Resident Evil 4 gives players more content to play with this time starring fan-favorite Ada Wong in the Separate Ways DLC. Acting as a bridge between Leon and Ada’s respective stories in the base game the DLC has you playing as the femme fatale in the lead. As Ada you learn more about her employment with Umbrella and subsequent business partnership with Albert Wesker who has tasked her with obtaining a sample of the Plagas. Featuring slightly altered gameplay mechanics from Leon, Ada’s journey will further expand the Resident Evil 4 story.

Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways is a 2023 downloadable content release based on Resident Evil 4, developed and published by Capcom. It is currently available for PC, Playstation, and Xbox.

Editor’s Note: Spoilers for Separate Ways and the base Resident Evil 4 may be present within this review.

Ada Wong takes center stage in Separate Ways.

Ada Wong returns in the lead role of a new campaign for Resident Evil 4. In Separate Ways, Ada heads to Spain on behalf of Albert Wesker to obtain a sample of the Plagas. Along the way, she catches up with Leon and acquires the aide of former Umbrella Corporation employee Luis. During the journey, Ada must choose between following her orders or following her own path forward.

Ada Wong has a unique path and mechanics compared to Leon.

THE GOOD: Sometime before Leon arrives in Spain, Luis is captured by Salazar’s forces and sent to a dungeon where Ada is ordered to free him. She informs him that he’s being ordered to retrieve the Plagas for Wesker. As the two separate, Ada is infected with a unique strand of the Plagas from Salazar’s enforcer Presanta. Ada attempts to avoid Presanta and suffers from hallucinations but later finds Leon who’s fighting the Los Illuminados. As her mission moves forward Ada is consistently checked on by an annoyed and impatient Wesker. She reunites with Luis who convinces her to create suppressants for herself, Leon, and Ashley.

Ada’s infection grows worse while near the Plagas sample and she & Luis are forced to separate again. Luis reunites with Leon and Ashley while Ada faces Presanta. Upon its defeat, Ada vomits the parasite it infected her with curing herself of it. While trying to find Luis, she learns that Krauser killed him for the sample and decides to get revenge. She again meets with Leon and helps him reach the island where Krauser and Ashley are being held. After seeing Krauser give the sample to Salazar, she learns that Wesker plans to destroy the island regardless of whether Ashley survives.

Ada sabotages the bombs Wesker planted using Luis’ files and saves Ashley & Leon from Saddler but is captured by him. Leon rescues Ada and the two work together to stop and kill Saddler. Following her escape from the island she questions Wesker on his use of the sample who states he intends to use it to end the age of man. Ada disgusted by Wesker’s plans decides to change course betraying him.

Ada gets around with a grappling hook in areas previously destroyed by Leon’s actions.

If you’ve been involved with the Resident Evil franchise long enough chances are four main characters have stuck with you: Leon, Claire, Ada, and Chris. Capcom is attempting to “future-proof” Resident Evil’s story and world-building with titles like 7 and Village taking things to slightly different, more paranormal/supernatural directions. It feels like the aforementioned characters at some point are going to be sunset sooner rather than later. The remakes have been ways for long-time and newer fans to get reacquainted with them as that day approaches. Chris Redfield being featured in 7 & Village with Leon and Ada taking over in 4 & Separate Ways are excellent refresher courses before an undoubted future sendoff. In the case of Ada, they don’t do too much to change her from Leon outside of minor tweaks such as her signature grappling hook and they don’t need to.

The only main difference between her and Leon’s respective skill sets is that she’s more experienced in hand-to-hand combat and has more advanced weaponry. The grappling hook is often used for traversal, but can also be used to reach enemies from a distance for a quick attack. It comes a bit in handy in bigger hordes while running low on supplies. The story is virtually the same as the base game but does provide a bit more clarity on Ada and to a lesser extent Luis during their time apart from Leon. The map will change under situations Leon, Ashley, and Luis experienced that directly and indirectly impacted Ada during the story. However, this was often limited and if you didn’t pay too much attention you probably wouldn’t notice anyway unless it was pretty blatant.

As Ada, players will face additional dangers to  Leon’s.

THE BAD: It’s to be expected these days with DLC for 20 or 30-hour campaigns, but I do feel it necessary to mention that this one is short. You’ll be lucky to get in about five hours going on a completion run with this one.

Separate Ways looks to fill in the gaps left behind by the base game.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Separate Ways is a fine expansion and conclusion to the story being told by Resident Evil 4. With renewed focus on Ada Wong, it gives shine to a classic franchise favorite and even tries a fair bit to differentiate her from the previous lead Leon S. Kennedy. Though it is admittedly limited in time, what we do spend with Ada and her perspective makes for a satisfying conclusion to the overall story of the game.