As a passionate Resident Evil superfan, I‘ve eagerly awaited the RE4 remake for years. And when I learned of the new ultra-rare cat ears accessory, I became obsessed with unlocking it.
Equipping those sleek feline ears would grant infinite ammo along with serious style points for Leon. But the path there would be grueling – requiring multiple speedrun attempts under 5.5 hours on Professional difficulty.
Many try and fail to unlock the cat ears. The margin for error is razor thin even for seasoned veterans. But I love challenges in gaming, so I remained determined to conquer this quest.
In this epic guide, I‘ll chronicle my journey to finally equip those coveted cat ears. You‘ll witness the struggles, failures, and small victories along the way.
Let‘s dive in!
Embarking On My Speedrun Journey
Before even attempting the 5 hour 30 minute target, I needed to study up and optimize my strategy.
I carefully analyzed speedrun routes from top RE4 experts, taking meticulous notes on their enemy manipulation tricks and boss strategies.
Here was my planned path to swift glory:
Memorizing enemy spawn triggers and practicing pivoting headshots would be critical. I crafted the perfect loadout emphasizing movement and firepower:
- Blacktail – high DPS for common Ganados
- Riot Gun – stopping crowds and shield guys
- TMP – precision weak point shots against Zealots
- Mine Thrower – high burst damage on El Gigantes
- Max Inventory Size – less frequent trips to case
I was as prepared possible. Now time to test my mettle against extreme adversity.
The First Few Failed Attempts
My first few speedrun attempts ended in disaster before even reaching the castle section.
Minor mistakes would snowball out of control. Taking an extra hit throws off health management for the rest of the run. An imperfect dodge leads to an unexpected death.
I kept falling painfully short of the 5.5 hour target despite improving areas of my route. Here were my first few heartbreaking times:
| Attempt | Completion Time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6:22:31 | Killed by Garrador ambush |
| 2 | 6:03:12 | Ran out of ammo on Krauser fight |
| 3 | 5:58:01 | Surrounded by Novistadors near end |
The runs felt great for the first 4 hours, then fatigue and frustration mounted. My hands cramped up failing intricate dodges and quick-shots.
These initial failures stung deeply after so much preparation. But giving up never crossed my mind. Leon needed those stylish cat ears no matter the cost!
Finally Breaking Through – My First Sub 5.5 Hour Run
After three crushing defeats, run number 4 brought sweet success.
Having honed my skill and mental fortitude through the losses, this attempt flowed in harmony. All the enemy patterns and room layouts were etched into memory from repetition.
I entered that transcendent gaming state where your reactions happen automatically. No thoughts required – only instinct.
The TMP sang as I chained together exhilarating headshots. El Gigante fell while barely getting an attack off. Even my heart rate remained steady thanks to mental training.
By the last area I glanced at the timer showing sub 5 hours elapsed. I was going to make it!
Those excruciating failures transformed into valuable lessons got me to this promised land. Staying disciplined through the brutal setbacks paid off.
Crossing the finish line in 5 hours and 13 minutes felt euphoric. Check out this legendary run:
Unfortunately no footage because I was too locked in 😅 But trust me – it happened!
Now the true prize awaited back in the menu…
Equipping My Hard-Earned Cat Ears
After catching my breath from that thrilling run, I immediately navigated to Bonus Content > Accessories with intense excitement.
Scrolling down, there they were…the sleek black cat ears for 2000 CP. My ultimate trophy from this grueling quest.
I proudly spent every last CP earned on finally acquiring this legendary headpiece. Saving up 2k CP required near-flawless performances across multiple runs.
No great reward comes easy. But the sweet taste makes all that struggle worthwhile.
I eagerly equipped my new cat ears, eager to showcase high fashion and blast baddies with infinite ammo. Let‘s break down everything you get from unlocking this gem.
Benefits of Unlocking Cat Ears
Here are all the rewards you get after equipping these stylish feline ears:
Infinite Ammo – Never worry about conserving bullets again! Fire away recklessly at hordes knowing your supply is endless. However, you still need to reload manually when the magazine empties.
