also this exchange between Leon and Salazar:

Leon: "This is no ritual, it's terrorism!"
Salazar: "Isn't that a popular word these days?"

Clearly there's a pro-American theme going on there, and it's not entirely misplaced, given the context of "save the President's daughter from a mind-controlling parasite."

Now, in contrast, let's take a look at Osmund Saddler in the Remake.

Gone completely is his clearly-audible European accent. Like, completely. Instead, Saddler speaks in what is unmistakeably a Southern-American accent better suited to a preacher of the Southern Baptist Convention.

For those of who think I'm making this up, I invite you to either play the game or watch a video of one of Remake-Saddler's appearances, during which you will also note his constant use of the term, "Sacrificial Lamb" in reference to Leon and/or Ashley. This is, again, an unmistakable reference to the Judeo-Christian religion(s).

"But wait Dark, I thought you said Saddler is a Pagan cult leader? And that's he supposed to be European? And that this game takes place in Spain?"

Yes. Yes, I did, which is what makes the Remake especially jarring and, dare I say it, even schizophrenic when you start examining it beneath the surface.

It's still very clearly based in Spain, which is of course in Europe. Los Illuminados is very much still an antagonistic cult. You even have Luis being obsessed with Don Quixote to remind us that the game takes place in Spain.

As stated above, the original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005, and undoubtedly incorporated socio-political themes that were prevalent at its time; it's right up there with, say, 24 with Kiefer Sutherland.

Similarly, the Resident Evil 4 Remake definitely seems to be channeling certain socio-political themes that are now becoming more popular as of this writing, specifically an increasing anti-American sentiment.

This, once again, comes across as schizophrenic and jarring in the Remake for a couple of reasons:

1. Time/Setting

This is, quite frankly, something I've noticed with the original Resident Evil 2 versus that game's Remake, as well. For context, note that the original Resident Evil 2 was released in the exact same year that the game's events take place: 1998. Similarly, the original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005 and was set in 2004.

The Remakes of both games, being released in 2019 (RE2) and 2023 (RE4), however, ultimately end up feeling less like staples of those eras (the 1990s-era grittiness is completely absent from the RE2 Remake) and more like someone's secondhand interpretation of what those time periods looked like.

2. Hero vs. Villain Roles

This is where the game really gets schizophrenic. Because if we take what I've noted above, we essentially have:

Leon, an American agent, fighting to save the U.S. President's daughter from a Southern-speaking religious leader who name-drops, "Sacrificial Lamb," a term commonly used throughout Western Christianity, while also reluctantly agreeing with his old army buddy, that "Yeah, what the U.S. Government did to you, Krauser, that was pretty bad."

It honestly gets to the point where it almost feels like Capcom--or, more specifically, the particular development team behind this game--forgot and then later remembered that Krauser and Saddler are meant to be the game's villains, but "well, we have to have an anti-American sentiment in there, so we'll just hope the players never notice the contradicting narratives."

I apologize about the length--kudos to anyone who actually bothered to read this all the way through--but I wanted to stress that this isn't just something I'm making up about the game.

And, sure--like I said at the very beginning, I wouldn't go so far as to say the game is entirely "woke."

But I do think a pretty big part of the narrative has been altered in a way that carries some pretty disturbing implications for future games in the series.

[[TGSA] oujisan2236]

so still playing the game

I had bought a NGC for the original along with RE Zero and nabbed Remake of 1 then (back then cause Shinji Mikami said no to PS2 release it even was a NGC exclusive on the box that damn liar i was so upset when RE4 released on PS2 with extra content but was glad i played Zero back then)

and back then everything was terrorist this terrorist that in pop culture after 9/11 events i can agree and officially agree with this statements.

Now this game feels lazy so far a wash of what the original was ..some parts taken out so far like where was the Mayor of the village had hunted me like a Tyran (swear was the same model) you kill him then use his eye.. no the eye was sold for money...wtf k

where was the what ever you call those transport things on a mountain that whole section is removed...

Ada wong from RE2 kinda older asian lady vibe nothing to do with the actress this blame is on that new producers i think at Capcom (♥♥♥♥ look at SF6 its not the same anymore)

Ada wong sounds old unlike Leon hes character is onpar with RE4 but yes things dont add up dialog wise

salazar from leons dreams sounds off no vibration so to speak no depth (Sound guys cmon)

Graphics is good sure but i swear RE3 Remake had better visuals

This game is eating RAM btw.. 14.5GB out of my 16GB bit close even if recommened is 16GB starting to think 32GB is close to being the new 16Gb as the 8GB was before it.

