Review
For 30 years, Capcom has delivered some of gaming's most horrifyingly addictive experiences. We've bonded over unforgettable moments—like taking down the Super Tyrant in Resident Evil 2 or hiding from Jack Baker in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Now, with Resident Evil: Requiem, we are forced to confront the truth behind the series’ biggest disaster: the Destruction of Raccoon City.
The Raccoon City outbreak started a nearly 30-year-long nightmare that caused the deaths of thousands. We have endured horrors that would break most people. Yet our heroes often moved on to the next fight, rarely having the chance to reflect on those lost. Now, as the story moves into Resident Evil: Requiem, a new nightmare compels us to pause and face secrets that promise deeper ramifications for the series.
For this adventure, Capcom gives us the the best of 2 world’s of horror. Through the Journey that can take you an average of 17 hours, Requiem is able to balance 2 genre’s of horror: Survival-Horror & Action-Horror.
Embodying classic Survival Horror is our new protagonist, FBI Analyst Grace Ashcroft. She is quiet, reserved, and, like many RE protagonists, shaped by the trauma of her past. The daughter of a survivor of Raccoon City and a past Resident Evil protagonist, Alyssa Ashcroft, Grace’s social anxiety and vulnerability is key to her appeal as a new Resident Evil Protagonist.
In our corner, supporting the Action-Horror elements is long-time Resident Evil hero Leon Kennedy. Leon is sharp as ever, relying on his quick instincts, experience and arsenal of weapons to handle any situation he find himself in. An elite government operative who is calm under pressure and maintains his unyielding sense of justice & the truth is propels him into the fray and the conflict that arises. Since braving the horrors of Raccoon City as a rookie cop, Leon’s resilience and unshakeable focus have turned him into one of the strongest fighters against bio-terror threats in the series.
As its name suggests, Requiem, the latest entry in the Resident Evil series, is about remembering the past as it builds upon all the experiences and losses established in previous chapters. Here, the focus shifts to our heroes confronting their greatest fears and regrets, underscoring their struggle to move forward amid the darkness of their past & a future unknown.
This adventure begins, as so many do, with a series of murders. As our brand new hero, FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft returns to the ruined Wrenwood Hotel To Investigate, she takes the first step on her journey to confront her past, as perhaps not coincidentally, the hotel is where her beloved mother, Alyssa Ashcroft, was murdered years before. What Grace stumbles into instead is a dark journey that she may not have chosen, but it has clearly chosen her. The burned-down Wrenwood Hotel remains one of the eeriest locations, and sets the stage for a mystery that remains at the heart of the story, and it is all the more intensified by the expectation of Grace's arrival.
Resident Evil Villains have always seemed extravagant, and they always thought they were larger than life. Fan-Favourite villain, Albert Wesker, was an absolute terror with his superhuman abilities and plans for world domination. Mother Miranda, who looked like an over-the-top priest, might not have had the same goal as Wesker, but her methods were equally nefarious.
Requiem is no different, as its new villains continue to follow the path of looking obviously evil and deep-rooted plans, decades in the making. Newcomer Dr Victor Gideon Is Certainly Different From Other RE villains, but he is also about what you would expect. Favoring the snake motif, perhaps a bit too much, he is draped in a snake coat and enough accessories that one might think he was a snake. He proves to be the mastermind of the events through the first half of the story. Oddly enough, where other RE villains have tried to prove their superiority, Victor Gideon actually seems to be a more civil man, were it not for his abduction of Grace and unsettling Demeanor.
Like most games in the series, Requiem also plays a sleight of hand in revealing who the true villain of the campaign’s are. first, we see the Aforementioned Victor Gideon, then we meet the enigmatic and mysterious Zeno. Bearing the face and abilities of Albert Wesker. One thing that links our villains is their deep ties to the Umbrella Corporation and maybe even the past of Albert Wesker, as it is all but confirmed that he is all but a clone of Wesker. How & why are still a mystery, but it was actually refreshing to see his face again, even if Zeno doesn’t have as many cool quips as the original Wesker.
Going back to the topic of the main plot, the thread that united our 2 heroes on their respective journeys is That They Are Both Investigating These Strange murders. What perhaps makes this more personal for Leon is that each victim Was Also A Survivor Of Raccoon City, And All Have Symptoms That Our Fearless Hero Himself Is suffering from, as his ravaged body becomes a constant reminded that he is running out of time.
