Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4

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List of Non-Glitch Skips and Timesaves
By Varaki
List of some non-glitch or intended skips and timesaves in each chapter.
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Leave a comment if you find any other non-glitch skips or timesaves that I neglected to mention! Also thumbs up this guide if you found it helpful to make it more visible for others!

For skips or timesaves with multiple options, the fastest will be numbered first.

  • Breaking locks and containers with a knife stab (or gunshot) is much faster than kicking it.
  • Rocket Launchers can be used to one shot any boss or enemy, including:
    • Both of the Chainsaw Sisters
    • Both of the Giants at once in the lava room if they are close enough to each other. It will one shot both if fired immediately after the cutscene.
  • Clusters of attachable mines can be placed around the spawn point of bosses or enemies that allow setup to one shot or deal heavy damage instantly, such as:
    • The first Garrador encountered while he is still chained up - place mine(s) in his path in the corridor
    • The Chainsaw Sisters before they break the wall - place mines on the lightbulb facing the wall
    • Mendez before the fight is initiated - place mines on the floor between the blue barrels for Phase 1 and directly above the barrels on the beam for Phase 2
Chapter 1
  • Village Fight Skip
    Using the rifle (only possible in New Game+), snipe the church bell located in the background of the Northwest behind the village. This rings the bell and immediately ends the section.
  • Quickly Unlocking the Barn with the Wooden Cog
    Upon entering the farm section with the locked gate and missing wooden cog, you can approach the large house to the right of the typewriter house with the locked back door and either:
    1. While aiming, walk into the door point blank until the grip on the pistol is changed, aiming at where the lock/doorknob is on the other side. Fire a shot and the lock should break.
    2. Use the openings on the house on either side to shoot the lock on the back door.

