Capcom recently showed off a good chunk of gameplay from the upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake, and fans noticed a key and heartbreaking difference.
In the original Resident Evil 4, there’s an adorable puppy stuck in a bear trap that Leon stumbles upon. The player can help free the dog from the trap, and the dog will return to help you in a boss battle a bit later. In the upcoming Resident Evil 4 remake, it appears this is no longer the case.
As you can see in the video below, by the time Leon reaches the trap in the RE4 remake, the dog is already dead, leaving you to face the fight ahead on your own.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 😭 #ResidentEvil4Remake pic.twitter.com/7W8bKEU3ql
— IGN (@IGN) October 20, 2022
RE fans on the internet are mourning the loss of the iconic dog. Even the famous “Can You Pet the Dog?” Twitter account chimed in, expressing strongly worded anger at the puppy’s untimely death.
What the fuck https://t.co/9HILadjL1h
“Can you pet the dog?” (@CanYouPetTheDog) October 21, 2022
Other RE fans have treated the news differently, with some theorizing it represents a “darker, more morbid take” on the events of Resident Evil 4. Some are frustrated with the change, saying the moment the dog coming back to help you is part of what makes Resident Evil 4 feel wholesome amidst the darkness. And finally, a fan called for a moment of silence for the beloved dog.
(18/??) One change I expect to split in the remake is that the dog you could save at the start of the game is already dead by the time you get to this point in RE:4. Poor doggo, but maybe he demonstrates early on that this is a darker, more morbid take on Resident Evil 4, a bit more twisted. pic.twitter.com/TsQwa74Ssw
— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) October 21, 2022
I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining just for fun, but it was a pretty big part of the game. Saving the dog and later being saved by the dog gave the OG game that “wholesome” feeling to the game. middle of the dark. Very toku. That’s what sets Resident Evil apart! https://t.co/TkDW2sSQz4
— Art-Eater ➡️⬇️↘️🐲👊 (@Richmond_Lee) October 21, 2022
A moment of silence for THIS DOG who helped us in Resident Evil 4! Sadly it doesn’t make it in the RE4 Remake it seems 😭 pic.twitter.com/vC059Bl1Ri
— 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 (@RuleTimeSpace) October 21, 2022
Even with the apparent removal of our four-legged friend, the Resident Evil 4 remake is shaping up to be a faithful homage to the original. In our hands-on preview, we said Capcom seems “laser-focused on improving one of the best games of all time.”
For more, you can read IGN’s interview with Resident Evil 4 producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi, or find out why there are currently no plans for a Code Veronica remake.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of gaming industry experience with signings at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.