Story wise feels rushed, ammo is even more scares is it my imagination?

DLC i see more crap DLC dropped this week im not paying a cent more towards this game for assistance i got the delux edition from day one of pre order cause i enjoy the series since 1996

im not a fan of RE4 story wise it wasnt the RE game we wanted it did bring out a fun and amazing game as a game but this game is just rushed i cant put myfingure on it

as for the woke i cant agree woke i dont see it. to me woke is Leon is suddently gay or ashely is gay or someone had to be person of colour etc or no anti american i guess??

IF it helps i have had a BIG issue with RE2 remake was in the story mode on the OG was that you had Scenarior A and B of each character but in Remake Scenario A or B made no sense over the boss fights you fight the same boss but in the OG you dont as that Boss AKA William evolved to the next characters Scenarior (blow his human form up but scene after that event in Scene B from A hes back to normal???)

its maybe small to others but that detail was blantly left out.

RE7 and RE8 was very different games compared to RE4-6 and i enjoyed RE5 a lot had 3 versions of the game (console wise) but RE7 was great brining back RE to horror but felt like a spinoff while RE8 to me did a lot of justice in that trilogy story wise RE9 like all RE games since RE5 i refuse to look at whats happening in Development till the game is out and in my hands i just hope it hasnt gone off the rails like i think its going to be.


Code veronica where is my remake capcom cmon

RE5 remake im hearing ppl saying they wont cause its racist how the f is that racist? its set in africa so what its the cradle of the virus found by Dr Marcus and Spencer.

♥♥♥♥ like this must just come to and end

i am 39 this year i would like to see the series conclude at some point but dont ruin the games till it gets burried in BS look at Alone in the dark and Silent hill can say what you want SH had good run then went downhill with the Wii games and konami's focus in games dropped as well.

Capcom has adapted more of a Western Development in their games last decade or two which is fine but RE4 remake again feels like a washed version ive read complaints about ada i donno why its not the actress fault its the producers and directors simply put

Everyone loved the new Jill in RE3 and why was that cause it was a great game and the acress (model) was hot while the voice actress did a great job ?? yes two different people

ive yet to beat the game sadly i get maybe 3 hours a day and i like to explore my first round before speed running etc (Run my own business so time is an issue gaming)

all i want is a good RE game without holes in the story.. never get them filled (to be damn honest with anyone what year does RE7/8 take place then at the end of RE8 the baby is like 16/17 with super powers... and chriss is a bigger ahole aparently cool but like umbrella came back but good guys cmon i still cant get my head around that and the anti bioterrorist stories gotten rather old give me apocolype maybe and end it there or give me conclusion to the story cant imagine another trilogy series 10-13 with lasers?

prob a rant if anyone does read it...

RE4 OG - Funny cheesy one line game
RE4 Remake - serious get to the point story.


But the games fan base isnt just in america its Japan and the rest of the world we could care less about america in terms of story and politics etc we want a fictional story thats based against a company from Europe (Umbrella / Neo what ever/ Paris HQ etc) has branches world wide with zombies like we wanted back in the 90s but we got Terrorism we ended up loving or hating it but personally i want something new even on remakes give us what you wanted to perfect back then like RE4.5(or was it 3.5 with the scissor dude and Leon was sick with Progenitor) lol but that would of made zero sense so a new cinematic version would be great but what im seeing is american actors being villans in spain and the spanish seems very messy all around more so than OG (musch like british actors play Nazi in WW2 movies ... authenticity out the window) Nazi's sure play it by Germans.. french people play with fresh actors, Spaniards.. play with Spanish actors

i just cant wait to unlock more guns and blow heads off and let ashley off at the end

Otherwise as a game once again im having fun im not letting the small stuff taken out ruin it for me its not about how much i paid for the game its about the fact like Many of us from what ever Series number you started we are all Fans of the franchise... unless you a fan of the movies then you a special type of person cause pls stop making those.


BTW that wasnt a bait post but ive seen ppl get flamed over suggesting its woke for no reason so i do understand and admins must remain neutral we all adults here if you a kid you shouldnt be on here in the first place.