Chapter 3
  • Village Dogs Skip
    The dogs can be skipped entirely when re-entering the village, with two options:
    1. Once in the village, you can run directly to the house with the locked door on the right (with a cart in front of it), break the lock, and go inside, and the dogs won't have time to reach you. This is technically faster than the other option as you don't have to stop to kill the enemy.
    2. Before the village, after freeing the wolf in the trap and heading through the gate, an enemy will be scouting you out, visible in plain sight from an upper rock platform. If this enemy is killed as he attempts to flee, the dogs will not be triggered at all.
Chapter 6
  • Quickly Unlocking the Chain Link Fence Door
    The chain link fence door to the right of the house with the Chainsaw Sisters can be quickly unlocked without going to the upper floor by either:
    1. Shooting the lock from an angle, multiple options:
      1. Stand near the corner of the wooden fences that connect with the chain link door, allowing you to see a small part of the lock behind the door.
      2. The fence to the right of the main entrance of the house has openings that allow you to see the lock.
    2. Shooting the lock point blank. While aiming, walk into the door point blank until the grip on the pistol is changed, aiming at where the lock is on the other side. Fire a shot and the lock should break.
Chapter 7
  • Cannon Counterweight Skip
    When you first ascend the spiraling outside staircase, before the catapults, the counterweight for the cannon can be shot through the window.
  • Garrador Skip
    After falling through the floor, the Garrador is chained in front of you for a limited amount of time. Run out into the corridor and look behind you to where the Garrador will run. You can either place an attachable mine here or throw a flashbang to stun him long enough for you to use the crank and make it to the ladder without a fight. The Garrador also will not hear you using the bolt thrower.
Chapter 8
  • Sun & Moon Puzzle Skips
    The first and second towers with the lever puzzles can be skipped entirely by destroying the counterweights that are holding the gates down:
    • In the first tower, pull the first switch, climb up the ladder and pull the second switch behind you to open the puzzle door that leads into the third tower later. To open the gate either:
      1. Shoot the counterweight on the right, barely visible if all the way to the left.
      2. Throw a grenade through the locked gate to the bottom right to destroy the counterweight.
    • In the second tower, throw a grenade through the locked gate to the bottom left to destroy the counterweight and open the gate. If you pulled the switch a second time in the first tower as mentioned above, the puzzle door to the third tower should be open once you reach it, allowing you to skip having to drop down, hit the switch, and climb up the ladder.
Chapter 9
  • Goat Head Bridge/Lever Skip
    In the section with the goat head across a lever-controlled bridge, you can stop the enemy from pulling the lever, skipping the fight below entirely. Note that enemies will still spawn on your way back across the bridge after obtaining the goat head. There are a few methods to stop the enemy from pulling the lever:
    1. Shoot an attachable mine by the lever
    2. Once close to halfway across the bridge, throw a grenade by the lever and then sprint straight ahead to trigger the enemy at the right time (about 55-60% across the bridge, the middle of the decorative archway to the right of the bridge can be used as a rough visual indicator of where the cutscene is triggered)
    3. Aim a grenade towards the lever and walk forward until you hear the enemies become alerted with some loud voices, then throw the grenade before the cutscene is triggered
  • Ashley Clock Time
    While playing as Ashley, the time on the clock can be set immediately. The time varies based on the difficulty:
    • Assisted/Standard: 11:04
    • Hardcore/Professional: 7:00
Chapter 11
  • Dynamite Skip with Rocket Launcher
    If you're alright with wasting a rocket launcher, you can shoot it at the rock wall where the dynamite normally goes to skip that entire section.
  • Dropping the Giants Into the Lava
    A classic from the original game. Using the lever, you can drop the Giants into the lava, killing them instantly. It is recommended to use a flashbang to stun them long enough to use the lever, as you need to hold it down for a few seconds.
  • Breaking Dr. Salvador's Minecart
    Whenever you encounter Dr. Salvador in the minecart section, shoot the cart he's riding in as many times as you can, especially when he appears on the left, and then the right in the first section with enemies. Additionally, when your minecart leaves the cave and enters an open air area with the castle in the background, a minecart with an explosive barrel will be far away in front of you on an upper track. If you are able to hit the barrel, this will further damage Dr. Salvador and his minecart. When he appears again back inside the cave, some more shots to his cart should cause it to break and he will no longer be an issue.
Chapter 12
  • Salazar Statue Head Early Destruction
    The explosive on the back of Salazar's mech/statue is visible as you proceed up towards it and the head is turned around. Shooting it will destroy it early and prevent it from breathing fire and blocking your path.
  • Clock Tower Rising Platform Spike Ball
    Hitting the lever to release a spike ball and then immediately dropping down and hitting the rising platform lever will cause the spike ball to hit and kill the staff-wielding Zealot that is triggered and runs up the stairs.
  • Salazar's Golden Egg Weakness
    Throwing 2 Golden Eggs at Salazar's head will instakill him. Using 1 Golden Egg alone does about 70% of his health. Golden Eggs can be found in:
    • Chapter 4: On the lake, use the boat to make your way to the dock to the right of the castle and cave with fire outside (intended to be sold to the Merchant for a request).
    • Chapter 12: After backtracking to the throne room, contained in a cube puzzle (intended to deface the portrait for a request).
Chapter 13
  • Wharf Laser Turret Skip
    After arriving on the island, the first area with enemies can be skipped. Once you run ahead into the open area and are spotted by the enemies, a cutscene will play of a brute coming in. You will need to quickly run past the enemies (watch out for the crossbow enemy on the platform), up the stairs, and onto the platform (before the brute drops down on the left) and shoot the brute's gun until it flames to disable it, forcing him to eventually melee you. Get as close to the turret laser wall as possible so the brute will attempt to melee you. When he does, he will step forward into the laser wall and it will trigger, shooting the brute. You will need to back up slightly to dodge his melee/kick when you see him start it but as soon as the brute starts getting shot, run through the laser wall and past his body. You are now past the turret and the door is available to open.

