With the gripping opening chapters behind him, expert Resident Evil player Leon S. Kennedy must traverse the eerie village to get to the church and continue his search for the president‘s missing daughter. This atmospheric location holds untold secrets and surprises for newcomers and veterans alike.
As a passionate Resident Evil fan since the original 1996 release, I‘ve helped dozens of players old and new navigate the church across multiple platforms. Now I‘ll share my expertise on the fastest route to the church in Resident Evil 4 Remake, where enhanced visuals and extra content enrich an already iconic experience.
From ammo conservation to enemy tactics, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to bypass traps, take down foes, and safely reach your destination. Let‘s delve into the many challenges between Leon and the church.
Exiting the Manor
Chief Bitores Mendez may be defeated, but Leon‘s trials are just beginning. Collect the Insignia Key from Mendez’ remains to unlock access to the rear passage. Before following the linear path, be sure to thoroughly search the manor’s guest house, including the locked western room hiding valuable treasures.
The Caves
The dim caverns linking the manor to the village serve as a temporary sanctuary to catch your breath, but don’t dawdle long. Numerous branching paths hide glittering loot which can always be retrieved later. Without the Iron Key found at the church, many tantalizing chests must regretfully be left sealed for now.
Savvy players will note the abundance of sparkling minerals lining certain passages. Should your inventory fill later in the game, these glittering gem deposits can be mined for high value combinable treasures.
Emerging Threats
Barely a moment to relax, the caverns introduce a new threat – the Garradors. These towering foes may be blind, but their razor claws and sensitive hearing make them a frequent source of frustration for novice players. Stealth and silence are critical to avoiding unwanted confrontations with these beasts. Experts recommend tossing stones or firing non-silenced guns to disrupt their tracking before moving in for an attack.
| Enemy Type | Health | Attack Damage | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrador | 500 HP | 80 per swipe | Flash grenades, shotguns |
Occasionally a challenging encounter makes combat unavoidable. In these scenarios, flash grenades temporarily stun the beasts while shotguns blast away at their durable exterior. Just be ready to retreat from any packs larger than a couple Grarradors at once.
Revisiting the Town Hall
Passing through the exit, Leon finds himself right back at the village outskirts. Your return is swiftly interrupted by an enormous explosion as Ganados collapse the town hall’s front tower, blocking the entrance. Whereas veterans will recall this as the work of Bitores Mendez, new hunters may incorrectly suspect traps from the yet unseen Ramon Salazar.
After battling past the scripted ambush, Leon can finally return inside with the aid of his Insignia Key. Take the chance to check every room thoroughly, smashing all breakable objects and checking walls for hidden stashes. Paper memos offer further world building lore to devoted fans.
The Merchant Returns
Before proceeding, the ever-reliable Merchant can be found waiting at the town hall’s rear exit, conveniently equipped with new weapons, parts and ammo for the trials ahead. Players flush with cash should consider upgrading to high-capacity magazine upgrades to better manage groups of enemies between encounters.
The Striker shotgun remains an inexpensive and deadly addition to Leon’s arsenal even late into the game. A fully upgraded Striker can eliminate common Ganados in a single blast, while packing enough punch to stagger brute enemies if pressed to the limit.
Once sufficiently equipped, exiting through the rear of the hall reveals…
Onward to the Church
…the final path to Leon’s primary objective – the Church. Winding trails lit by the glowing blue torches of the Los Illuminados cult draw the eye towards the main place of worship past the graveyard.
Here the adept Resident Evil player spies numerous glimpses hinting at threats to come throughout the grounds. Boarded windows conceal internal areas, sabotaged no doubt by the parasite-afflicted villagers. Crows circle ominously around locked sheds likely hiding useful gear or secret items.
Most notably, vivid purple insects swarm unseen around the area, signifying the invisible menace of the Novistadors. Their debut proved a frequent player killer in the original 2005 release. Though mechanically identical 16 years later, current graphics allow their sinister insects forms to finally shine.
Invisible Enemies
Allow them to approach at your own peril! Novistadors move with unnerving speed when chasing prey. Their mandibles and abdominal claws make short work of the unwary.
| Enemy Type | Health | Attack Damage | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novistador | 140 HP | 20 per attack | Shotguns, fire |
Veterans likely recall these
transparent terrors once plaguing Resident Evil survivor Rebecca Chambers during the 2002 Remake of the original Resident Evil. Now Leon faces the same deadly swarm. Not for nothing do fans nickname the Novistadors “Skull Eaters.”
Though Novistadors lack the raw power of Garradors, their speed, numbers and invisibility make them foes not to be taken lightly. Fortunately, the standard arsenal already holds the perfect counter for these unrelenting insects – shotguns. Typically two or three shotgun blasts will eliminate standard specimens. Meanwhile, conveniently placed proximity mines gift wrap an explosive surprise to oncoming swarms.
Now within sight of the church, Leon realizes not ghosts but parasites have taken over the remote rural community, twisting the villagers into single-minded bioorganic weapons. And these are but the first of many revelations awaiting our hero at his destination. What other infected could be waiting around the corner or through those heavy double doors?
Arriving at the Church
Cautious experts recommend clearing the entire exterior region before approaching the intimidating church entrance, whose blood red doors foreshadow bodily threats to come. Somewhere inside, Ashley Graham prays for rescue. But will Leon live long enough to answer?
Veteran demon slayers must steel their nerves and inventory before proceeding inside. Health items and ammunition will prove valuable commodities in the trials ahead. While newcomers face terrors untold, series fans know only to expect the unexpected from this iconic location that has set the stage for so many classic Resident Evil climactic confrontations.
For now, Leon can only push open the doors and descend into the darkness…
Key Takeaways
- Search the manor thoroughly before exiting
- Conserve ammo in caves but gather gems and treasure
- Use flash grenades and shotguns against Garradors
- Explore town hall completely after sabotage explosion
- Upgrade capacity and firepower weapons with the Merchant
- Clear Novistador swarms before entering church
- Prepare health, firepower and nerves before church chapter begin
Hopefully our guide has provided enough tips and insight to give players old and new the confidence to confront the eerie church. Though dangers await inside, useful gear and clues to the village mysteries can be found by explorers bold enough to search every corner of the compound. Just be cautious, as infected Los Ganados improve hiding spots and patrol routes in the remake.
For longtime fans, the church marks a milestone in Resident Evil history across generations of hardware. Though environments and enemies may be enhanced, at its core Resident Evil 4 retains the same code that captivated a generation. Soon Leon’s investigation will unveil this quaint community‘s dark secrets. But players must survive the horrors within first!
