Mastering RE4 Remake: Your Ultimate Guide to Achieving S+ Rank Like a Pro

So, you think you've conquered the village and tamed the island? Think again! The real challenge in Resident Evil 4 Remake begins when you start chasing those elusive S+ ranks. I've spent countless hours perfecting runs, and let me tell you—achieving that top-tier rating feels like conducting a symphony of chaos where every second is a precious note. It's not just about surviving; it's about mastering the game's rhythm with the precision of a master watchmaker assembling a timepiece under pressure. The clock is your ultimate nemesis and ally, ticking away from the moment Leon steps into that cursed village until he and Ashley make their dramatic jet ski escape.

⏱️ How Your Final Rank is Calculated

While different difficulty levels have their own quirks, the in-game timer is the undisputed king of ranking. Forget about how many herbs you collected or how stylish your knife parries were—the clock determines everything. The timer runs continuously from your new game start to the final escape cutscene, pausing only when you're in the actual pause menu (not your inventory!).

Here's the kicker: S+ rank has special rules that separate the casual players from the true masters. If you don't meet any specific rank requirements, the game defaults to giving you a B rating—which, let's be honest, feels like getting a participation trophy after all that effort.

🏆 Complete Rank Requirements Breakdown

Before we dive into strategies, let's get specific about what you're actually aiming for. Remember: for S+ rank on ANY difficulty, you must start a fresh New Game—no carrying over your fully upgraded Chicago Sweeper or infinite rocket launcher from previous runs! Bonus content from Challenges and the Deluxe Edition is fair game though.

Assisted Difficulty

Perfect for beginners or those wanting a smoother experience:

• A Rank: Complete the game

• S Rank: Complete the game

• S+ Rank: Complete in under 4 hours from a New Game start

Assisted is like training wheels for survival horror—aim assist helps your shots connect, crafting yields more ammo, and Leon can regenerate health when in danger. But don't be fooled; that 4-hour S+ requirement still demands efficiency!

Standard Difficulty

The "as intended" experience:

• A Rank: Complete the game

• S Rank: Complete the game

• S+ Rank: Complete in under 5 hours from a New Game start

This is your baseline challenge. No training wheels, but no unfair surprises either. If you struggle, the game offers to switch you to Assisted after a Game Over—but that won't help your S+ ambitions!

Hardcore Difficulty

For those who've tasted victory and crave more:

• A Rank: Complete the game

• S Rank: Complete the game

• S+ Rank: Complete in under 5 hours 30 minutes from a New Game start

Hardcore turns up the heat: more enemies, tougher enemies, pricier Merchant items (First Aid Sprays cost double!), and overall nastier encounters. It's like the difference between swimming in a pool and navigating whitewater rapids with your hands tied.

Professional Difficulty

The ultimate test:

• A Rank: Complete the game

• S Rank: Complete the game

• S+ Rank: Complete in under 5 hours 30 minutes from a New Game start

• PLUS: Save 15 times or fewer

Professional isn't just harder—it's fundamentally different. Enemies hit like trucks, parrying requires frame-perfect timing, autosave is disabled, and that 15-save limit transforms the entire experience. Each save becomes a precious resource, like water in a desert crossing. Mess up between saves? You're replaying significant chunks under intense time pressure.

🎯 Pro Tips for Securing S+ Rank

Getting S+ requires a mindset shift. You're not playing to experience everything; you're executing a speedrun with surgical precision. Here's what I've learned:

1. Embrace Ruthless Efficiency

• Skip non-essential combat: If you can run past enemies, DO IT

• Ignore most treasures: Only grab those that sell for full value without gem combining

• Abandon Merchant Requests: Even "easy" ones waste precious seconds

• Limit upgrades: Focus on essentials like weapon power and capacity

2. Leverage Your Unlocks

Accessories from previous completions are your secret weapons:

• Cat Ears: Infinite ammo for all weapons (game-changing!)

• Chicken Hat: Reduces damage taken significantly

• Wolf Tail: Increases melee damage

These might make Leon look like he's attending a bizarre costume party, but they provide massive advantages without violating S+ rules.

3. Master the Pause Menu

Your single greatest time-management tool:

• Always pause for breaks (not inventory!)

• The clock STOPS completely on the pause screen

• Use this for bathroom breaks, hydration, or just to breathe during intense sections

4. Professional-Specific Strategies

That 15-save limit on Professional requires planning worthy of a military operation:

Think of each save as a checkpoint in a dangerous mountain climb—place them strategically after overcoming significant obstacles.

🚀 The Legendary Farm Skip (Early Game Time Saver)

Here's a trick that saves 5-10 minutes in your first hour—crucial for S+ attempts! After the initial village onslaught, you reach the Farm area where normally you'd:

1. Climb through the windmill

2. Enter the barn

3. Fight a Brute

4. Grab the Wooden Cog

5. Escape

But there's a better way that feels like discovering a secret passage in a hedge maze:

The Farm Skip Method:

1. Approach the barn and spot the small window on the right side

2. Silently eliminate the Ganado standing nearby (if present)

3. Aim your pistol through the window at the perfect angle

4. Shoot the padlock on the inside of the back door (listen for the metallic clink!)

5. Enter through the now-unlocked rear door

6. Grab the Wooden Cog from the table

7. Climb the ladder and exit through the upper window

You'll bypass the Brute entirely and proceed directly to installing the cog in the windmill. This skip demonstrates the S+ mentality perfectly: why fight when you can cleverly avoid?

💭 Final Thoughts from a Seasoned Runner

Chasing S+ rank transforms RE4 Remake from a survival horror game into a precision time trial. You'll learn the game's layout like the back of your hand, develop muscle memory for every encounter, and experience satisfaction that's as rare and precious as a perfectly cut gem.

Remember these key principles:

• Speed is everything, but don't rush to the point of making mistakes

• Knowledge saves more time than reflexes—study enemy placements and optimal routes

• Practice difficult sections separately if needed

• Stay calm under pressure—a single death can cost you the run

The journey to S+ is grueling, frustrating, and absolutely exhilarating. When you finally see that ranking screen with S+ shining back at you, all the failed attempts and near-misses fade away. You haven't just beaten the game; you've mastered it at a level few players ever reach. Now get out there and make that timer your servant!