[Agentti Kiivi]

Цитата допису Darkgamester301:

Цитата допису Agentti Kiivi:

Already dead wrong on your first point about krauser.

Make your case; what did I get wrong about Krauser?

Because

Цитата допису Darkgamester301:

When Leon first "meets" Krauser in the original Resident Evil 4, we already know the two soldiers have a shared history. At that point in time, it's unclear what that history is, though their backstory is later revealed in the "Operation Javier" scenario of the rail shooter Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, released on the Nintendo Wii.

is very much accurate and factual; players didn't know Krauser's full history with Leon until Darkside Chronicles, but we were already being told that they had a history.

Ada even asks Leon about this herself: "You knew each other?"

Цитата допису Darkgamester301:

So now, not only was Leon never even part of the mission, but neither do he and Krauser have nearly as much personal history as their original counterparts.

They talk about operation javier during the final fight.
None of that is erased.

+ More than likely more of krauser and his motivations are going to be seen in separate ways.

[[TGSA] oujisan2236]

Цитата допису CrunchyDaz:

I'm gonna do you a huge favor OP, this is gonna save you alot of time.

You don't know what woke is or means, stop using it, stop wasting your time trying to understand it.

wow thats helpfull

[Star Rain]

Wait i think Umbrella Chronicles still happened im sure of it and a UmbRElla Chronicles remake will prove me right i bet, hint-hint Capcom!

[ElfPrince1937]

Цитата допису Hogarth:

The original lines about terrorism and U.S. world police feel dated. They remind me of Bush and "Mission Accomplished."

I mean, they are definitely dated, because they actually are from that era.

Repeating myself, Resident Evil 4 is set in the year 2004 and was released in 2005, so it is absolutely a "War on Terror"-era game.

That being said, even if it feels "dated" to the RL audience, there's still the point to be made that

Цитата допису Darkgamester301:

The Remakes of both games, being released in 2019 (RE2) and 2023 (RE4), however, ultimately end up feeling less like staples of those eras (the 1990s-era grittiness is completely absent from the RE2 Remake) and more like someone's secondhand interpretation of what those time periods looked like.

Like, this is something I really noticed while playing the original Resident Evil 2. It's also reflected in that video ("RE2 Remake is Garbage and Here's Why").

All the campy, cheesy, gritty background assets and areas in the original game?

Classic 1990s.

Then you play the Remake, and sure, a lot of familiar areas. But it's almost too pretty, too clean, too HD.

Going back to RE4, sure--commentary on the War on Terror might seem dated, but it would still behoove Capcom to treat a game set in 2004 like...well, like it's set in 2004.

Because the alternative is more like what we get here, feeling less like that time period and more like a cliche of what people now commonly think it was like.

[[TGSA] oujisan2236]

Цитата допису Star Rain:

Wait i think Umbrella Chronicles still happened im sure of it and a UmbRElla Chronicles remake will prove me right i bet, hint-hint Capcom!

hopefully its not Switch only..sure make sense if you want on the rail again..

[s7aceman]

You don't understand what woke is.

Here's how if it's really woke:
Leon becomes Leona.
Ashley turns into a black woman.

[Nall]

Let me respond to your quote with one of my own: Who gives a ♥♥♥♥?

[ElfPrince1937]

Цитата допису Agentti Kiivi:

They talk about operation javier during the final fight.
None of that is erased.

It is erased in the sense that the original "Operation Javier" is very much erased.

In the original mission, taking place in the rail shooter Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles on the Nintendo Wii, Operation Javier was a secret, two-man (Leon and Krauser) mission to apprehend drug lord Javier Hidalgo, who was suspected of dealing in bioweapons.

The two discover Javier was using the Veronica Virus to keep his daughter, Manuela, alive. Javier ends up mutating, is destroyed, and Manuela gets taken into U.S. custody.

During a particular battle, Krauser's arm is impaled, and he goes looking for Wesker some time after returning with Leon from the mission, knowing he'll likely be discharged due to his injury.

So yes--all of that is erased with the Remake, which, again, gives us an incredibly-vague description of Operation Javier as, "Krauser and his entire unit were left to die by the U.S. Government, and now he wants power and revenge."

[Karma]

Цитата допису Darkgamester301:

Like the title says, NOT a trolling/baiting thread. All I ask--from both the moderators as well as everyone else on Steam--is the chance to make my case.