Requiem skillfully balances Grace and Leon’s stories, pushing both characters and players to their limits. From the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Centre to the burned R.P.D. building, our heroes use their unique skills to navigate the harsh environments before them. Leon, Channeling the aura of an action hero, demolishes every infected he encounters with an ever-evolving arsenal that has evolved over the years as he tackles infected both old & new.
Grace is a different story. While her FBI training ensures she has the firearm skills necessary to survive, her lack of experience in the field means she must rely on alternative skills & tools to survive. Grace’s anxiety is not just a sign of her past trauma, but it informs her Cautious approach to how she handles herself, as opposed to Leon, who can charge in to any fight. While other RE Heroes have real issues, we have never always identified with them because of how boisterous they are, whereas Grace’s persistent self-doubt makes her relatable; her arc is driven by a desire not only to survive, but also to emotionally reconcile her mother’s death.
Perhaps most terrifying are the new enemies we encounter. Over the years, various viruses and parasites have tested every hero. The T-Virus, G-Virus, & Las Plagas, have created plenty of nightmares, but none have surpassed what we face this time. Infected with an evolved form of the T-Virus, patients and workers in the Rhodes Hill care centre retain tragic traces of their former lives. One of our enemies, an Infected who had a lovely singing voice, continues to float her voice Through the dark halls. Former cleaners for the Centre can also be spotted in an Effort Of Futility, cleaning the blood of fallen victims—a burden our heroes must carry.
Some Resident Evil games have struggled with their pacing, whether it’s delivering non-stop horror, action, or brief moments of exploration. In Resident Evil 6, I often felt overwhelmed by the constant action with little time to actually take a breath. Requiem is different: its action and horror can catch us off-guard, but I always felt exhilarated rather than exhausted, and after I finished some well-designed encounters, I felt accomplished. While some say Requiem has pacing issues as it flicks between Grace’s & Leon’s, I see it as keeping players on their toes, never knowing what type of chapter awaits.
Through this journey, we learn many secrets that are uncovered during the course of the game, but in typical Resident Evil fashion, many more rise up to take their place. While many of these mysteries may be satisfying to root out, Requiem suffers from its inability to give enough spotlight to some of it’s new villains, like the Albert Wesker lookalike, Zeno, and the powerful, yet hidden Organization he represents, The Collections, who has plagued us since 2017 and perhaps even longer.
The Verdict
Resident Evil: Requiem is perhaps the greatest entry into the series so far and has proven that Capcom do not need to choose between survival-horror or action-horror. Introducing a new character, Grace, was a bold move, but it shows Capcom have plenty of gas in their tank as they continue to create new stories in the ever-evolving world of Resident Evil. While I did have some concerns about whether Leon would be properly honoured in this chapter without eclipsing Grace, I am pleased to say Capcom does a good job on balancing both characters so neither outstays their welcome. As this chapter appears to have closed the book on Raccoon City, Umbrella, and the nightmares of the past, it looks to the future, introducing brand-new seeds as it continues to build towards the next chapter of the series. This is the culmination of everything Capcom has learned and everything they clearly enjoy designing, and the risks they take pay off in exciting ways that truly make this game my 2026 Game Of The Year.
Main Narratives - Grace & Leon’s story both reach the same destination, but each has its own purpose. For Leon, he has to find a way forward without losing himself and perhaps those he loves, and for Grace, she has to understand who she is and why she has been thrust into this nightmare. A good balancing act and informative dialogue help keep us questioning purposes & motives as we uncover the secrets meant to be buried under the ruins of Raccoon City. - 10/10
Characters - Leon continues to prove why he is so loved and respected by the fan base, as he has not lost his edge and proves why he’s one of the best mythos in the series. Grace proves herself time & time again as she endures the greatest hardship of her life to save her sanity and confront her past. While the villains are pretty typical of a Resident Evil game, they are fairly enjoyable, with their only weakness being a lack of context. In a stroke of mastery, we actually feel for many of the enemies we encounter in the series, as the game earns its Evil moniker by showing the inhumanity of the dangers we face. - 9.5/10
Environmental & Collectable - From the Wrenwood Hotel to the Rhodes Hill Care Centre, all the way back to the ruins of Raccoon City, each environment tells a story that practically yells at us to understand the cruelty & madness that have infected the foundation of these meticulously crafted set pieces. Most collectables, like past Resident Evil games, are meant to advance mission objectives, but they do not disappoint in showing us the folly of people who seek nothing but power and seem to possess no humanity. - 10/10
I Give this game 10/10 Hemolytic Injector’s
