Key Takeaways
- Game Overview: Resident Evil: Requiem features FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft investigating a case linked to her traumatic past.
- Gameplay Mechanics: Players control both Grace and Leon, each offering distinct gameplay experiences that blend horror and action.
- Character Development: Grace evolves from a novice to a capable survivor, enhancing the game’s narrative depth.
- Puzzle Elements: The game incorporates classic puzzle-solving elements, maintaining the franchise’s roots while introducing fresh mechanics.
Plot: FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft is sent to investigate a case at a hotel where she’s ultimately forced to face her past.
Review: Much like a crowd of zombies after hurling a leaking gas tank into the oncoming horde, Capcom is on fire right now. The time-honored game studio unleashed the latest chapter of its Resident Evil franchise late last month, Resident Evil: Requiem, and it’s an all-timer. From the start, Requiem takes a different approach to the hallowed horror franchise by putting you in control of Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst with a traumatic past, an anxiety disorder, and personal demons to exorcise. As Grace, your boss tasks you with investigating a rash of mysterious bodies, the latest body having been discovered at the Wrenwood Hotel, where Grace’s mother met her untimely end several years prior. Gathering her wits and limited expertise in fieldwork, Grace investigates and quickly discovers that the past is far from over, and the reason she’s a walking disaster is that the horror will start again if she doesn’t get her act together.
By placing us in Grace’s shoes, Requiem leaves players feeling vulnerable as they explore the hotel, Grace’s labored breath catching with each discovery and startling revelations about a shadowy organization, Umbrella, striving to create bioweapons out of humankind, living or dead; it doesn’t matter. On a similar path to uncover the truth about Umbrella’s latest apocalypse in the making is Leon S. Kennedy, a seasoned veteran and fan-favorite hero of the Resident Evil franchise. By giving players control of two vastly different characters, Capcom splits the game into two halves. Grace traverses the game’s terror-inducing, haunted-house-like beats. At the same time, Leon tackles the more action-heavy sections like a ’90s action hero on steroids, complete with one-liners and grimdark humor that make him a fan favorite.
Among many stand-out elements of Resident Evil: Requiem is the game’s pacing. The writing team knows exactly when to end a chapter of the game, pushing you toward set pieces involving over-the-top action or the next piece of a dark mystery. At the center of both game types is Requiem‘s villain, Dr. Victor Gideon, a former Umbrella Corporation researcher obsessed with carrying out the eugenicist legacy of Oswell E. Spencer. Antony Byrne plays Dr. Gideon to perfection, introducing a corrupt antagonist who’s oddly charismatic, creepy, and dangerous. Beyond his imposing look—with his infected complexion, Ichabod Crane-like headgear, and crooked gold teeth—Dr. Gideon’s voice is strangely soothing and one of the best voice performances I’ve ever heard in a video game.
Regarding gameplay, Resident Evil: Requiem never stops perfecting old tricks or introducing new ways to fight your way through hell while playing as either Grace or Leon. While not as skilled as Leon, Grace is a survivor, constantly innovating and using her know-how to craft items that give her an advantage. At the start of the game, Grace can barely wield Leon’s Requiem revolver. When she takes aim, her hands tremble; the gun sways; you essentially need to fire it on a wing and a prayer. However, as Grace makes her way through the game, she becomes more capable; her aim steadies; by the end, she’s firing that cannon as straight as an arrow. It’s an awesome progression that enhances her character’s depth within the narrative. Critics should give Grace’s evolution more credit; she’s a fantastic addition to Resident Evil‘s pantheon of heroes.
Meanwhile, Leon continues his iconic persona with knee-slapping one-liners and fearless approaches to reducing zombies to nothing but piles of minced meat. I played through the game on a PlayStation 5; control over both characters was flawless. I never felt any hiccups; my character never misbehaved; if I died, I knew it was my fault—not the game’s. Capcom has spent decades polishing the Resident Evil gameplay experience; its efforts have never been as rewarding as with Requiem.
Another outstanding element of Requiem is that it doesn’t forget its roots. Included in this dread-filled adventure are all the puzzle elements you remember from past games: finding keys, reading documents, locating missing fuses—filling tanks with gasoline. All these classic elements are present! If it ain’t broke don’t fix it; Requiem does an exemplary job of impeding progress through puzzles without losing its killer pace or sense of urgent exploration. Furthermore, while some Resident Evil games tend to dip in quality during their final acts, Requiem feels like three Act 1s stitched together for non-stop fun and action-packed immediacy. In my experience there are no boring stretches; switching between Grace and Leon feels like a formula Capcom has perfected for future RE games.
If you’re looking for Resident Evil: Requiem to do more than play the hits—don’t worry! There are cool surprises waiting for you in this game. For example: infected behave differently in Requiem. Blind zombies will only react to sound; if you don’t make noise you can usually sneak past them easily. However if you want to use this quirk strategically you can throw a bottle toward an enemy—the blind zombie will follow sound swinging its IV pole in blind rage damaging nearby enemies significantly. If you’re strategic about it you can get blind zombies to take out stronger foes like Butcher or Chunk—a massive blob-like zombie slithering through Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center halls. There are other enemies whose behaviors could work to your advantage—but I don’t want to spoil all the fun! My advice? Get creative! The game allows for several combinations of combat strategies that could turn tides in your favor.
I remember buying the original Resident Evil, sight unseen from Planet Comics in Smithhaven Mall on Long Island New York in 1996—and how it changed my opinion about horror video games forever! I’ve played every mainline entry (and many spinoffs), favorites being Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7, and Resident Evil Village. If RE7‘s homage felt like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, while Village‘s twisted fairytale never took itself too seriously—Resident Evil: Requiem‘s shining example shows how dedication hard work imagination can take decades-old properties making them essential examples proving video games can still blow our minds! Not only is Resident Evil: Requiema contender for early Game of Year but also stands out among best entries in franchise! I’m already counting days until Capcom announces DLC for Requiem!I’m proud owner of Grace Ashcroft’s Fortnite skin! I started my second playthrough last night—I won’t stop until I’ve gotten all alternate costumes—or until Capcom’s Pragmata comes out next month—whichever comes first!
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