Capcom is known for packing its games with numerous unlocks, giving players further incentive to keep on playing after the credits roll for the first time. 2005’s Resident Evil 4 is no different. Despite including no multiplayer content whatsoever, there are plenty of goodies to unlock for further playthroughs.
The following list explains how to unlock all of them. A few of them are low-hanging fruit earned by simply completing the campaign for the first time, while others require a little more work. Some might take you a while, but it is all bliss when you are playing one of the best video games ever made.
10 The Punisher - Shoot All The Medallions
This is the only unlock you can get before beating the game. A file in the village details a small game the merchant has set up for you. Shoot at least ten blue medallions hanging in the environment to unlock the Punisher. It is not super powerful, but the bullets go through enemies. We recommend replacing the Handgun with it until you gain access to the Red9, which then should become your main pistol.
9 Extra Game Modes - Beat The Game Once
Resident Evil 4 includes three other game modes in addition to the main campaign; Separate Ways, Assignment Ada, and The Mercenaries. The first two put you into Ada Wong’s shoes, while the third is a score-based minigame where you must destroy as many enemies as possible and survive until the time runs out. In order to play any of these, you must beat the game once, which takes between 12 and sixteen hours. Most further unlocks involve these modes. Beating the game also unlocks the ability to watch all the cutscenes.
8 Matilda - Beat The Game Once
The Matilda uses ammo fast, which is not always ideal for a pistol. Still, if you wish to utilize this weapon, you have to beat the game and then you will be able to purchase it from the Merchant during the next playthrough.
The weapon still costs 70,000 pts, so be sure to have a solid amount of money saved if you want to hit the ground running with it on the new game.
7 Handcannon - Five Star Every Stage With Every Character In The Mercenaries
Achieve four stars in a stage once to unlock a new character in this mode. The unlocking is not done here, however. Earn five stars in every stage with all the characters to unlock a powerful magnum called the Handcannon. After doing this, it is a free pickup from the merchant. Buying all the upgrades still costs around 790,000 pts. It is by far the most powerful gun in the game, with the final power measured at 99.9.
6 Infinite Rocket Launcher - Beat The Game Once
Most Resident Evil games have a Rocket Launcher. Usually a friendly supporting character will throw one down to the protagonist in order to even the odds with the last boss. After beating Resident Evil 4 for the first time, you can buy a Rocket Launcher with infinite ammunition. However, it still costs one million pts, so be prepared to save up some money if you want it. Every other Rocket Launcher is a single use weapon.
5 Chicago Typewriter - Beat Assignment Ada
Don’t be fooled by this weapon’s name. You definitely won’t be punching letters into paper with the Chicago Typewriter. Instead, you’ll be punching holes into enemies with bullets. Unlocking this weapon is as simple as beating Assignment Ada, the non-canon bonus mode starring Ada Wong. This small campaign is actually quite difficult, so be prepared for a challenging gauntlet. While the weapon costs a million pts, it has infinite ammo and never has to reload.
4 Special Costume Set 1 - Beat The Game Once
It is not a Resident Evil game without special costumes. There are two sets of outfits you can unlock. The first set, which puts Ashley into a pop star outfit and Leon into his old RCPD digs, is unlocked by beating the game for the first time. These are purely aesthetic changes. Unfortunately, the cutscenes are pre-rendered, so the outfits do not show in most cinematics.
3 Ada’s Report - Beat Each Chapter In Separate Ways
Separate Ways is a canon side story which follows Ada Wong through the events of Resident Evil 4. As such, you run into Leon Kennedy a few times throughout the short journey.
There are several unlocks for going through the whole thing, but you also get little narrative dumps after each chapter called Ada’s Reports. They tell Ada’s side of the story while also giving a clearer view of the story overall. Separate Ways is essential to understanding the whole narrative, though it is not available in the original GameCube release.
2 P.R.L. 412 - Beat Professional Mode
Professional mode is available after beating the game once. This difficulty setting is way harder than the base difficulty, but it fortunately comes with its own reward for beating it. The P.R.L. 412 takes up a lot of space in the inventory, but it is also incredibly powerful, eliminating the need for most other weapons. Of course, once you have beaten Professional difficulty you have pretty much done everything there is to do in Resident Evil 4.
1 Special Costume Set 2 - Beat Separate Ways
Beat Separate Ways to unlock another set of costumes for Leon and Ashley. In this one, Leon looks like he is a gangster from the 1930s, the perfect compliment to the Chicago Typewriter. Ashley comes in a suit of armor, making her invincible. Since many bemoan having to escort the president’s daughter, the suit of armor is a welcome change, even if it does look silly. Resident Evil is always a little silly, though, so it does not feel too incongruous.
