I just finished Resident Evil Requiem — and it surpassed my expectations

Resident Evil Requiem more than lives up to the hype. Masterfully combining the best aspects of the last two mainline titles and the popular remakes, it’s a game built to satisfy fans of the long-running survival horror franchise. As someone who has been here since the beginning, I can say Capcom more than succeeded.

In this ninth installment, players take on the roles of newcomer Grace Ashcroft and expert zombie slayer Leon S. Kennedy. This contrasting dual-perspective narrative delivers a beautiful mix of heart-stopping terror and adrenaline-fueled action. Combined with the stunning presentation and polished gameplay, you get an experience that keeps you hooked from the bloody beginning to the terrifying end.

If it wasn’t already clear, Resident Evil Requiem is already one of my favorite games of the year. Though it’s not as innovative as its two immediate predecessors, it’s hard to complain since it delivers exactly what I want from one of my most beloved franchises. Whether you’re an old hand or a complete newbie to Resident Evil, you’re going to love what this nightmarish game has in store.

Resident Evil Requiem: The Basics

• What is it? Resident Evil Requiem is the latest installment of the long-running survival horror series, featuring two main protagonists with complementary gameplay styles.
• Who is it for? For fans of survival games and/or past Resident Evil games.
• What's the price? Resident Evil Requiem costs $69 on all available platforms. There is also a steelbook deluxe edition with additional content for $89.
• What other games has the developer made? In addition to Resident Evil, Capcom has also published/developed iconic series like Street Fighter, Mega Man, Monster Hunter, and Devil May Cry.
• What games is it similar to? Resident Evil Requiem is most similar to Resident Evil 4 Remake and Resident Evil Village.

Return of the Living Dead

Resident Evil games have featured multiple playable characters before, but their respective gameplay styles were largely similar. That’s not the case here, as you’re effectively getting two contrasting experiences in one. It’s a wise way of satisfying long-time fans and those who might have started with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

Requiem’s story stars FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and D.S.O. agent Leon S. Kennedy. The former is sent to investigate a series of murders at a condemned hotel, while the latter visits the Midwest to figure out why former Raccoon City survivors are being killed. It doesn’t take long for Grace and Leon’s paths to intertwine.

Grace is technically a new character, but she’s the daughter of Resident Evil: Outbreak protagonist, Alyssa Ashcroft. Grace’s desire to uncover her mother’s murder initially motivates her, but she becomes more invested as certain personal secrets come to light. As for Leon, he’s every bit the badass we remember, even if he is nearly 30 years older than when he debuted in Resident Evil 2.

That’s all I’ll reveal about the plot, but suffice it to say that it feels like a true sequel for the mainline series. The last two games are effectively ignored, but that’s a sacrifice I’m fine with since I wanted a return to the main narrative (sorry, Ethan Winters).

The Girl Next Door

Unlike past protagonists, Grace isn’t a seasoned soldier, but an average person. This helps you identify with her, as you’d probably react the way she does if you were in her shoes. That said, Grace faces the horrors with a good amount of bravery. And since she’s an FBI agent, she knows how to use firearms and deductive reasoning. This makes her gameplay decidedly more methodical and slow.

While she’ll occasionally have to stand her ground and fight, most of Grace’s gameplay involves avoiding enemies. To that end, it’s smart to study zombie behaviors, as most tend to move in predictable patterns. If not, you can always toss bottles found in the environment to distract would-be pursuers. Some zombies are sensitive to light, so take advantage of that when possible.

Though you can upgrade Grace’s item pouch to carry more, you’ll have to be judicious about what you take with you or store inside available item boxes. Having to discard bullets or health injectors to carry a crucial item can suck, but it adds to the tension a survival horror game like this should elicit.

Fortunately, you can craft bullets or health items by combining scrap metal and infected zombie blood. If you’re like me, you might have winced at the mention of “crafting,” but trust me, the process is as seamless as combining herbs or ammo in previous games. The device used for crafting can only carry so much zombie blood at a time. Combine that with your limited inventory slots, and you’ll have to be careful about what you decide to craft.

Grace might be an unusual protagonist for the series, but her gameplay is actually closer to the very first Resident Evil, since you have to really focus on item management and avoiding unnecessary battles. The fact that Grace also has to solve a bunch of esoteric puzzles to advance is also classic Resident Evil.

