Resident Evil Requiem review: Brilliant but over too soon

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Leon S. Kennedy is entering middle age in Resident Evil Requiem, but he’s still in great shape, much like the enduring Resident Evil series itself.

Capcom’s ninth installment in the zombie-fighting series feels like two different games. While the previous game, Village, tried to blend survival horror and action, this one splits those elements between its two main characters.

Leon and Grace each have very distinct gameplay styles, but they complement each other perfectly. Their roles are so clearly established that playing Requiem often feels like experiencing two separate games.

This is Capcom’s most impressive game yet, successfully blending the fast-paced action-horror of Resident Evil 4 with the slow-burn, terrifying atmosphere of the original Resident Evil games.

The game is impressively ambitious and deserves recognition, even though it starts to stumble a bit towards the end.

Resident Evil Requiem screenshots

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What is Resident Evil Requiem about?

FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, still haunted by her mother’s murder, is sent to investigate a new death that may be connected to the original crime. This forces her to return to the place where her mother died.

Grace soon realizes she was brought here on purpose by Victor Gideon, a gruff, old scientist who used to work for Umbrella. He thinks she knows something important the company lost a long time ago and takes her captive to find out.

She’s obviously new and scared, and that feeling immediately transfers to you as the player. Thankfully, the game looks stunning thanks to the RE Engine, just like other recent Resident Evil titles.

Once Gideon captures Grace, the story shifts to follow the former RCPD rookie. He quickly fights through a newly formed horde of zombies, creating a short break in the action before Grace faces her next terrifying challenge.

Best of both worlds

The sections featuring Grace are the strongest part of Resident Evil Requiem, offering the most traditional survival horror experience Capcom has created since Resident Evil 7. Because Grace is less equipped and experienced than Leon, players are forced to carefully plan each encounter, making even simple tasks like walking down a hallway incredibly tense and focused on avoiding combat.

I initially questioned the choice to tell Grace’s story in first person, but it turned out to be a great decision. While you can change perspectives between characters whenever you like, Grace’s parts of the game feel much more intense and personal when experienced directly, something a third-person view couldn’t achieve.

Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, secretly used by Gideon for disturbing experiments, is where Grace is first held captive and represents the most fortified location in Requiem. Packed with locked doors, secret passages, puzzles, and a rich backstory told through its environment, it’s as memorable as the mansion from the original Resident Evil and forms the backbone of the game’s first half.

The way Capcom alternates between Leon’s intense action and Grace’s suspenseful sections is really effective. Getting to fight your way through the Care Center after being forced to sneak around as Grace is incredibly satisfying and empowering.

This is just a preview of Leon’s bigger part in the story, which really begins when he finally goes back to the ruins of Raccoon City.

This game clearly takes inspiration from Resident Evil 4. Like that game, you’ll manage an inventory with an attaché case and spend money to buy and improve your weapons – the gameplay feels very similar to Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 remake.

The gameplay isn’t quite as fast-paced, but that seems intentional – the decaying zombies aren’t as nimble as the enemies in the previous game. However, the satisfying cycle of kicking, headshotting, and blocking attacks remains just as engaging.

The game includes some expected nods to fan favorites, mainly a return to the RPD police station, but these moments are brief and well-integrated. Aside from one boss battle, the references to the original Resident Evil 2 feel natural and aren’t forced.

The game’s smooth flow starts to slow down once you go underground into the heart of Raccoon City.

Gone too soon

Both Grace and Leon appear on screen equally in Requiem, but the story doesn’t introduce Leon well enough until halfway through, which hurts his character.

Leon gets access to a huge arsenal of weapons, but the game quickly shifts to a smaller, less challenging final area after leaving Raccoon City. This fits Grace’s storyline, which emphasizes simply surviving, but it leaves Leon’s powerful weapon upgrades feeling unnecessary and unused.

The story itself also suffers from these problems. Both main characters face intense emotional and physical challenges. Grace’s journey focuses on building self-esteem and finding peace regarding her mother, while Leon grapples with the guilt from the original Raccoon City disaster. This makes Requiem feel more like a true follow-up to Resident Evil 2 than Resident Evil 3 ever did.

The strong character work really stands out when compared to the silly and over-the-top finale of Requiem. While Resident Evil often delivers enjoyable, campy fun, even Leon’s witty remarks can’t save the last part of the game from becoming completely ridiculous. The disappointing ending is made even worse by the fact that the final boss is nearly identical to one players have already fought in an earlier game.

Verdict

Resident Evil Requiem continues Capcom’s success, though it occasionally struggles with being overly ambitious. Many players will be surprised at how quickly the roughly 10-hour adventure concludes.

I was hoping for more depth, particularly for Leon’s storyline, which felt a little underdeveloped. While unlocking weapons and difficulty levels encourages replayability, the game overall could have used a bit more polish and development time.

While it lasts, Requiem is truly excellent. It feels like Capcom finally figured out the perfect balance for the series, successfully blending both the horror and action elements they’ve experimented with for years.

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2026-02-25 18:20