Look, we’ve all been there. You just finished your first run of the Resident Evil 4 remake, your heart is still pounding from that final jet ski escape, and you’re staring at the results screen wondering why you only got a B rank. It’s a gut punch. But honestly, that’s where the real game starts. The original 2005 masterpiece was famous for its replayability, but the remake takes those Resident Evil 4 unlockables and turns them into a high-stakes puzzle of efficiency and skill.
Most people think these rewards are just "cheats." They aren't. They are tools.
If you want to survive Professional mode without losing your mind, you need a plan. You can’t just stumble into a New Game Plus and expect the Infinite Rocket Launcher to fix everything—mostly because that thing costs two million pesetas and you’re probably broke. Understanding how to layer these unlocks is the difference between a frustrating slog and a 160cc power trip through rural Spain.
The Brutal Reality of Professional Rank S+
Let's get the big one out of the way. If you want the best Resident Evil 4 unlockables, you have to face the S+ Professional requirement. This is the mountain. To get an S+ on Professional, you must start a completely Fresh New Game—no NG+ benefits allowed—finish in under five and a half hours, and use fewer than 15 manual saves.
It’s stressful. You’ll find yourself hovering over a typewriter in Chapter 9, sweating because you know the double Garrador room is coming up and you only have four saves left for the entire island.
Why do people put themselves through this? The Cat Ears.
This accessory gives Leon infinite ammo for every single weapon in the game. No reloading. Just endless lead. It turns the Bolt Thrower into a viable weapon and the Killer7 into a god-tier delete button. But here’s the kicker: to get the Cat Ears, you basically have to prove you don't need them. It’s a paradoxical trophy for the elite, but once you have them, the game transforms into a sandbox of absolute carnage.
The Chicago Sweeper and the Armor Strategy
You can't just jump into an S+ Professional run naked. Well, you can, but you'll die. A lot.
The smart play involves a specific order of operations. First, you tackle Professional mode with an A rank. This isn't too bad because you can do it on New Game Plus. Use that Infinite Rocket Launcher you bought for 2,000,000 pesetas. Blasting Salazar in three seconds feels incredible after he spent the whole game mocking your "American sense of humor."
Doing this unlocks the Chicago Sweeper (the classic Tommy Gun).
Now, here is the nuance most players miss. The Chicago Sweeper has an exclusive upgrade that gives it infinite ammo. If you’re doing an S+ run, you can’t use the Infinite Rocket Launcher, but you can use the Sweeper. You just need to hoard 30 Spinels by the time you reach the Castle to buy an Exclusive Upgrade Ticket from the Merchant.
Suddenly, your "fresh" run becomes a lot easier.
- Ashley’s Knight Armor: This is non-negotiable. Complete Hardcore mode with an A rank to get this. It makes Ashley completely immune to damage and, more importantly, the Zealots can't carry her away. They just drop her and groan while you line up headshots.
- Primal Knife: Find and destroy all 16 Clockwork Castellans. It becomes indestructible once fully upgraded. No more scavenging for kitchen knives in the dirt.
- Handcannon: Originally, you had to beat the game on Professional without bonus weapons. Now? You can just get an S rank on all three stages of Mercenaries mode. It's much faster.
Why Some Resident Evil 4 Unlockables are Traps
Not everything the Merchant offers or the Challenge menu lists is worth your time immediately. Take the Wolf Tail, for example. It increases your melee damage. While it sounds cool to suplex a Ganado into the afterlife, in a Professional run, getting close enough to melee is often a death sentence. You're better off wearing the Chicken Hat.
The Chicken Hat is a masterpiece of ridiculousness. Leon looks like an idiot, but it massively reduces the damage you take. When a chainsaw sister is lunging at your neck, you won't care about looking cool; you'll care about that sliver of health that stays green.
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Breaking Down the Cost of Power
Success in Resident Evil 4 is measured in Pesetas. Even when you unlock the right to buy something, you still have to afford it.