28 Years Later

If you’ve played any of the Resident Evil remakes, then you’ll feel right at home with Leon’s sections. As a seasoned veteran of several installments, he’s not one to run from even the nastiest of enemies. Usually, if you see a zombie as Leon, your goal is to blast it into gory chunks.

You get a full range of weapons, including shotguns, machine guns, sniper rifles, grenades, and handguns — including a vicious revolver called Requiem. In addition, you also have a hatchet for hacking off zombie heads or even parrying attacks. If you stun an enemy, you can sometimes follow up with a brutal melee attack. Leon is doing many things in this game, but messing around isn’t one of them.

Like Grace, Leon can craft ammo, only he does so by combining scrap metal and gunpowder. He eventually gains access to an item box where you can buy new weapons, upgrades, healing items, and ammo. The currency used is points earned for killing zombies, which further encourages you to stay aggressive.

Though Leon’s portions are decidedly more action-focused, that doesn’t mean you can just shut your brain off and kill everything in sight. Like Grace, it’s wise to conserve ammo and keep an eye out for healing items and ammo scattered across the environments. Yes, Leon is a cool operator, but if you’re not wise with him, you’ll end up on the wrong end of a zombie’s chainsaw.

Dead Alive

There’s a decent variety of zombie types, from George Romero-inspired shuffling undead to gargantuan bio-weapons. The regular zombies are particularly interesting, as some exhibit behaviors corresponding to when they lived. A cook will continue preparing food, while a nurse might complain about her patients. This adds some humanity to the zombies you inevitably have to end for good.

Grace’s sections sometimes feature a giant zombie hunting her down. Once you figure out its patterns, they’re not overly difficult to avoid. That said, the game does a decent job of having them unexpectedly pop up as you advance the story.

And it wouldn’t be a proper Resident Evil game without some hair-raising boss encounters. These are a blast (literally, in some cases), since you’re mostly free to unleash all the tension you had built up on a big, nasty creature. Boss battles are a true highlight.

The Hills Have Eyes

Like all modern Capcom games, Resident Evil Requiem runs on the company’s proprietary RE Engine. This not only gives Requiem a distinct visual style but also delivers some fantastically horrifying visuals. It’s easily one of the finest-looking games out there.

Instead of locking you into a fixed perspective, you’re free to choose between a first-person and third-person camera view. The game defaults to first-person for Grace to bump the scare factor, and third-person for Leon for that classic Resident Evil 4 feel. However, you’re free to play the entire game in either view or reverse Grace and Leon’s default perspectives.

Environments and the disturbing monsters that inhabit them come to life in glorious detail. I especially love how otherwise innocuous locations like a nurse’s station or an office can feel oppressive thanks to the subtle (or not-so-subtle) lighting. The enemies are gruesomely defined enough to make you shiver. The few living human characters look equally impressive, with lifelike detail on their sweat-covered skin or blood-stained clothing.

If you’re on PS5 Pro, you get two graphics options. Enabling ray tracing sets the game to 4K resolution and 60 fps. Conversely, disabling ray tracing lowers the resolution but allows the game to run at up to 120 fps (on monitors and TVs that support it). I kept ray tracing on since I don’t want to sacrifice visual fidelity for a game that doesn’t require twitch-based controls.

Sound design is as superb as the visuals, heightening the tension you feel as you explore the intricately designed locations. While the game doesn’t hold back during big action scenes, I’m more impressed by the quieter moments, where distant, unknown sounds can be as unnerving as an attacking zombie. You’ll want one of the best gaming headsets for maximum immersion.

Resident Evil Requiem review: Verdict

I was already on board when Resident Evil Requiem was announced, and I’m happy to say it far exceeded my expectations. It offers an excellent blend of terror and action, which keeps things lively and engaging. Seeing the story unfold and adding new layers to the wider Resident Evil narrative is also extremely satisfying. Further adventures await, that’s for sure.

In short, Resident Evil Requiem is a resounding victory. If you’re a long-time fan, then you probably already have it pre-ordered. If not, you owe it to yourself to check out this game. I promise you’ll have a scary good time!

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