The Resident Evil 4 remake is just over a month away, but Capcom has hinted that it wants to bring back a particularly memorable piece of the game’s history.
Releasing on PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X|S on March 24, Resident Evil 4 is a reimagining of the beloved 2005 classic. But Capcom might also recreate the game’s infamous chainsaw controller if the opportunity arises, as producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi hinted as much in an interview with Game Informer (opens in a new tab).
“We wanted to make one,” Hirabayashi said in response to being asked whether or not the fancy chainsaw controller would return. “But we’re already putting everything we have into developing the game. Maybe we can look into that another time, if the opportunity arises.”
It is confirmed that they wanted to create a new RE4R Chainsaw controller but they put all efforts into the development of the game.They may look at creating one if there’s a future opportunity…LET’S GET VOCAL PEOPLE!#REBHFun pic.twitter.com/q0Dv3snvbJFebruary 15, 2023
And when we say “chainsaw controller”, we really mean it. This unwieldy peripheral has been lovingly designed to emulate the chainsaw carried by the game’s iconic enemy, Dr. Salvador. Although it comes in the form of a vague controller with analog sticks, face buttons and triggers.
You even hold the thing like you would a chainsaw and there’s a dedicated motor pulley to spin the saw blade. It’s a ridiculously ambitious controller in terms of design. But in practice, it’s endlessly frustrating to use due to the clunky layout of buttons and sticks.
Le Dr. Salvadon’t
It’s certainly nice to see that Capcom remembers the odd chainsaw controller and even considered developing a new version of it for the Resident Evil 4 remake. definitely not on the list of best PS5 controllers or best Xbox controllers.
We’re lucky to have the PS2 version of Resident Evil 4’s Chainsaw Controller. And it’s a thing of beauty, tucked away in a themed glass box, which is likely to deter players from actually playing the game with it.
As cool as this chainsaw controller is, the button layout leaves a lot to be desired. So much so that you deliberately make games harder by using it. It’s certainly a common specimen for challenge runs, especially for Resident Evil 4. But its appeal is limited, as it openly rejects any form of sensible ergonomics.
Would we like to see the chainsaw controller from Resident Evil 4 return for the remake? Of course. It is undeniably elegant and would make a fantastic collector’s item. However, it would probably be quite expensive and limited in its availability. But if Capcom sells it, chances are we’ll buy it.
