Resident Evil Requiem Review, Gameplay Impressions Videos and Top Features

Resident Evil Requiem from Capcom is a magnum opus for the legendary series. 

The first RE entry since Resident Evil Village in 2021 is the first game designed for next-generation consoles and it shows in every respect. 

Leon S. Kennedy is back after 14 years (Resident Evil 6, 2012), joined by a new protagonist and ultimately, a masterful blend of gameplay styles across a captivating tale ends up the ultimate showcase of what a series reaching its zenith can be. 

It is, in short, only February, yet a stellar way to kick off what could be a historic year for the medium.

Graphics and Gameplay

The much-hyped RE Engine on next-generation consoles, looping in ray tracing and other fancy tech, is clearly a juggernaut in the space. 

Paired with some tighter first-person elements and broader third-person perspectives, the engine just toys with players in a harrowing way, based on what the narrative and locations demand. 

It allows for some best-ever lighting and shadow work and immersion factor that is, at times, quite literally breathtaking. We're talking down to little things like the jittery hands of a scared protagonist in first-person POV here. 

But it all looks best-in-medium, of course. RE Engine is apparently one of the best out in terms of hair behavior, for example. Monsters are grotesque in their horrific details, and environmental storytelling is at a premium throughout. 

Players assume the role of Grace Ashcroft and Leon. Both protagonists offer different feels of classic entries in the series: 

• Grace: survival horror, like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and even Resident Evil Village
• Leon: straight-up action, with a RE vibe, like Resident Evil 4

Requiem just toys with players while assuming the role of Grace. She's woefully underpowered and stealth is key to survival. We're talking about little things like, for example, her pitiful number of inventory slots. 

Leon, by comparison, just feels in control. He's confident. He's got great guns and melee weapons. He can get in close with parries and stuff, too. He's got action sequences, even with vehicles. He's an action hero and he knows it, a sensation that transfers to players at every waking moment. 

Even enemy behavior gets an upgrade. Specific undead will look to wield or accomplish certain things. An example going viral (pun intended) on social media right now…is a zombie who used to be a janitor simply irritated because someone flicked a light switch. 

The marriage of gameplay and presentation is almost concerning in this regard, as one can almost empathize with some of the undead while securing a sense of mercy through the carnage. 

At times, RE has struggled with the balance of action vs. horror and even sarcasm vs. seriousness. Not here. Players might divide on which protagonist is their favorite to play, but it all feels great, with Grace's segments building tension in a masterful, almost concerningly good way. 

Story and More

Grace, an FBI analyst in the familiar confines of Raccoon City nearly three decades after its destruction, is more of a player-insert when it comes to her terrified state within the story. 

Leon is more video-game-like, and the narrative pops players in and out of both perspectives at seemingly perfect times. 

The combo is captivating. Leon isn't really comic relief in an overdone way. But he's a grizzled veteran when it comes to this stuff and it shows. 

Make no mistake, there's a little background drama Requiem tries to drum up around Leon. But this is really a story about Grace, whose development along the way is enthralling, to the point of putting her near the top of best-ever lists for the series. 

Overall, the story is a pretty quick one and standard RE fair, meaning Umbrella Corporation-adjacent characters and the like. Things might be a little confusing for newcomers, but it's a lot of fun to see the lore and overarching timeline expanded.

Progression systems, as expected, include hallmarks like crafting. Three green herbs produce the timeless, expected outcome, for example. 

Otherwise, there's going to be plenty of joy found in the little things, like tackling greater difficulties and figuring out the perfect routings through each level, if possible. 

Despite some obviously impressive hardware demand for the game, Requiem performs quite well, even at launch. As expected on modern titles, there are droves of options and accessibility features rounding out the package, too. 

Conclusion

Throwing a ninth main game out in a beloved series should be a challenge rife with pitfalls. Ditto for attempting to balance survival-horror lovers and gung-ho, action-first zombie lovers. 

Should is doing some heavy, heavy lifting in the above. 

Requiem seems to take the decades of experience with the series and apply it to a near-perfect balancing act of its two main identities. Even players who don't love zombies, horror or something else about the package would be doing themselves a disservice by not experiencing it once. 

Without any hesitation, Requiem is an obvious Game of the Year favorite, even during a year supposedly getting a Grand Theft Auto release.