The Infinite Rocket Launcher is the ultimate "I'm done with this" weapon. But getting that 2 million is a grind. You have to be a hoarder. Don't just sell treasures; slot them with the right gems. A Duo (Yellow, Yellow) is okay, but a Five-Color (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple) on an Elegant Crown is the jackpot.
I’ve seen players sell their entire arsenal just to afford the launcher for the final stretch of a run. It’s a valid strategy. If you have the launcher, you don't need a shotgun. You don't need a rifle. You just need an explosion.
Beyond the Weapons: The Aesthetic Rewards
We should talk about the "Extra Content Shop." This is where your CP (Challenge Points) goes. While the weapons are the meat, the costumes and filters are the seasoning.
There’s a specific joy in playing the entire game with the "Hero" filter on, which makes the world look like a saturated, high-contrast action movie from 2004. Or the "Villain" filter that bathes everything in a sickly, monochromatic red. These don't change the mechanics, but after 80 hours of looking at the same muddy brown villages, a visual shift keeps the brain engaged.
Then there are the accessories. Most people know about the gas mask (which enables aim assist on any difficulty), but few appreciate the tactical value of the sunglasses. Okay, they do nothing. But Leon looks like a 90s action star, and sometimes that's the vibe you need when you're fighting a giant "U-3" insect monster in a basement.
The Mercenaries Factor
If the main campaign feels like a chore, Mercenaries is the shortcut. It’s the most efficient way to get the Handcannon. Capcom patched this in after launch, likely realizing that the original requirement—beating Professional with no bonus weapons—was a bit too "Old School" for the average player.
Hunk is the king here. His "Mayhem Mode" gives him infinite ammo and a neck-snap move that kills almost anything instantly. If you're struggling to unlock things in the main story, spend an afternoon in Mercenaries. You’ll walk away with a .50 caliber hand cannon for your trouble.
The Secret Economy of the Merchant
Real experts know that the Merchant isn't just a shop; he's a mechanic you manipulate. During your quest for Resident Evil 4 unlockables, you'll realize that the "Trade" tab is more important than the "Buy" tab.
Spinels are the currency of the elite. You get them from blue request notes. While it's tempting to buy the yellow herbs or the treasure maps, you should save every single Spinel for the Exclusive Upgrade Ticket. This ticket allows you to bypass the requirement of fully upgrading a gun before getting its "Special" perk.
On a speedrun, this is life or death. Using a ticket on the Riot Shotgun or the Stingray rifle mid-game can shave ten minutes off your time. Ten minutes is the difference between an S+ and an S.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
If you’re sitting there with a fresh save and a dream, don't just wing it. Follow a trajectory that builds power over time.
First, focus on the Clockwork Castellans. You can do this on Assisted difficulty while lounging on your couch. This gets you the Primal Knife. Once you have a knife that never breaks, your parry game becomes infinite.
Second, go to Mercenaries. Get those S ranks. Unlock the Handcannon.
Third, take that Handcannon and the Primal Knife into a Professional New Game Plus run. Your goal here is an A rank. Buy the Infinite Rocket Launcher as soon as you can. Finish the game. Now you have the Chicago Sweeper and the Knight Armor for Ashley.
Finally—and only when you have the Knight Armor—attempt the Professional S+ run. Use the Sweeper. Use the Ticket. Get the Cat Ears.
At that point, you’ve conquered the game. You aren't playing a survival horror game anymore; you're playing a Leon S. Kennedy power fantasy. The Ganados aren't a threat; they're just obstacles in the way of your next stylish reload.
The complexity of these systems is why we're still talking about this game decades after its original release. It’s not just about the scares. It’s about the mastery. Every unlockable is a milestone in that journey from a terrified survivor to an absolute legend of the BSAA... wait, wrong game. You get the point. Good luck. You’re going to need it in the water room.