So, Resident Evil 4 Remake. Woke or not woke? Personally, my answer is, "Yes and no." For starters, I'll paraphrase Billy Crystal here:

"See, there's a difference between mostly woke and all woke. With mostly woke, there's still enough non-woke material to keep the game entertaining..."

And that's where I think this game is: much of it is very much entertaining in terms of combat and exploration. Other parts, however...not so much.

So, which parts do I think are woke?

My argument will be framed through the examination and analysis of two of the big baddies, specifically Jack Krauser and Osmund Saddler, and how their characters have been changed from the original 2005 game.

Let's get into it.

1. Jack Krauser

When Leon first "meets" Krauser in the original Resident Evil 4, we already know the two soldiers have a shared history. At that point in time, it's unclear what that history is, though their backstory is later revealed in the "Operation Javier" scenario of the rail shooter Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, released on the Nintendo Wii.

That's an important point, because after finally defeating Krauser in his Plaga form, after shot at, slashed/stabbed, nearly blown up and nearly kicked off a ledge, Leon has this to say upon examining Krauser's "corpse":

"Krauser...what happened to you? You used to be a good guy...

Clearly, Leon knows something about Krauser that we, the player, do not. He's literally reminiscing on a time when Krauser wasn't just an ally, but a fellow soldier, a brother-in-arms.

For those who, like myself, have played Darkside Chronicles, we see for ourselves the bond that these two guys formed as fellow soldiers in the field. Krauser was initially skeptical about Leon's experience--as well as whether Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) even existed--but gradually comes to accept Leon as a competent partner. By the second-to-last chapter, Krauser outright pledges loyalty to Leon's cause of ridding the world of viruses, acknowledging that, "If your orders come from the President, then I'm on your side." This scenario perfectly sets the stage for Leon's shock and disappointment at what his old comrade has become two years later, during the events of the original Resident Evil 4.

Literally all of that gets erased with the Remake, and I mean ALL of it.

For starters, we see during the intro video that "Major" Krauser was actually Leon's training overseer after Leon was recruited by the U.S. Government, rather than his partner in the field. On top of that, what little we know of the Remake version of Operation Javier strongly implies that it, too, has been completely remade.

Gone is the bonding in the field between two brothers-in-arms.
Gone is Krauser's grudging admiration for Leon's skills.

Instead, we only get an incredibly vague mention of Krauser and his "unit" being left for dead by the United States Government, and now he's out for revenge and power because "if they have it, why can't I?"

So now, not only was Leon never even part of the mission, but neither do he and Krauser have nearly as much personal history as their original counterparts. In contrast to the more sympathetic OG-Krauser--who, we learn in Darkside Chronicles, sought out Wesker in order to have his arm healed after sustaining an injury during Operation Javier--Remake Krauser now comes across as a bitter and petty stand-in for everyone screwed over by the American government.

That's important to keep in mind, because of the next point:

2. Osmund Saddler

In the original Resident Evil 4, Saddler is exactly what he appears to be. Telling Leon in a clearly-European accent, "No longer will the United States think they can police the world forever," the very clearly Pagan cult leader outlines his plan to use Ashley, the First Daughter, to launch a terrorist attack on the United States of America.

And right here, a bit of context might help put all this in perspective.

The game takes place in Spain. All the villagers and cultists clearly speak Spanish.
There is also a note from Salazar very clearly designating Los Illuminados as a pre-Christian Pagan cult, even portraying their "oppression" at the hands of the pro-Christian Spanish Inquisition.

On top of all of that, we have two very revealing lines in the original game that show us exactly how Osmund Saddler feels about the United States of America:

Krauser: "I needed her [Ashley] to prove Saddler's trust in me. Like you [Leon], I'm an American."

Saddler: "Did you really think I'd trust an American?"

Clearly, the Euro-Pagan Saddler is prejudiced against Americans. But that's ok; it's consistent with his character, because, well...Saddler's the villain. Leon, the American agent, is the protagonist. It works.

And this is where another important piece of context becomes helpful:

The original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005, just four years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001. Just in case you think it's a coincidence, consider also this exchange between Leon and Salazar:

Leon: "This is no ritual, it's terrorism!"
Salazar: "Isn't that a popular word these days?"

Clearly there's a pro-American theme going on there, and it's not entirely misplaced, given the context of "save the President's daughter from a mind-controlling parasite."

