Capcom really went all in when developing Resident Evil Requiem. Not only are there collaborations with big name companies like Porsche, they also took a risk by introducing two protagonists with two very different styles of gameplay. Had one of the two been done wrong, the entire game could’ve suffered as a result.
Resident Evil Requiem is a game with dual identities, but it never loses sight of what it wants to be and what it is. Part of which is how good it balances each protagonist and how well crafted each of their perspectives are to ensure that one isn’t lacking compared to the other. As the ninth main entry to the franchise, it has some pretty big shoes to fill especially with Capcom’s winning streak of video game releases.
It’s clear that this game is very confident in itself and after playing through its main story, it definitely could back up all the hype. Let’s dive in a bit deeper to understand why this game is worth your time and money.
Booting up the game for the first time, Resident Evil Requiem immediately hits you with how gorgeous it is. Capcom really went all out to make sure every nook and cranny of their game is polished. It’s a testament to how great the RE Engine is and its amazing potential that I feel is being fully realized in this game.
I already knew this game was going to look good but I was still impressed by how well and fast the PS5 handles it. I find myself sometimes chewing the scenery and looking around while admiring the developers’ work. The PS5 runs the game remarkably well and polished.
Requiem has you playing two protagonists, Grace Ashcroft and Leon Kennedy. However this isn’t the same in Resident Evil 2 where you’re able to choose between who you want to play first. You’ll switch control between characters by naturally progressing the story.
Both characters play differently, which is a key feature in Requiem. As FBI analyst, Grace Ashcroft, you’re essentially the average everyman and her gameplay becomes more about survival while solving puzzles to progress.
Compared to Leon, Grace is more vulnerable against zombies but she’s not defenseless. It’s just that ammunition is rarer when you’re playing as her which forces you into weighing your options if threats are worth engaging and wasting precious bullets.
Grace moves more slowly and unlike Leon never really encounters a scenario where there’s too many enemies simply because she lacks the means to do so. However even a single zombie is potentially a game over even on Standard difficulties. Grace doesn’t have a natural melee weapon and unlike Leon cannot parry or even block attacks.
Our FBI analyst does have her advantages though as she’s the only protagonist of the two who has access to a safe box. And unlike her predecessor, Ethan Winters, she can do a melee attack against zombies when they’re staggered. Though it barely does any damage and is really just a way to buy you time.
You have access to Infected Blood which you can use to craft items. And you’ll need to take advantage of it. Since Grace doesn’t have the natural ability to stealth kill zombies, she’ll need to craft a consumable item unique to her, called a Hemolytic Injector, that lets her instantly kill enemies unaware or staggered.
Because resources are so scarce as Grace, I was forced to approach enemies more carefully than head on. There aren’t many instances where Grace is forced to fight head on and will usually take the stealth approach. Because of her lack of combat abilities, playing as Grace brings back the intense horror of Resident Evil 7. Her sections of the game are intense and claustrophobic, having you move slowly around as you collect items to progress.
Playing as Leon completely flips the game over its head. It’s no longer survival horror but an action game with survival-horror elements. Leon has access to more powerful weapons, enemies also reliably drop more ammunition upon defeat, and he can commit powerful melee attacks against staggered zombies. As Leon, I never had to worry about ammunition.
Leon’s arsenal of abilities makes sneaking around entirely optional. He can one hit kill enemies with his hatchet, parry attacks, and even pick up dropped enemy weapons to use against them. His gameplay is essentially a more improved and smoother version of himself in Resident Evil 4.
By the time of Requiem Leon is an old man with decades of experience fighting under his belt. He rarely breaks under pressure and even makes light jokes of serious hazards he encounters. His gameplay is much faster and more action oriented which is a breath of fresh air after the slow and intense sections as Grace.
At first I didn’t really know what to make of this switch between protagonist. It sometimes took me out of focus especially early game when the switch between Grace and Leon was frequent so I couldn’t really get into the mood before I’m already playing as the other. However once the game settled, I was introduced to a more natural pacing when switching between perspectives of the two protagonists.
