Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 Remake has been gaining attention for its faithful adaptation of the original game. One of the most significant changes made by the game’s developers was hiring Dutch model Ella Freya as Ashley’s face model, replacing the original character design.
Although Resident Evil 4 Remake has been available in stores for several weeks, Ella has not seen the game or any promotional materials in person. As a result, she recently traveled to a gaming store in Japan to witness herself on the cover of the game for the first time, and the video of her reaction, which she posted on her YouTube channel, is pure joy.
The video starts with Ella wandering around Akihabara, a district in Tokyo known for its electronics and video games, searching for a place to buy the game. She stops and asks for directions a few times and even gets recognized by a few people who seem to be fans of her work as Ashley’s face model. After several unsuccessful attempts to find the game, she finally stumbles upon a store with Resident Evil 4 Remake in stock.
As she makes her way to the counter to purchase the game, she exclaims, “I can’t believe I’m buying a game with myself on it!” Once she has the game in her hands, she starts flipping through the manual and looking at the cover, laughing and smiling in disbelief that she is a part of this iconic video game franchise. She even takes a moment to pose with the game and show her resemblance to Ashley.
As Ella returns to her hotel room, she cannot resist the urge to open the game and start playing. She excitedly takes the game out of the case and admires the disc, taking a moment to thank Capcom for allowing her to participate in the game. As she loads up the game and sees herself on the main menu, she cannot help but express her disbelief, saying, “I can’t believe that’s me.”
Ella’s reaction to seeing herself in Resident Evil 4 Remake is a powerful testament to video games’ impact on people’s lives. Ella expresses her amazement at her character model’s level of detail and fidelity, comparing it to her real-life appearance and exclaiming, “That’s me!” multiple times. She expresses her gratitude to Capcom for the opportunity to be a part of the game and encourages her viewers to follow their dreams and take chances. Ella’s experience also serves as a reminder of the hard work and dedication that goes into making these games, from the developers to the models who bring the characters to life.
In an interview with Polygon, Ella spoke about her experience working as Ashley’s face model and the challenges that came with it. She said she had never played a Resident Evil game before and was initially hesitant to take on the role because of the game’s horror elements.
“I was always too scared to play horror games, but when I got the job, I decided to start playing Resident Evil 4,” Ella said. “It was challenging because I had to learn how to act scared, but it was also really fun.”
Ella also talked about the process of becoming Ashley’s face model, which involved a casting call and several rounds of auditions.
“I first heard about the job from my modeling agency, and I was excited about it,” Ella said. “I went to the casting call, and then I had a few rounds of auditions where I had to act out scenes from the game. It was intense, but I learned a lot from it.”
Ella’s dedication to the role is evident in her reaction video, where she is overjoyed to see herself on the cover of Resident Evil 4 Remake. The video has received widespread attention online, with fans of the game and newcomers alike sharing in Ella’s excitement.
It’s common for video games to use real-life models for their characters, but seeing the face behind the digital persona is always interesting. In this case, Ella’s resemblance to Ashley is uncanny, and her enthusiasm for the role is infectious. In addition to Ella’s casting, Resident Evil 4 Remake made several changes to the character designs from the original game. While the changes were generally well-received, some fans were disappointed that Ashley’s original design was not used.
However, Ella’s performance as Ashley has been widely praised, with many fans appreciating the added depth she brings to the character. “She brings Ashley to life in a way that the original game couldn’t,” one fan said. “You can see the fear and the determination in her eyes, which makes the game so much more immersive.”
Using real-life models in video games is a growing trend that adds a new level of realism and depth to characters, as seen in Resident Evil 4 Remake with Ella’s performance as Ashley. While controversial when used without consent, it allows for more nuanced and immersive performances. Ella is thrilled with the response to her role and is even considering playing more horror games in the future, making her journey from model to video game character a joy to watch.