Now, in contrast, let's take a look at Osmund Saddler in the Remake.

Gone completely is his clearly-audible European accent. Like, completely. Instead, Saddler speaks in what is unmistakeably a Southern-American accent better suited to a preacher of the Southern Baptist Convention.

For those of who think I'm making this up, I invite you to either play the game or watch a video of one of Remake-Saddler's appearances, during which you will also note his constant use of the term, "Sacrificial Lamb" in reference to Leon and/or Ashley. This is, again, an unmistakable reference to the Judeo-Christian religion(s).

"But wait Dark, I thought you said Saddler is a Pagan cult leader? And that's he supposed to be European? And that this game takes place in Spain?"

Yes. Yes, I did, which is what makes the Remake especially jarring and, dare I say it, even schizophrenic when you start examining it beneath the surface.

It's still very clearly based in Spain, which is of course in Europe. Los Illuminados is very much still an antagonistic cult. You even have Luis being obsessed with Don Quixote to remind us that the game takes place in Spain.

As stated above, the original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005, and undoubtedly incorporated socio-political themes that were prevalent at its time; it's right up there with, say, 24 with Kiefer Sutherland.

Similarly, the Resident Evil 4 Remake definitely seems to be channeling certain socio-political themes that are now becoming more popular as of this writing, specifically an increasing anti-American sentiment.

This, once again, comes across as schizophrenic and jarring in the Remake for a couple of reasons:

1. Time/Setting

This is, quite frankly, something I've noticed with the original Resident Evil 2 versus that game's Remake, as well. For context, note that the original Resident Evil 2 was released in the exact same year that the game's events take place: 1998. Similarly, the original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005 and was set in 2004.

The Remakes of both games, being released in 2019 (RE2) and 2023 (RE4), however, ultimately end up feeling less like staples of those eras (the 1990s-era grittiness is completely absent from the RE2 Remake) and more like someone's secondhand interpretation of what those time periods looked like.

2. Hero vs. Villain Roles

This is where the game really gets schizophrenic. Because if we take what I've noted above, we essentially have:

Leon, an American agent, fighting to save the U.S. President's daughter from a Southern-speaking religious leader who name-drops, "Sacrificial Lamb," a term commonly used throughout Western Christianity, while also reluctantly agreeing with his old army buddy, that "Yeah, what the U.S. Government did to you, Krauser, that was pretty bad."

It honestly gets to the point where it almost feels like Capcom--or, more specifically, the particular development team behind this game--forgot and then later remembered that Krauser and Saddler are meant to be the game's villains, but "well, we have to have an anti-American sentiment in there, so we'll just hope the players never notice the contradicting narratives."

I apologize about the length--kudos to anyone who actually bothered to read this all the way through--but I wanted to stress that this isn't just something I'm making up about the game.

And, sure--like I said at the very beginning, I wouldn't go so far as to say the game is entirely "woke."

But I do think a pretty big part of the narrative has been altered in a way that carries some pretty disturbing implications for future games in the series.

So i read this whole fricking thing and not one mention of Ashley's panties... good bait sir... good bait.

[ElfPrince1937]

Цитата допису s7aceman:

You don't understand what woke is.

Here's how if it's really woke:
Leon becomes Leona.
Ashley turns into a black woman.

The common factor here seems to be that there's a political agenda, no?

If that's the case, then I would argue "anti-American sentiment" would very much fit that description.

[[TGSA] oujisan2236]

Цитата допису s7aceman:

You don't understand what woke is.

Here's how if it's really woke:
Leon becomes Leona.
Ashley turns into a black woman.

lolz like little mermaid?

[[TGSA] oujisan2236]

Цитата допису Karma:

Цитата допису Darkgamester301:

Like the title says, NOT a trolling/baiting thread. All I ask--from both the moderators as well as everyone else on Steam--is the chance to make my case.

So, Resident Evil 4 Remake. Woke or not woke? Personally, my answer is, "Yes and no." For starters, I'll paraphrase Billy Crystal here:

"See, there's a difference between mostly woke and all woke. With mostly woke, there's still enough non-woke material to keep the game entertaining..."

And that's where I think this game is: much of it is very much entertaining in terms of combat and exploration. Other parts, however...not so much.

So, which parts do I think are woke?