Once you progress the game far enough, Leon will eventually gain access to a portable store which you can use to purchase new guns, items, and ammunition. You can also upgrade your current weapons here all using currency you get by defeating enemies. This is something Grace will never have access to. Because of how Leon gains currency for weapons and upgrades, your ultimately incentivized to take out as many enemies as you want which is in stark contrast to Grace where you’re encouraged to save ammunition.
It’s recommended that you play in first person as Grace and third person as Leon but you can switch perspectives whenever you want to. You can make this switch of perspectives anytime you want via the Options and it’s also very natural without taking you back to a previous save.
During my initial playthrough I went for the recommended perspectives. And I have to point out that you won’t fully appreciate the horror and tension if you’re playing third person as Grace.
On my first playthrough, I went for Standard (Classic) which is a difficulty suited to long time Resident Evil fans. Which means it suits me just fine. As Grace, I needed Ink Ribbons in order to save my game but Leon doesn’t have that limitation and can save as much as he wants. Because of the big differences in gameplay of the two, it can sometimes feel like you’re playing two different games.
I would say that Resident Evil Requiem is 2/3’s Leon and 1/3’s Grace. The game is around 9 hours long by the time I finished it. It’s not too long but also not too short for a survival-horror game. It hits just right.
Is Resident Evil Requiem scary? I’ve talked a lot about the game’s characters and their mechanics but I haven’t even talked about how scary it is.
Requiem has its moments of intense, heart-pounding horror but overall isn’t really too scary. It helps that the game often gives us some breathing room when playing sections as Leon after Grace’s more intense sections.
Zombies were never really scary for me. Requiem brings back the classic zombies from the first installments of Resident Evil. However they’re much creepier because they’re able to keep some of their mannerisms from back when they’re alive. You’ll see zombies often muttering to themselves, continuing on with their work, and even singing as they roam around. Until they spot you and attack.
I really like the zombies this time around. The fact that Capcom brought back a mechanic from Resident Evil 1. Much like the Crimson Heads from the first game, zombies have a chance to come back even after you’ve put them down. This time, as the more powerful and faster Blister Heads. If you don’t destroy their heads or use the Hemolytic Injector, a dead zombie can return as one.
Blisters Heads are more frequently encountered as Leon but there is a chance that Grace can come across a few. This makes Grace’s gameplay even more tense as putting down a zombie can potentially be game ending later down the line.
The story of Resident Evil Requiem is pretty decent. I’d say it’s the best one Capcom made especially since they’ve toned down how ridiculous and campy the franchise can sometimes get. There’s still a lot of Hollywood action set pieces but the game takes a bit more realistic approach in comparison to the likes of Village. You have a good balance between a more believable story and the high octane action the franchise has been known for.
The performance of Grace Ashcroft is especially notable and worthy of praise. Especially since it seems this is her first time voice acting. Grace is a lot more emotive than Ethan Winters. Not just the stutter in her voice conveying how scared and panicking she is but how her hand shakes when aiming a gun speaks volumes of her inexperience which helps sell how relatable Grace is as a character.
Capcom’s animation team have also outdone themselves. This is the best looking Resident Evil game yet. How characters move and react are very fluid. And it’s especially impressive since animations are really well done in both first and third person.
Resident Evil Requiem has surprised me in a number of ways with how good it is. There are a lot of heavy fan service for old time Resident Evil fans like myself and I risk saying too much without spoiling it for you. It’s a damn good game that I feel surpasses Resident Evil 4. I highly recommend this game.
Resident Evil Requiem (PS5)
When a title gets a grand number, it’s a video-game worth spending your whole life in.
The Good
- Animation is very fluid and realistic
- Story is interesting and well worth going through
- The best looking Resident Evil game to date
- Puzzles are interesting and entertaining
- Intense horror scenes paired with very satisfying action sequences
