Few franchises carry as much legacy as Resident Evil. Over nearly thirty years, Capcom’s flagship horror series has constantly evolved — shifting from fixed-camera terror to action-packed spectacle, and then to immersive first-person psychological horror. With Resident Evil Requiem, the highly anticipated ninth main installment, Capcom tries something much more daring: blending every chapter of the franchise into a single, cohesive journey.
Set after the fall of Raccoon City, Requiem isn’t just another sequel; it feels like a moment of reckoning — a final piece gathering all the themes and mechanics that have defined the series. By featuring two protagonists with very different gameplay styles and allowing smooth transitions between first- and third-person perspectives, Capcom creates a survival horror experience that resonates with nostalgia while pushing forward.
In many ways, this feels like the boldest step since RE7 — and arguably one of the franchise’s most compelling entries in recent years.
Two Survivors, Two Philosophies of Horror
At the core of Requiem are two playable characters whose stories weave together throughout the journey.
Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst and the daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak survivor Alyssa Ashcroft, feels vulnerable and human. Her parts of the game focus on investigation, stealth, and the psychological strain of survival. Resources are tight, enemies are relentless, and often, staying alive comes down to avoiding a fight rather than seeking one.
Playing as Grace captures that old-school survival horror dread. Limited ammo makes every shot count, puzzles challenge your attention to detail, and encounters are intensely personal. Playing in first person, with the claustrophobic corridors and flickering lights, turns exploration into a tense, nerve-wracking experience.
On the other hand, Leon S. Kennedy brings a different vibe—experienced, composed, and ready for action. Now a seasoned veteran, Leon’s segments lean more into tactical combat reminiscent of Resident Evil 4 Remake, with smooth melee counters, parries, and a broader range of weapon customization.
What’s truly impressive is how the game balances these two approaches. As Grace’s vulnerability builds tension, the switch to Leon provides cathartic moments of controlled chaos. Then, the game eases back into psychological tension, creating a rhythm that’s rare and compelling in horror games.
It’s this interplay between contrasting styles that gives Requiem its soul—a game that takes you on an emotional journey, blending fear, action, and relief in a way that feels alive and real.
Perspective Fluidity: More Than a Gimmick
One of the most talked-about features has to be the ability to switch seamlessly between first- and third-person perspectives.
What might have seemed like just a novelty actually becomes one of the game’s smartest design choices. Each perspective subtly shifts how you experience the environment:
First-person pulls you deeper into the fear and intimacy, making everything feel more immediate and personal.
Third-person gives you a better grasp of your surroundings and makes combat feel more strategic and calculated.
Capcom thoughtfully designs encounters to support both viewpoints, never favoring one over the other. Grace’s sections grow almost unbearably tense in first-person, while Leon’s gunfights benefit from the precision of third-person.
This versatility lets players customize their horror experience to match their comfort level without sacrificing gameplay balance — truly a rare achievement in both technical design and storytelling.
The Evolution of the Undead
The most disturbing part of the game comes from its new enemy type: evolved zombies, known in the lore as “Memorables.” These aren’t your typical undead. They actually hold onto pieces of their human memories—some softly whisper of their past lives, others mimic familiar behaviors or hesitate before attacking. A few even seem to move with a twisted kind of intelligence, coordinating in unsettling ways.
This change really shifts how you experience encounters. These enemies aren’t just disposable targets anymore; they feel like tragic remnants of humanity, deepening the game’s themes of memory and consequence.
What stands out is how psychological horror takes center stage, replacing simple shock tactics. I remember one sequence vividly—navigating a broken-down apartment where these enemies call out the names of their old lives. It’s a haunting moment that blurs the line between monster and victim.
Honestly, this might be some of the most disturbing material the series has ever produced.
Semi-Open Raccoon City: A Haunting Playground
Returning to Raccoon City might have seemed like just a nostalgic nod, but Requiem approaches the setting with a careful, almost reverent touch.
The city is a semi-open, interconnected world that feels very much like the structure of Resident Evil Village. You find yourself revisiting familiar places, unlocking shortcuts, uncovering lore files, and discovering hidden upgrades along the way.
Old landmarks stand in haunting decay — police stations overtaken by nature, streets fallen silent and reclaimed by time. Exploration here isn’t about ticking off a checklist; it’s about immersing yourself, feeding curiosity and building tension, which keeps the survival horror vibe alive.
Thanks to shifting enemy placements and story twists, backtracking doesn’t get dull. The game cleverly evolves, making even the safest areas feel uncertain.
In the end, the city isn’t just a backdrop — it’s almost a character, a graveyard that holds the ghosts of the franchise’s past.
RE Engine Mastery
Technically, Resident Evil Requiem truly shows off the RE Engine at its best.
The lighting and path tracing create a sense of realism that’s almost unsettling—flashlights dance across debris, shadows shift naturally, and reflections draw you deeper into the world without pulling you out of the gameplay.
Character animation hits new levels. Facial expressions during emotional moments are so subtle and alive that you forget you’re looking at digital characters.
On high-end hardware, the game runs smoothly at 4K/60fps with ray tracing, even during chaos-filled moments. The consistent frame pacing really helps to immerse you fully in the horror experience.
The audio design is just as impressive. Directional sounds lead your awareness, and environmental noises constantly hint at unseen dangers lurking around every corner.
Once again, silence becomes one of Capcom’s most powerful tools, elevating the tension and making the scares hit even harder.
Puzzles and Classic Survival Horror DNA
Despite its modern look, Requiem stays true to its origins.
Environmental puzzles stand out in this game, demanding players to combine items, crack codes, and explore logically instead of just hunting for keys. Many of these solutions are woven into the environment itself, rewarding players who pay close attention.
Inventory management also feels more meaningful here. Deciding what to carry, especially during Grace’s sections, becomes crucial as every slot counts.
Overall, the game strikes a great balance between being accessible and maintaining a sense of tension — it’s challenging but never feels outdated.
Narrative: Closure and Consequence
Without revealing key moments, Requiem delves into the themes of legacy—both personal and institutional. Leon’s journey is a powerful look at the toll of surviving decades of trauma, while Grace’s story prompts us to consider whether understanding the past can truly prevent its repeats. Their intertwined paths offer emotional moments that longtime fans will cherish, yet remain accessible to newcomers.
The screenplay gently steers clear of overused nostalgia, instead using history as a deep emotional backdrop.
By the final act, Requiem feels less like just another installment and more like a thought-provoking reflection on what Resident Evil has always stood for: humanity facing the weight of its own ambitions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Brilliant dual-protagonist structure
- Seamless first- and third-person gameplay
- Deep psychological horror elements
- Intelligent enemy design refreshes encounters
- Stunning RE Engine visuals and sound design
- Strong narrative with emotional weight
Cons
- Perspective switching may overwhelm some players initially
- Leon’s action segments occasionally reduce tension
- Semi-open areas can require heavy backtracking
- High difficulty spikes in late-game encounters
Final Verdict
Resident Evil Requiem manages something pretty rare: it brings together every era of the franchise into one seamless experience. You feel the tension of classic survival-horror, the thrill of modern action, the depth of psychological storytelling, and the latest technological advances—all working together without one overshadowing the other.
Grace Ashcroft adds a new vulnerability that gives the story a fresh edge, while Leon S. Kennedy brings a sense of continuity and emotional release. Together, they craft a campaign that’s diverse, emotionally engaging, and genuinely terrifying.
More than just the ninth main entry, Requiem feels like a statement—that the series can grow and change while still staying true to what made it special at its core.
It’s not simply a return to the roots.
It’s a reminder of why those roots mattered in the first place.
