Resident Evil 4's VR version of Mercenary Mode is launched today as part of the Meta Quest 2 version of Capcom's classic game, with a free update that has been created entirely new for this VR version. The announcement was made through the just-concluded Meta Gaming Showcase event, which you can now.
Mercenary mode, a PVE-based mode, has appeared in several classic Resident Evil movies and is a favorite of fans. Especially in Resident Evil 4, you'll have to face hordes of zombies, racing against time while trying to get high scores. But this new version of Meta Quest 2's Resident Evil 4 mercenary mode includes a range of new options and unlockable extra content, including online leaderboards and 20 challenges, mixing mercenary gameplay in new ways.
Challenges include restricting the use of weapons in the game to knives or rocket launchers, or shrouding the map in fog. Complete these challenges and you'll get other brand new add-ons like Big Head Mode, Fast Fast Forward mode, and Campaign's Black and White Classic Horror Mode.
Ahead of today's announcement, media and developer Armature, specifically executive producer Tom Ivey, chatted about what's new and how the studio handled the original VR version of the game. Overall, its release was highly praised, including many VR enthusiasts, and was called a "great way to relive the classics." But some loyal fans were surprised to find that the game had trimmed dialogue in some scenes and seemed to remove some scenes altogether.
"It's 2022 and there's something that doesn't fit in," Ivey said last week, "and it doesn't fit into the current Resident Evil franchise." So our idea is that we keep every scene in the room and the creatures you fight, as well as the storyline. But, you know, it's 2022, and are some game affairs in line with the way Resident Evil should present itself in this day and age? That's the trade-off. ”
"For those who want the original experience in mercenary mode, don't be afraid, the vast majority of the original version of the game has been reserved for fans who just want to play this."
"All the gameplay of the original RE4, we've blocked it in one option, which is known as classic mode," Ivey explains. "So you can play with all the maps and characters, the way the timer works and the location of the timer in the level and all of that is exactly the same.
"But there are also some things that are fundamental changes to the rules of mercenary mode," Ive continued. "Here, instead of the usual two-minute start of the timer, things get even crazier."
"There's a pattern called time rush, where you start with a very, very limited amount of time. We placed two timers at random locations around the map, so you have to quickly look around... See that timer and think about how I got there while still being able to kill enemies on the run to keep my disguise? Then I picked it up, and I probably had 20 seconds left. "
Kill Dash is another service that lets you start with a limited amount of time, you can get more time by killing enemies, and headshots will get more time. Fatal Hits are another new option, and they can deal you damage if you don't hit any of the targets.
With the addition of mercenary mode, fan requests may now focus on another popular Resident Evil 4 mode, King Ida Agent mode. But Today Armature didn't hint at that, and for now, Ivey says Armature is still focused on mercenary mode itself.