Capcom’s "Resident Evil" is back and better than ever with the ninth installment to the survival horror game series, "Resident Evil Requiem."
The story follows FBI analyst and daughter of “Resident Evil Outbreak” protagonist Alyssa Ashcroft, Grace Ashcroft, as she investigates the mysterious deaths of the Raccoon City incident victims. Joining her and conducting investigations of his own is none other than fan-favorite protagonist Leon S. Kennedy, once the rookie cop from “Resident Evil 2” and now a seasoned veteran.
The game was released in the U.S. on Feb. 27. While many avid "Resident Evil" fans are still doing their first play-throughs of the newest game, here are some first impressions of how “Requiem” holds up to its predecessors.
Overall, the mechanics are very similar to the remakes, “Resident Evil 2” and “Resident Evil 4” in particular, as well as the newer seventh and eighth installments of the franchise. They are easy for older fans to adapt to, familiar to those who joined during the remake periods and intuitive enough for new fans to grasp.
The combat feel is similar to older games, the main mode being shooting with some prompts here and there for melee opportunities, similar to games four and five. Inventory management is restricted but upgradable; the Antique Coins from game seven are back, and, like any "Resident Evil" game, resources are limited to force players to adapt creatively.
The 2021 “Resident Evil 8” set the bar high for graphics quality, including immersive, realistic character and setting details. "Requiem" has been even more mind-blowing. The game truly looks photorealistic and is perfectly cinematic during its cutscenes. In the first part of his gameplay of "Requiem," YouTuber Jacksepticeye even commented about the graphics.
“You could post a screenshot of this, and someone would tell you it’s real,” he said.
The realistic style does not detract from the game's character either. Instead, it enhances it by immersing the player in the world of Resident Evil. Instead of watching Ashcroft or Kennedy, you feel as though you are there experiencing things with them, whether that’s sneaking around a ginormous mutated monster or plowing through hordes of zombies with a hatchet.
Speaking of Ashcroft and Kennedy, those who have not played the game, or are interested in doing so, may be wondering how the shakeup between protagonists works both mechanically and narratively. The answer is extremely smooth perspective swapping with distinct play styles for each. There was curiosity going into the gameplay to see how balanced the transitions between characters would be, and it was pleasantly surprising to find that the narratives weave together.
One character’s section of the story ends, and the next is immediately picked up by the other seamlessly to continue the plot. Not only are you playing as two different characters equally, but players also have the new option of experiencing the game in both first-person and third-person without having to change perspective settings manually.
As a note, players can choose either perspective mode for both Ashcroft and Kennedy, but the developers have recommended first-person gaming for Ashcroft and third-person for Kennedy. This is to enhance Ashcroft’s intense, slow tension gameplay and Kennedy’s fast-paced, combat-forward storyline, a mix that is inspired by the best qualities of games seven and eight, as well as two and the original “Resident Evil 4,” respectively.
Other new features that have set "Requiem" apart from previous "Resident Evil" games are new blood-based crafting mechanics, zombies with human personalities retained and Kennedy is now able to pick up and use enemy weapons. If you’re a long-time fan of either "Resident Evil" or Kennedy himself, you will know how monumentally awesome this is.
Players are also now able to pick between unique standard difficulty settings: Modern or Classic, as well as a Casual mode and Insanity mode upon completion of the game. Modern uses frequent, automatic saves, while Classic makes a callback to the older games by requiring players to craft Ink Ribbons for manual saves and uses fewer autosaves.
No "Resident Evil” game is flawless, so when criticizing a new installment, it’s important to compare its story, graphics, mechanics and enjoyment to older games while also picking at where it doesn’t quite meet fan standards.
However, “Requiem” has many scratching their heads so far to find anything to complain about other than minor annoyances that any survival horror game, and certainly most "Resident Evil" games, have.
The game is not perfect, but it is close. If the feeling of pure and simple fun while playing the game is anything to go by, then it can be said that it’s holding up to its predecessors just fine.
This game is a love letter for old and new fans of "Resident Evil" alike, and one that anyone, regardless of what games you play, could enjoy.
“Resident Evil Requiem” is available to play on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows and the Xbox Series for $69.99.
