Unlike later ports that feature autosave, the GameCube original uses a classic typewriter ribbon system:
When you beat the game, the save file updates to include specific unlockables. If you overwrite this file or delete it, you lose access to these extras. You must keep at least one "Clear Data" file to access the following: Save Data Resident Evil 4 Gamecube
For purists, the GameCube save file represents the "definitive" original experience. While the game was later ported to PlayStation 2, Wii, and eventually remastered in HD, the GameCube version lacked certain elements that changed the save economy. Unlike later ports that feature autosave, the GameCube
Most notably, the GameCube version did not feature the "Separate Ways" side campaign found in the PS2 version. Consequently, the GameCube save data is purely focused on Leon’s campaign. For speedrunners and historians, a GameCube save file with a completed professional run represents a specific historical snapshot of the game before content was patched in or altered in later ports. While the game was later ported to PlayStation