Resident Evil: Requiem: A 30th Anniversary Feast or Familiar Fare

Capcom's latest entry, Resident Evil: Requiem, has already made a significant financial impact since its announcement at last year's Summer Game Fest. As the ninth mainline game in the iconic Resident Evil series, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Requiem has ignited excitement among fans, largely due to the highly anticipated return of federal agent Leon S. Kennedy. This marks Leon's first appearance in a numbered title since 2012's Resident Evil 6, alongside the introduction of a brand-new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft.

Grace, an FBI analyst and daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak, finds herself investigating a series of mysterious deaths at an abandoned hotel in the American Midwest – the very place her mother was tragically murdered eight years prior. Leon, meanwhile, is drawn to the same grim location following reports of a missing police officer. Despite its deep roots in a thirty-year legacy, game director Koshi Nakanishi states Requiem was "designed to be welcoming to complete newcomers." New players can jump in alongside Grace, who, having never faced a zombie, learns about the Raccoon City incident through her mother's past involvement. The PlayStation 5 version currently holds a "generally favourable" Metacritic score of 88, hinting at a largely positive reception, though critics have offered a nuanced take on Capcom's latest survival horror.

A Nostalgia Trip Down Memory Lane

One of the most recurring themes in the critical consensus for Resident Evil: Requiem is its overwhelming sense of nostalgia. Many reviewers, like Nat Smith from PCGamesN, describe the game as a "compilation of greatest hits" and a true "celebration of Resident Evil's three decades." VGC's Dave Aubrey echoed this sentiment, calling it a "remastered greatest hits album." The game is brimming with relentless callbacks, from subtle environmental cues like attic ladders and broken windows to major character revelations. This can occasionally make Requiem feel more like an "overly elaborate pastiche" than a fresh mainline entry, according to Smith. However, for others, like Restart's Myles Obenza, the game successfully revisits and answers lingering questions from even "more obscure Resident Evil titles," providing ample fan service for series veterans.

Leon S. Kennedy: Still Got It (Mostly)

Leon S. Kennedy's return has been met with widespread adoration, particularly for his character design. Game director Koshi Nakanishi revealed the team spent considerable time polishing Leon's visuals, aiming for a look that would make "anyone's heart throb." And it seems they succeeded. Dave Aubrey enthusiastically declared, "Leon is daddy. He used to be babygirl, and now he's daddy." PCGamesN's Smith appreciated how Leon has aged alongside the players, noting their shared dark circles and the return of curtain bangs. While Startmenu's Artemis Octavio praised Capcom for making a man who has "survived god knows how many biochemical outbreaks" look as "debonair as ever," she did express some criticism. Octavio felt that Leon's encounters with past enemies felt forced, driven solely by nostalgia, leading to one-liners that had "lost some potency; he sounds exhausted and ready to retire."

Two Tales, Two Tones

Requiem's unique dual-protagonist structure allows players to alternate between Grace and Leon, offering distinctly different gameplay experiences. Leon's sections are said to embody the "frenetic, over-the-shoulder gun-action gameplay of Resident Evil 4," complete with resource gathering and weapon upgrades. In stark contrast, Grace's segments are akin to the "slow-walking, dread-filled, first-person gameplay of Resident Evil 7." Capcom even recommends playing Grace in first-person and Leon in third. Restart's Obenza highlights how Grace's first-person perspective truly amps up the horror, creating an "immersive and tense atmosphere." He describes a particularly terrifying basement encounter where players are forced to evade a monstrous creature in tight spaces, betraying previous survival instincts. While PCGamesN's Smith found this dichotomy enhanced the experience, creating a "cycle of tension and release" with Grace as the tension and Leon as the release, VGC's Aubrey and Startmenu's Octavio found the tonal shifts "jarring." Aubrey also pointed out that the titular "Requiem" weapon, a powerful magnum-like firearm given to Grace, might offer too much comfort in sections meant to be intensely survival-focused.

Raccoon City Revisited (with a Brown Filter)

While the emotional weight of bringing Leon back to Raccoon City is undeniable, critics had mixed feelings about its visual execution. Startmenu's Octavio noted that Leon is "unfortunately relegated to the game's worst sections" in terms of environmental design, describing them as "drab, a lot of dull greys and washed-out browns." This was a noticeable step down from the ray-traced streetlights and heavy rain of his opening section. PCGamesN's Smith agreed, lamenting that Capcom "inexplicably decided to resurrect the brown filter of the mid-2000s right along with it." She felt the bombed-out Raccoon City, while thematically appropriate, was so nondescript it could be "any post-apocalyptic city in any third-person shooter released in the last two decades." However, even in these visually subdued areas, Restart's Obenza found the combat truly shined, particularly with the introduction of zombies that can wield weapons like machetes and guns, offering a "fresh and engaging experience."

The Verdict: A Polished, Puzzling Return

Resident Evil: Requiem is many things to many people. For some, it's a fantastic celebration of the series' history, masterfully combining the best parts of modern Resident Evil titles into a cohesive, enjoyable package. Restart's Myles Obenza confidently stated it serves as "both a fitting conclusion for many threads left open over the years and a benchmark for where we can expect to go from here." Others, like VGC's Dave Aubrey, found it a "fantastic addition" but "slightly hampered by its inspirations," feeling a bit too safe for a numbered installment in a series known for breaking the mold. Startmenu's Artemis Octavio, while acknowledging it doesn't reach the prestige of the series' best, found it a "bloody good time" thanks to its "immaculate gun-feel, that craftsman's sense for detail, that tension that is ceremoniously ruined by the most ridiculous event." Ultimately, despite criticisms about its familiar feel, sometimes jarring pacing, or reliance on established mechanics, the critical consensus points to Resident Evil: Requiem as a polished, brilliant entry that largely satisfies, leaving players with a memorable – if occasionally convoluted – experience.

Q: Who are the main protagonists in Resident Evil: Requiem?

A: Resident Evil: Requiem features two main protagonists: the returning fan-favorite Leon S. Kennedy, making his first mainline appearance since Resident Evil 6, and a new character, Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst and daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak.

Q: Does Resident Evil: Requiem cater to new players or just longtime fans?

A: According to game director Koshi Nakanishi, Resident Evil: Requiem was "designed to be welcoming to complete newcomers." While series veterans will appreciate the return of Leon and numerous callbacks, new players can experience the world through Grace's perspective, as she is new to the zombie threat.

Q: What's the critical reception for Resident Evil: Requiem?

A: Resident Evil: Requiem has received a "generally favourable" consensus, with a Metacritic score of 88 for the PS5 version. Critics praised its celebration of the series' history, strong dual-protagonist gameplay, and Leon's character design, though some noted a reliance on nostalgia, a sometimes jarring tone, and uninspired environmental design in certain sections.