If there’s one character in Resident Evil 4 that you’d be forgiven for not remembering all that well, it’s Luis Sera. Luis in the original game is the obvious Resident Evil-tier comedic relief – its equivalent of SMG-wielding Steve in Code Veronica or Resident Evil 5’s Irving, a businessman with “stannnnndahds.” Granted, these characters might get a brief redemptive arc, but they’re almost always so disposable that the second they’re dead, you breathe a sigh of relief.
Yet if there’s anything Resident Evil 4 Remake gets right, it’s finally giving Luis the time to shine as a genuinely likable, endearing ally. If anything, he’s the highlight of the story, flitting in and out mysteriously with more intrigue than Ada Wong, all while charming the player.
No longer is he commenting on Ashley’s “ballistic missiles” or spouting random Spanish in case his accent doesn’t convince you he’s a local. Instead, his dialogue is devoted to establishing intrigue and how he’s a self-serving coward due to past misdeeds that he finally has to reconcile with. His regularly helping Leon and Ashley is always tempered by trying to keep a safe distance, fighting against his instincts. He’s no longer a cipher of barely explained motivations.
Easily one of the clearest contrasts between the two incarnations is his fateful interaction with Ada Wong – originally, he was a flirty bumbler, whereas now he’s in over his head with Ada demanding results. You can really tell Luis is at the end of his rope, having made too many bad decisions to get to this point. Hunnigan even warns Leon once she’s able to look up Luis’ checkered past, yet Leon cooperates with him anyway.
As the circumstances grow more dire, Luis eventually becomes precisely the sort of ally players dreamed of having in Resident Evil 5 – he defends himself, is plenty competent, tosses meaningful banter, and distracts tougher enemies as they encroach on you in greater waves while navigating the mines.
As highlighted in the trailers, Luis plays a major part in the mines, aiding you while riding the far more dynamic minecart section, and greatly assisting in the Two Giants battle. One can’t help but sympathize with him as he sputters in disbelief “is it always like this with you?” to Leon. Yet in the blink of an eye, he regains the perfect composure, instantly becoming the coolest dork in the room.
I have to believe Luis is incorporated here as a test case for a practically inevitable Resident Evil 5 Remake – not only in his presentation but his mechanical integration, he serves as a perfect example of a great ally NPC. He doesn’t get in the way, he genuinely aids you if there’s too much to juggle, and the rest of the time he provides perfect banter to offset Leon’s bewildering shift into humorless bore.
Luis outright saves certain scenes in the remake with his sheer charisma, ensuring you have something to look forward to between Leon’s stiff-faced grumping. Sometimes, it feels like Luis and Saddler are the only ones who remember they’re in a Resident Evil game.
It’s a shame one side character has to carry all the charm that Jill and Carlos had in Resident Evil 3 Remake, let alone the spread of great portrayals in Resident Evil 2 Remake, but at least the aspiring Don Quixote is truly an Ingenious Gentleman worth remembering.