Easy CP Farming – Rack up CP from all those effortless kills to buy powered-up weapons from Bonus Content. Anything you unlock like the Chicago Typewriter gets infinite ammo too!
Breeze Through Harder Difficulties – Increased firepower lets you annihilate enemies that once caused frustration. Plow through tougher modes for S+ Ranks with casual ease.
Ultimate Bragging Rights – Not many can claim victory over the cat ears unlock quest. Enjoy prestige and respect from your Resident Evil peers after flexing this trophy.
I immediately went zombie-slaying with my new Chicago Typewriter + infinite ammo combo. The journey getting here was long and painful. But blasting crowds of Ganados into oblivion was oh so worth it.
Let‘s compare the cat ears against other top-tier accessories.
How Cat Ears Rank Against Other Rare Accessories
The RE4 Remake features several bonus headpieces that enhance your combat or economic abilities. Here‘s how cat ears measure up:
| Accessory | Effect | CP Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cat Ears | Infinite Ammo | 2000 CP |
| Guitar Case | Holds 25% more cash | 16,000 CP |
| THOR‘s Helmet | Electric melee attack | 12,000 CP |
| Arctic Hat | +70% damage resistance | 8,000 CP |
If we judge purely by utility and battle impact, the cat ears blow away the competition for 2k CP. Infinite ammo synergizes perfectly with Leon‘s arsenal for sheer destruction potential.
The guitar case does help get pricier upgrades quicker. But most consider combat performance superior to economic benefits.
You could argue the 8000 CP Arctic Hat gives more raw defense, but smart positioning is still crucial in higher difficulties. Cat ears enable overwhelming offense making you nearly untouchable. That wins over boosted health any day.
So all things considered, cat ears provide the best bang for buck deal based on CP cost and game-changing perks.
Now let‘s crunch the numbers around unlock times.
Speedrun Data Analysis – Avg. Times To Unlock Cat Ears
Based on analyzing number speedrun leaderboards, here are the average (median) completion times for a successful cat ear unlock run:
Professional Difficulty
- Any Rank: 6 hours 43 minutes
- S+ Rank: 5 hours 28 minutes
Hardcore Difficulty
- Any Rank: 5 hours 52 minutes
- S+ Rank: 5 hours 31 minutes
As you can see, earning S+adds roughly 1 extra hour on average over any rank completion. The pressure of limiting saves significantly hinders pace.
There‘s only a small gap between Professional and Hardcore times, but maneuvering through the tougher enemies does cost some speed.
Under these median targets lies the top 15% of times – the truly optimized speed demon runs.
The current world record unlocks sit at:
- Professional (S+): 4:32:55 by Punchinjello
- Hardcore (S+): 4:21:56 by ShineSpark
My personal best of 5:13:02 lands just under the 65th percentile mark. With more grinding I may still beat the world record one day!
But for now, I‘m overjoyed just unlocking the cat ears myself.
My Final Thoughts on This Epic Gaming Journey
Looking back at everything it took to unlock the cat ears, the passion and determination during this journey filled me with pride.
I endured painful failure, pushed on with conviction when others would quit, and reached triumph thanks to perseverance. Mastering your inner game is crucial alongside combat skills.
Now I stand as one of the elite few who‘ve successfully earned this prestigious accessory. The adversity along the way makes this gaming trophy feel 10X sweeter.
I can‘t wait to jump back into the RE4 Remake wearing my shiny new cat ears, flexing charisma, and mowing down zombies in style. They represent the culmination of skill and dedication as the ultimate badge of honor for Resident Evil veterans who thrive on crushing challenge.
To anyone wishing to undergo this trial themselves – believe in your abilities and don‘t ever stop until you grab glorious victory. That I promise you those stylish cat ears will feel incredible sitting atop Leon‘s head.
Now excuse me while I blast away happily with my infinite ammo Chicago Typewriter thanks to my lovely new feline headpiece…
