The ninth installment in the Resident Evil series was released on Feb. 27. Fans were excited to see the return of Leon S. Kennedy. Kennedy had not been seen in any mainline games since the release of Resident Evil 6 in 2012. Resident Evil: Requiem also introduces a new lead character: FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, who is thrown into a world of bioweapons and pharmaceutical espionage. In Requiem, the player swaps between the perspective of both Ashcroft and Kennedy as they uncover more of Umbrella’s plot for world domination.
Requiem’s gameplay feels snappy and responsive. If you missed Kennedy’s extreme action gameplay, you’ll find no shortage of it in Requiem. All of Kennedy’s close-quarters action happens with the environment in mind, allowing for extremely satisfying combat. When you swap to the perspective of Ashcroft, however, the paradigm shifts completely. Suddenly, you’re thrust right into the horror modern Resident Evil is known for, and it is completely captivating. Requiem’s sound design is strong and imprisoning, the game is visually stunning and the atmosphere of its set pieces feels carefully crafted. By taking the perspective of someone inexperienced in the world of bioweapons, Requiem provides grounded horror alongside amazing action breaks.
The latest entry into the series also introduces new gameplay mechanics. For Ashcroft, blood collection makes its way into the crafting system, forcing the player to carefully consider where to invest materials. Stealth is heavily encouraged when you play as Ashcroft, and mechanics exist to support it, but Requiem makes it clear that it is not necessary. Kennedy has to maintain his melee weapons on the fly, encouraging the player to think ahead and react appropriately when taking on fights.
Narratively, Requiem is another strong addition to Resident Evil’s off-the-wall storytelling. It finally makes movements toward progressing plotlines introduced in Resident Evil 7 and 8 while maintaining Resident Evil’s off-the-wall story beats. Every now and again, though, Requiem pulls you out of the action to remind you that there are lives lost in the fight against the series’ bioweapons. The return to Raccoon City, an origin point for many of the characters and a location not seen since Resident Evil 3, serves as an emotional reminder for the player and Kennedy alike, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Like every Resident Evil game, Requiem is extremely replayable. The player is presented with a multitude of challenges that can be cashed in for gameplay-changing rewards and behind-the-scenes information. There’s also plenty of content that could be missed in the first run through of the game. By encouraging players to play again, the full depth of the game can be realized. With this in mind, some argue that enemies don’t have enough variety to constitute a revisit. While this is certainly untrue for Ashcroft’s segments, Kennedy’s gameplay does lose a lot of the individuality enemies have as the game progresses.
In total, Resident Evil Requiem is close to masterful. The gameplay is strong, and the story elements have that traditional Resident Evil feel. While contentious in some areas, ultimately Requiem is a fantastic and high-quality addition to the series.