My argument will be framed through the examination and analysis of two of the big baddies, specifically Jack Krauser and Osmund Saddler, and how their characters have been changed from the original 2005 game.

Let's get into it.

1. Jack Krauser

When Leon first "meets" Krauser in the original Resident Evil 4, we already know the two soldiers have a shared history. At that point in time, it's unclear what that history is, though their backstory is later revealed in the "Operation Javier" scenario of the rail shooter Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, released on the Nintendo Wii.

That's an important point, because after finally defeating Krauser in his Plaga form, after shot at, slashed/stabbed, nearly blown up and nearly kicked off a ledge, Leon has this to say upon examining Krauser's "corpse":

"Krauser...what happened to you? You used to be a good guy...

Clearly, Leon knows something about Krauser that we, the player, do not. He's literally reminiscing on a time when Krauser wasn't just an ally, but a fellow soldier, a brother-in-arms.

For those who, like myself, have played Darkside Chronicles, we see for ourselves the bond that these two guys formed as fellow soldiers in the field. Krauser was initially skeptical about Leon's experience--as well as whether Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) even existed--but gradually comes to accept Leon as a competent partner. By the second-to-last chapter, Krauser outright pledges loyalty to Leon's cause of ridding the world of viruses, acknowledging that, "If your orders come from the President, then I'm on your side." This scenario perfectly sets the stage for Leon's shock and disappointment at what his old comrade has become two years later, during the events of the original Resident Evil 4.

Literally all of that gets erased with the Remake, and I mean ALL of it.

For starters, we see during the intro video that "Major" Krauser was actually Leon's training overseer after Leon was recruited by the U.S. Government, rather than his partner in the field. On top of that, what little we know of the Remake version of Operation Javier strongly implies that it, too, has been completely remade.

Gone is the bonding in the field between two brothers-in-arms.
Gone is Krauser's grudging admiration for Leon's skills.

Instead, we only get an incredibly vague mention of Krauser and his "unit" being left for dead by the United States Government, and now he's out for revenge and power because "if they have it, why can't I?"

So now, not only was Leon never even part of the mission, but neither do he and Krauser have nearly as much personal history as their original counterparts. In contrast to the more sympathetic OG-Krauser--who, we learn in Darkside Chronicles, sought out Wesker in order to have his arm healed after sustaining an injury during Operation Javier--Remake Krauser now comes across as a bitter and petty stand-in for everyone screwed over by the American government.

That's important to keep in mind, because of the next point:

2. Osmund Saddler

In the original Resident Evil 4, Saddler is exactly what he appears to be. Telling Leon in a clearly-European accent, "No longer will the United States think they can police the world forever," the very clearly Pagan cult leader outlines his plan to use Ashley, the First Daughter, to launch a terrorist attack on the United States of America.

And right here, a bit of context might help put all this in perspective.

The game takes place in Spain. All the villagers and cultists clearly speak Spanish.
There is also a note from Salazar very clearly designating Los Illuminados as a pre-Christian Pagan cult, even portraying their "oppression" at the hands of the pro-Christian Spanish Inquisition.

On top of all of that, we have two very revealing lines in the original game that show us exactly how Osmund Saddler feels about the United States of America:

Krauser: "I needed her [Ashley] to prove Saddler's trust in me. Like you [Leon], I'm an American."

Saddler: "Did you really think I'd trust an American?"

Clearly, the Euro-Pagan Saddler is prejudiced against Americans. But that's ok; it's consistent with his character, because, well...Saddler's the villain. Leon, the American agent, is the protagonist. It works.

And this is where another important piece of context becomes helpful:

The original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005, just four years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001. Just in case you think it's a coincidence, consider also this exchange between Leon and Salazar:

Leon: "This is no ritual, it's terrorism!"
Salazar: "Isn't that a popular word these days?"

Clearly there's a pro-American theme going on there, and it's not entirely misplaced, given the context of "save the President's daughter from a mind-controlling parasite."

Now, in contrast, let's take a look at Osmund Saddler in the Remake.

Gone completely is his clearly-audible European accent. Like, completely. Instead, Saddler speaks in what is unmistakeably a Southern-American accent better suited to a preacher of the Southern Baptist Convention.

For those of who think I'm making this up, I invite you to either play the game or watch a video of one of Remake-Saddler's appearances, during which you will also note his constant use of the term, "Sacrificial Lamb" in reference to Leon and/or Ashley. This is, again, an unmistakable reference to the Judeo-Christian religion(s).

