14 DAY TRIAL // Capcom has been on a roll for a while now. Beyond Monster Hunter, the latest Street Fighter games and Resident Evil remakes were very well received both critically and by the public.
One of the reasons for this success seems to be the fact that the developers are offering what their fans want most. Is turning Separate Ways into a stand-alone campaign a continuation of the success streak or is it a hiccup along the way? Read on to find out. Resident Evil 4 launched back in the spring is an excellent game that was loved by the veterans of the series, and newcomers alike. But those who played with the original game noticed that a piece of the story was missing: the part starring Ada Wong was nowhere to be found. But, when the Separate Ways DLC was announced, it all made sense.
The developers decided to put more emphasis and better frame the parallel events that are silently unfolding in the background while Leon Kennedy runs around trying to save the daughter of the president.
Taking into account that this story was originally part of the game, many might jump up from their chairs accusing of greed the publisher. But the way this new content was integrated with the remaster, Separate Ways actually fully justifies its price.
Resident Evil does not have by any means a straightforward story if we look at the games, and if we also take into account the various movies, live-action series, animated series, novels and comic books we end up with a universe that will make your head spin. One of the most devious characters of the series is the operative Ada Wong - you can never be sure what her angle and her real purpose is.
That is why many fans will be thrilled to see her in the main role, having a chance to discover more details about this elusive, yet important character. Their prayers have been answered since, the new DLC does not use Ada as a tool to build up the atmosphere for Leon’s adventures without having a real effect on the outcome. Instead, we get an experience with improved production value and story.
That means that the DLC is comparable to the content of the base game. Ada Wong is no longer the mysterious coldhearted operative lacking any emotions, rather an exciting character with a relatable personality. This can be observed throughout the story that presents events that start well before Leon’s arrival and run in parallel until the grand finale on the island.
The dialogues with Luis and Wesker are well written, and it is a pleasure to explore the content of Separate Ways also because of the countless references and easter eggs the developers have included.
The pacing of the action is even tighter compared to the base game, and you can notice that the developers tried hard to fit every piece of intended content into this DLC. As such, Separate Ways is around 5-6 hours long, more than double the length of the bonus campaign of the original Resident Evil 4.
Just as can be observed in the remake and the original, Ada is very professional and always prepared compared to Leon who at times is completely taken by surprise.
Most of the gameplay will be familiar from the remake including the weapons, the jewelry that can be fitted with gemstones, the simplified ammo crafting system and the occasional run in with the merchant.
But there is one difference that allows Ada to move around more efficiently and also can help her out during combat: the grappling hook. This versatile tool allows our hero to keep an eye on Leon while also focusing on her own assignment.
Conclusion
Overall, Separate Ways is a quality piece of content that gives Ada Wong the attention it deserves while giving players another slice of excellent story and gameplay.
Review key provided by CD Media.