    If you're having trouble with this, ensure that you are as close as possible to the laser wall, and all the way up onto the platform and not on the stairs as the brute may not be able to reach you. Ensure that you also back up slightly once you see the brute start the melee animation, as he can still hit you. There's an autosave right before this section so you can try it multiple times as well.
    Examples:
Chapter 14
  • Ashley Drops Bridge on Regenerador
    In the sewer section with the metal bars where Ashley holds the bridge for you, a Regenerador will spawn a short amount of time after the lever is flipped to restore power. If you can make it back to Ashley without her getting taken and the Regenerador is still chasing you, she will let go of the bridge when the Regenerador is on it to drop it below.
  • Wrecking Ball Skip
    Throwing a few grenades at the damaged wall will allow Ashley to destroy it with the wrecking ball immediately rather than after multiple hits.
Chapter 15
  • Anti-Air Turret Skip
    The Anti-Air cannon can be disabled immediately by throwing one or a few heavy grenades at it.
  • Sanctuary Laser Turret Skip
    The laser turret blocking the path to the sanctuary can be skipped similar to the one previously in Chapter 13, except this time with a Novistador behind you as you are right up against the laser wall, baiting it to charge or attack you, and it will get hit by the turret. When the turret activates, run past the laser wall. There is a high chance of taking heavy damage here, however.
Chapter 16
  • Prevent Saddler from Destroying the Bridges
    Saddler can be delayed or entirely prevented from destroying the bridges in the lower area as long as you stay on the first platform of the fight and do not drop down. When Saddler jumps away to the top of the tower, he will return to you on the first platform and will not destroy the bridges as long as you have stayed here and have not dropped down.
18 Comments
MS-06S ZAKU II 21 Sep, 2023 @ 3:41pm 
@Absolute- I don't disagree with you in principal but I think if you've already beat the game several times and really taken in the story (of which large parts of it you are already familiar with if you played the original 20+ times like me) there is nothing wrong with doing a challenge speedrun to get the challenges/achievements. Even if there wasn't I think speedrunning is fine as a personal challenge so long as you've played the game normally taking your time already.
kyūketsuki☆ 12 May, 2023 @ 8:45am 
Chapter 14 wall skip works perfectly on hardcore and below, however, professional it seems to not work. I've tried rocket launcher and heavy grenades.
POO 3 May, 2023 @ 3:55am 
Cole phelps you do realise there are literally challenges and achievements in the game for speedrunning it right? Like the devs want you to.
SilveouS 29 Apr, 2023 @ 9:23pm 
Thanks for confirming! I really feel like it was just a bug on my end
Absolute 29 Apr, 2023 @ 7:26pm 
imagine speed running a game that's meant to be story driven:steamthumbsdown:
Varaki  [author] 29 Apr, 2023 @ 12:42pm 
Just tested and it is still possible, sometimes the AI can be weird though and ignore you, and you will need to get to the platform before he drops down as well. I'll add a few extra notes to that section. I don't think anything changed with the update though. Here's recordings of it before and after the update and it's still the same process:

Before: https://streamable.com/qacviq
After: https://streamable.com/5umbir
SilveouS 29 Apr, 2023 @ 8:02am 
I don't know if this is confirmed but the Wharf Turret skip on Chapter 13 doesn't work anymore. I did a professional run with Infinite RPG and the Brute just stood there, He moved away when I flipped turret switches but he will just stand around and look at you, not even shoot.

I think it's due to the patch that involved door skips
Fearless 28 Apr, 2023 @ 11:39am 
a lad
Mögbär 27 Apr, 2023 @ 11:29pm 
This is not a skip as in a time saving trick, but it makes a difficult situation a little easier: Chapter 13, you can shoot the hanging sacks in the freezer room from outside and have the Regenerador come out without getting locked in the room with it. So you have more space to fight it or can get locked in the room without it.
txc 27 Apr, 2023 @ 3:57pm 
A follow-up to my previous comment, the Matilda cannot hit locks whilst equipped with it's stock. It must be the base handgun, otherwise it is held in the wrong position.