Since the announcement of Resident Evil Requiemfans were feverishly awaiting confirmation of the return of Leon Kennedy. This cult hero, symbol of Capcom’s elegant horror, seemed to tick all the boxes to return in RE9, with a story diving back into Raccoon City. But here is one unexpected leak on GameStop changes the situation…
The Deluxe Edition of the game suggests that Rosemary Wintersthe daughter of the protagonist of RE7 and RE8, could be the real second playable heroine. An unexpected twist, which puts the horror in a new perspective: that of a child endowed with mysterious powers.
Rosemary Winters, the protagonist who surprises fans
The product sheet of the edition Resident Evil Requiem Deluxe Steelbook mentions several items related to Rosemary Winters: “a unique cosmetic item for Rose’s visor”, “three exclusive outfits for Rosemary Winters”. A presence too detailed not to be significant.
There is nothing illogical about this choice. Rose has already been at the heart of the DLC Shadows of Rose in Resident Evil Village. Integrating it into RE9 would allow it to continue its progression and deepen its psychology.
But what troubles the community is her age: if the story takes place around 2028, she would still be a preteen. A young and vulnerable heroine, in a world infested with monsters, promises a more intimate experience of terror.
Leon Kennedy dismissed (for good?): Capcom calms things down
Faced with persistent rumors, the producer Masato Kumazawa recently spoke: “The rumor about a DLC with Leon Kennedy [est une] false information ». He even adds: “Even though we haven’t promised anything, players are getting frustrated. »
Capcom wants to avoid excessive expectations. After having focused on the returns of legendary characters in several recent episodes, the creative team now wants “avoid always relying on surprise returns”.
The message is clear: Resident Evil Requiem is not a nostalgic sequel. It’s a new chapter.
An atmosphere reinforced by Rose’s fragility
The director of RE Requiem speaks of a more subtle approach, far from the rush of adrenaline: “The game conveys the romance of a delicate girl fighting with a sturdy revolver”.
Where RE2 focused on urgency and action, RE Requiem seems to prefer slow tensionempathyvisceral fear. This artistic direction is also reinforced by the character of Grace Ashcroftan enigmatic scientist, or even the mysterious hooded killerdescribed as a persistent threat but “ small part of the game » according to Capcom.
The choice of Rose as protagonist also allows you to play with the narrative: certain elements could take place in the future or in a distorted psychic space, as was the case in the Village DLC.
A bold narrative bet to relaunch the saga
By taking this turn, Capcom is sending a strong signal: the series is not stuck in the formula that made it cult. Rather than multiplying the winks, RE9 seems to want to build a bridge between psychological horror of Village and the more classic roots of Raccoon City.
This strategy could disorient some fans, but it could also appeal to a new generation of players. After all, Capcom promises that even newcomers “will enjoy the game 100%”while the veterans “will get 150%”.
If the GameStop sheet is true, then Resident Evil Requiem could be the most daring episode since RE7. And even without Leon, the horror could well be there like never before.