Resident Evil 4 is set to take over the world yet again in a luxurious remake coming this month. Following this month’s Capcom Spotlight, Capcom released a demo for the game titled “Chainsaw Demo”. Offering a sneak peek of the game’s introductory sequence, players were granted access to the iconic village opening that sees protagonist Leon Kennedy square off against hordes of not-zombies. Including the chainsaw-wielding fan-favorite Dr. Salvador.
What fans might not know, however, is that the “Chainsaw Demo” holds a terrifying secret. Should you be so lucky, you may find yourself receiving a special invitation to a hidden mode called “MAD CHAINSAW MODE”. Access to this mode seems highly restricted and entirely reliant on luck. Personally, I only came across it twice in over 40 attempts.
The Terror of the Resident Evil 4 Mad Chainsaw Mode
This extreme difficulty option for Resident Evil 4 more than lives up to its name by bringing back the deadly Super Salvador that terrorized players in the original game’s arcade-like Mercenaries mode. Proving as nerve-wracking as ever, Super Salvador charges toward players with a greatly increased speed and attacks with reckless abandon. He will stop at nothing to introduce you to his souped-up chainsaw.
Additionally, the secret difficulty mode also features some remixed enemy placements. Locations that were previously only populated by a single enemy will now feature a trio of bloodthirsty Ganado’s instead. Much like Super Salvador himself, these enemies seem to be slightly more aggressive and possess a higher resistance to attacks. Furthermore, damage values are comparable to the Professional difficulty in the original game and will see players dead in as few as two hits if they aren’t careful.
It’s important to note that, should you accept the challenge, the rules will only apply to that specific playthrough. Death will result in a total game over and boot you back to the menu. Voiding the extreme modifiers until they appear again. Capcom also states that this special mode is exclusive to the demo and will not be making an appearance in Resident Evil 4 come the end of March.
Just Like Old Times
Resident Evil titles are no stranger to viral marketing tactics such as this. But rarely have they ever been so downright panic-inducing. Fans may remember the infamous finger shenanigans of the Resident Evil 7 demo. That led players worldwide on a hunt for a secret that never existed. It’s a powerful strategy that harkens back to the days of schoolyard rumors. When youngsters would squabble about whether or not Street Fighter’s Akuma made a guest appearance in Resident Evil 2 (1997). The appearance of Super Salvador seems to have worked as intended as it begins to make the waves on social media, spreading like wildfire.
Veteran players of the survival horror series might begin to feel a sense of déjà vu. The mode bears a striking resemblance to the hidden “One Dangerous Zombie” mode from the Resident Evil 1 Remake back in the day. “One Dangerous Zombie” saw the zombified remains of a former comrade chase after the player at super-speeds. Strapped head-to-toe in explosives that would detonate upon taking any kind of damage, thus ending the game. It’s this endlessly charming playfulness that keeps players infatuated with the series after nearly three decades, and it’s nice to see it thrive even now.
Players can try out the “Chainsaw Demo” for themselves on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam. Resident Evil 4 (2023) itself will release on March 23rd, 2023 on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, and Steam.
