Resident Evil Requiem Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, & PC)

At whatever point you may have joined the cult of Resident Evil fans, the new Resident Evil Requiem entry has something curated for you. Even newcomers will find something special. Sure, appealing to everyone’s interest and taste has been the undoing of many great franchises. But there still often remains an overall sentiment that can be agreed upon. And that’s that Requiem is a hands-down spine-tingling affair. 

Much thanks to three decades’ worth of fine-tuning and polish, no doubt. But, also an interesting approach to keeping things refreshing throughout your stay here. Yes, it’s a must-play. But why so? Let’s find out in our Resident Evil Requiem review.

Revisiting the Scene of the Crime

It’s old news now that Resident Evil Requiem follows two protagonists, each on different paths that eventually merge to form one story. FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Daybreak. And Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie cop from Resident Evil 2, turned action hero and seasoned protagonist of the franchise thus far. 

The two protagonists offer interesting entry points for newcomers and series veterans. On the one hand, you have newbies experiencing the horrors of Raccoon City for the first time. On the other hand, folks who’ve got their hands dirty, time and time again, mowing down blood-spattering zombies without a care in the world.

Much as I might not want to admit it, it became desentisizing to be saving the day in zombie-infested places that are supposed to be haunting, and to some degree, remain so. But returning to Raccoon City with a fresh set of eyes, even when it’s Grace Ashcroft’s and not necessarily our own, sure does help create some kind of first-time experience. 

When Grace arrives at the hotel that her mother died mysteriously, alongside other Raccoon City survivors, to discover the clues and mysteries locked away for so many years. Mysteries that may have been better left undisturbed. But now that the can of worms is opened. Might as well brace ourselves for a new world order.

A world order where distant footsteps and creaking floors are a sure sign to hide and not make a sound. Where the slightest bit of suspicion is taken seriously, as it may very well lead to running into your worst nightmare. Every turn around a corner or descent down a claustrophobic hallway comes with a self-consciousness and awareness that more often than not, proves well worth the excessive angst and fear.

Helplessly So

For Grace, it’s a holding on to dear life every single spare moment she spends searching for answers about her mother’s murder. She’s kidnapped and comes close to dying so many times, it becomes downright a thing to be constantly worried about. Alongside Resident Evil’s mastery of suspense and dreadful, heavy atmosphere, Requiem reaps the fruits boldly and impactfully. 

More so with the first-person default setting when finding a way around the mazes of creepy hallways and zombie-infested buildings. The puzzles and mysteries keep you intrigued about what braving the next few areas might bring. It’s clear that your attack and defense are intentionally laughable, and that any enemy encounters are best avoided.

Still, it doesn’t take away those moments of wanting to take control of your fear. Of seizing brief moments of opportunity to strike an enemy from behind. The few weapons you acquire may also be useful, but still leave you cautious about their limits. Ammo may run out in the face of sure death. Or your attacks may simply be useless against the tankier, unstoppable kind. And then you come to the realization that you know what, maybe going full stealth is the only way after all. 

I Will Find You

Meanwhile, Leon S. Kennedy’s side of events is to blast away. He’s seen this before. He knows exactly what it’s going to take. And even then, he knows the limits of his arsenal. So, he prepares himself beforehand. A mighty chainsaw to rip apart any revivable part of the zombies swarming around you. A hand cannon for a sure-fire way of putting them down for good. And when your weapons run out of ammo, a powerhouse, roundhouse kick, I swear, is strangely more handy than some weapons. 

It’s unclear in the beginning how Leon’s story might coincide with Grace, with an initially somewhat disjointed, slow start. But soon, they cross paths, and the story picks up pace. A lot is at stake here, dragging your soul and emotions into the fictional world. But it’s Grace’s survival horror and Leon’s unapologetic violence that keep you most entertained. I’m not quite sure whose side is better, though. It might depend on your mood and taste. Would you rather be holding your breath for the hauntings Resident Evil Requiem is so heavily-laden with or blasting zombies you can see, still dreadfully grotesque, mind you.

And just so you have all the information you need, playing action hero as Leon doesn’t necessarily make you all-powerful. There’s panic still, when you’re frantically parrying attacks and trying to calm your racing heart down enough to take a clean shot, which isn’t always enough to put down beefier monsters. As you know, zombies need a clean headshot. Blow off a zombie’s head, and you might rest easy for a short minute before the next one springs at you. But miss, and they’ll revive, much stronger than before. You don’t want to face Blister Heads variants on low ammo, trust me.

And I Will Save You

All this is for a purpose, to save a girl, what better motivation, and Grace. And then find a way out of this hellhole, together. But hey, if it pleases you to simply enjoy a fun gun fiesta, then by all means. And I’m certain the motorcycle will much atone for any downtimes in action. Motorcycle chases await, which don’t demand expertise in handling. In fact, they defy physics in hilarious, adrenaline-pumping ways. Speedy, smooth, but reckless, just how I like it.

Indeed, the action and explosions are where the fun is. When blasting zombies, and having their blood and guts spill all over. Gore is something ever-present, and excitingly so, as your chainsaw buzzes through the intestines of hulky beasties. It’s a shame some boss fights aren’t as thrilling as enemy encounters, nor nearly as challenging. I’d have expected bosses to take it up a notch, combining all of the gore, grotesque body horror, and damn near frustrating staggering and clamoring of foes. If the horde zombies are such a nuisance, a spectacle of how fighting their leader might feel like.

Personified Zombies

Identity is something Resident Evil Requiem has paid appreciated attention to. Always hated how, once turned, zombies forget everything they were. But the ones on here, boy, do they remember things. They mumble about their past lives, revealing terrifying details. Some cling to their professions and tools of work: doctors with scalpels, chefs with knives, and whatnot. And, it’s compelling to try and understand what they must be able to feel and process. Are they begging to be put out of their misery or enjoying their new haunting versions of themselves?

Most speculative, but still interesting to be tugging at the back of your mind, even as you crash their heads with your hatchet. A slight reluctance to be permanently ending what used to be someone, but face-to-face with danger, it’s kill or be killed.

Verdict

Survival horror has always held firm to the ideas and notions Resident Evil Requiem created and finessed. The eerie atmosphere you navigate cautiously, constantly shaken at the thought of something creeping out from the shadows. And then, surviving encounters with limited resources. Resident Evil Requiem builds on that tension with Grace’s limited skill. She’s no Leon when it comes to clearing out hordes of zombies. But she’s resilient and determined to solve her mother’s murder. 

Leon’s part remains the chaotic and violent affair you imagine. No moment to stop and assess what’s in front of you, no moment to catch your breath, when zombies swarm all around you. It’s a different and welcome kind of tension where you’re absolutely savage and loving it. Yet cautious that the odds are still very much against you. Your ammo is still limited, and if you’re to run into Blister Heads, well then, they are your worst enemy. 

Both Grace and Leon will have to resort to sneaking around Raccoon City, maintaining the ever-present knowledge that this is a haunting place you absolutely must survive. Even with all the bombastic action, Resident Evil Requiem remains terrifying, thanks also to its heavy atmosphere and sound. Does it have missteps here and there? Sure. But is it worth the roughly 14-hour playthrough? Absolutely. Perhaps even more than when you dive back in for faster completion times or simply just to enjoy getting all tensed up all over again.