"But wait Dark, I thought you said Saddler is a Pagan cult leader? And that's he supposed to be European? And that this game takes place in Spain?"

Yes. Yes, I did, which is what makes the Remake especially jarring and, dare I say it, even schizophrenic when you start examining it beneath the surface.

It's still very clearly based in Spain, which is of course in Europe. Los Illuminados is very much still an antagonistic cult. You even have Luis being obsessed with Don Quixote to remind us that the game takes place in Spain.

As stated above, the original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005, and undoubtedly incorporated socio-political themes that were prevalent at its time; it's right up there with, say, 24 with Kiefer Sutherland.

Similarly, the Resident Evil 4 Remake definitely seems to be channeling certain socio-political themes that are now becoming more popular as of this writing, specifically an increasing anti-American sentiment.

This, once again, comes across as schizophrenic and jarring in the Remake for a couple of reasons:

1. Time/Setting

This is, quite frankly, something I've noticed with the original Resident Evil 2 versus that game's Remake, as well. For context, note that the original Resident Evil 2 was released in the exact same year that the game's events take place: 1998. Similarly, the original Resident Evil 4 was released in 2005 and was set in 2004.

The Remakes of both games, being released in 2019 (RE2) and 2023 (RE4), however, ultimately end up feeling less like staples of those eras (the 1990s-era grittiness is completely absent from the RE2 Remake) and more like someone's secondhand interpretation of what those time periods looked like.

2. Hero vs. Villain Roles

This is where the game really gets schizophrenic. Because if we take what I've noted above, we essentially have:

Leon, an American agent, fighting to save the U.S. President's daughter from a Southern-speaking religious leader who name-drops, "Sacrificial Lamb," a term commonly used throughout Western Christianity, while also reluctantly agreeing with his old army buddy, that "Yeah, what the U.S. Government did to you, Krauser, that was pretty bad."

It honestly gets to the point where it almost feels like Capcom--or, more specifically, the particular development team behind this game--forgot and then later remembered that Krauser and Saddler are meant to be the game's villains, but "well, we have to have an anti-American sentiment in there, so we'll just hope the players never notice the contradicting narratives."

I apologize about the length--kudos to anyone who actually bothered to read this all the way through--but I wanted to stress that this isn't just something I'm making up about the game.

And, sure--like I said at the very beginning, I wouldn't go so far as to say the game is entirely "woke."

But I do think a pretty big part of the narrative has been altered in a way that carries some pretty disturbing implications for future games in the series.

So i read this whole fricking thing and not one mention of Ashley's panties... good bait sir... good bait.

didnt you know you could smell them if you put your nose close to the fans

[Agentti Kiivi]

Цитата допису Darkgamester301:

Цитата допису Agentti Kiivi:

They talk about operation javier during the final fight.
None of that is erased.

It is erased in the sense that the original "Operation Javier" is very much erased.

In the original mission, taking place in the rail shooter Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles on the Nintendo Wii, Operation Javier was a secret, two-man (Leon and Krauser) mission to apprehend drug lord Javier Hidalgo, who was suspected of dealing in bioweapons.

The two discover Javier was using the Veronica Virus to keep his daughter, Manuela, alive. Javier ends up mutating, is destroyed, and Manuela gets taken into U.S. custody.

During a particular battle, Krauser's arm is impaled, and he goes looking for Wesker some time after returning with Leon from the mission, knowing he'll likely be discharged due to his injury.

So yes--all of that is erased with the Remake, which, again, gives us an incredibly-vague description of Operation Javier as, "Krauser and his entire unit were left to die by the U.S. Government, and now he wants power and revenge."

Please do elaborate how any of that is erased by the remake?

[ElfPrince1937]

Цитата допису TGSA oujisan2236:

Цитата допису s7aceman:

You don't understand what woke is.

Here's how if it's really woke:
Leon becomes Leona.
Ashley turns into a black woman.

lolz like little mermaid?

That depends: is Ariel's skin color central to her character, or is it more her voice and status as a mermaid (i.e. a magical, non-human creature) that's more important?

So no, I would say Leon being male is not the same as whether or not "the little mermaid" is black or white--that's comparing apples to oranges. Ashley is a little more arguable; I'll leave it at that.

Nice try, though.