Since 1996, Resident Evil has continued to reinvent itself. Survival-horror with fixed cameras, explosive action turn, transition to subjective view… the Capcom saga has crossed the generations, constantly transforming. With Resident Evil Requiem, the ninth main episode, the studio is no longer looking to shake everything up. He tries to bring everything together.
Result: a game that synthesizes thirty years of experimentation and stands out as one of the most successful opuses in the franchise. Both spectacular and intimate, ambitious and respectful of its roots, Requiem achieves a rare balance.
A spectacular but deeply human story
One of the most notable points of Resident Evil Requiem lies in its storyline. Far from fleeing the narrative excesses that marked the series, the game fully embraces its twists and turns and its sometimes excessive elements.
Grace Ashcroft, new protagonist, occupies a central place in this plot. Mysterious and nuanced, it brings a welcome freshness to the saga. His role in events remains shrouded in gray areas for a long time, pushing the player to move forward to understand his true motivations.
Opposite her, Leon Kennedy returns in a version faithful to what players have known since Resident Evil 4. Always quick to make scathing replies, he retains his usual charisma. But this time, the issue becomes more personal: infected by an unknown virus, he seeks a cure, which gives greater depth to his evolution.
The story also multiplies references to previous episodes. Without being essential to understanding the story, this richness clearly rewards long-time fans.
A successful fusion of horror and action
In terms of gameplay, Requiem draws on all the major periods of the series. The sequences centered on Leon favor action, in line with Resident Evil 4 or even the sixth episode. Nervous gunfights, kicks, spectacular explosions: the pace is sustained.
The passages featuring Grace, on the other hand, are more reminiscent of Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 7. Tense exploration, resource management and persistent enemies reinforce the oppressive atmosphere. The player can choose between third-person or first-person view, a choice that never seems imposed as the default option. This flexibility helps make the experience more personal.
A controlled and ambitious level design
Capcom once again demonstrates its mastery in the design of interconnected environments. The areas explored are dense, designed to encourage back and forth and puzzle solving. Some monsters chase the player through narrow corridors, maintaining constant tension. This mechanism is not new in the series, but it is executed with precision here.
Halfway through, the game temporarily expands its scale. Without switching to an open world, certain areas gain in amplitude, offering more freedom in clashes. However, some limitations remain. Some enemies appear frequently, which can make some fights repetitive. The bosses, while solid, sometimes lack memorable creativity.
A technological showcase for the RE Engine
Visually, Resident Evil Requiem impresses. On PS5 Pro, the graphics are distinguished by particularly careful visual fidelity and lighting work. The Ray Tracing is particularly convincing, accentuating the contrasts and dark atmospheres specific to the series. Technical performance appears solid. Any problems encountered are limited to slight visual defects, corrected by a simple save reload.
With Requiem, Capcom proves that the RE Engine continues to push its limits. Resident Evil Requiem thus manages to combine heritage and modernity. Far from being content with a simple homage, it shows that the franchise still has significant potential for development. The game releases on February 27 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC.