RESIDENT EVIL REQUIEM

Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth numbered installment in Capcom's classic series, and the thirteenth main entry if we count 0, Revelations, Revelations 2, and Code Veronica as mainline entries. The word Requiem in the title suggests some kind of closure. A symbolic "tombstone," a memorial. In fact, and without wanting to refer to aspects of the story that may spoil your experience, Resident Evil Requiem digs up memories of past events and bygone years. This sense of déjà vu and nostalgia, with respect and awe, brings us face to face with ghosts of the past. With familiar dread, with devastating losses.

If we focused solely on nostalgia, it would be misleading for the tone of Resident Evil Requiem (RER for short hereafter). The game's formula may tread on familiar paths and at times even resemble a "best of" compilation of the series, but it offers a wealth of new thrills and suspenseful moments. RER was originally intended to be an open-world, multiplayer game. Fortunately for us, the creators realized that this was not the direction we wanted for the series. And so Requiem was developed as a single-player survival horror game, which not only broke the record for fastest sales (5 million in 5 days) but is also highly rated among players. Here we will see what makes it so beloved.

The story takes place in 2026, where there have already been five confirmed deaths of Raccoon City survivors. These deaths are unnatural, as the victims appear to have shown symptoms of infection similar to those of the T-virus. The FBI is involved in the investigation, as well as the DSO, an organization that includes top federal agents and aims to counter bioterrorism. The former is represented by Grace Ashcroft, while the latter group is represented by Leon Kennedy. Grace, on orders from her superior, goes to the place where the last victim was found. This is the hotel where her mother was murdered years ago while trying to conceal a big secret. A coincidence? As for Leon, beyond his duty, there is also a personal stake, as he too has begun to show symptoms of the infection. The story is one of the most interesting we have seen in the series, and there are some nice twists waiting for us towards the end.

The two protagonists have polar opposite personalities. The young woman is introverted and inexperienced in the field, having so far only held an administrative role (analyst). She is an everyday person with whom you can identify, just like Ethan, previously. Leon has years of experience and dishes out pain and killer one-liners. It makes sense that he is calm and completely composed, as he has been through hell and back and survived. Of the old guard, he is the one with the best character development throughout the series: from an idealistic rookie cop to a mature 50-year-old who is aura farming in almost every scene. And that is one of the reasons why he is the most popular at the moment.

This contrast between the two characters adds charm to the game, as they convey what they are experiencing through their own perspectives, with the emotions that arise in each predicament. The harsh, harrowing situations that Requiem presents us with are something Grace has never experienced before. Leon, however, has encountered them in the past and is now too old for this shit. The direction and presentation of the title are extraordinary, worthy of an AAA production. Did we also mention how evocative the performances of all the characters are, especially Victor and Grace? The mature writing that began with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is still here and a couple of self-deprecating scenes work beneficially in the somber atmosphere of the title.

As expected, the gameplay has been adapted to reflect the psyches of the two protagonists. The sections where we control Grace are pure survival horror. Resources are limited, and every bullet or herb we find counts. Stealth helps with this, as most enemies detect us based on line of sight proximity, while a few react to noise or the light of our flashlight. RER features a simple and intuitive crafting system that gives access to some useful items: from permanent upgrades to Grace, and ammunition, to health injectors and Molotov cocktails. The main ingredient is infected blood, which killed enemies occasionally leave behind or can be found in various containers, and can be collected with a device that we acquire early on. In general, Grace's adventure is clearly influenced by Resident Evil 7 (which is not surprising, since the director of that game is involved), while one part is reminiscent of... Amnesia: The Bunker.

There is also the option of a silent approach on Leon's end – in fact, here we can execute our opponents with takedowns – making things even easier. However, this is not mandatory, as there is an abundance of ammunition, both through crafting and scattered around the environment, and weapons (which can be made even more effective through upgrades). Leon's gameplay is a combination of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4: it takes the slower, more atmospheric moments of the former, slowly building tension, and throws in the adrenaline bursts of the latter, with scenes where we are beset by numerous undead. At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the combat in his campaign is the peak of the series to date.

Requiem gives us the choice between first-person and third-person camera (the settings recommend the former for controlling Grace and the latter for controlling Leon, which we find agreeable). The controls for both perspectives are responsive, and you won't encounter any issues. Special mention should be made of Leon's campaign, especially the point where we return to familiar territory (we apologize in advance to our ten or so readers who haven't seen a single trailer before the release of the game). All of this is so skillfully staged that it makes the return to Ishimura in Dead Space 2 seem like a tech demo in terms of gameplay and emotion. We're not just talking about member berries, but a sequence of events and scenes (and more) that will hit those who have played RE2 like a ton of bricks. We'll stop here to avoid giving away any major details.

The technical aspect is outstanding. Not that we expected anything less from the RE Engine, but here it exceeded our expectations. Compared to 7 and Village, Requiem has been designed with Ray Tracing in mind from the get-go. Even with the Normal setting, the difference in quality is noticeable, and optimization hasn't been neglected either. The dark, claustrophobic atmosphere of the first half and the almost post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the second half are rendered in terrifying detail on our screens. Of course, the dismemberments and general gore are still among the highlights. On the test system (Windows 10 Pro, AMD Radeon RX 6800XT, Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X), with FSR 3.1.5 active, all settings on the highest level and FPS cap at 120, the frames ranged from 85-120. Without FSR, it was 45-60, but due to the fast-paced nature of the game, it was preferable to have it enabled. The sound is also top-notch, both in terms of the various effects and the way we can perceive their source (the experience takes off with headphones), as well as the soundtrack, which at times, with its drawn-out synth notes is reminiscent of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

The overall experience that RER delivers is so satisfying that looking for flaws in it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Nevertheless, we have to be objective here. As far as the story is concerned, there are a few points that are unclear (e.g., one of them concerns the cause of Leon's infection), while some questions remain unanswered (a scene in the post-credits comes to mind), so we may have to wait for answers in some DLC or in the next installment. As for the gameplay, the only thing we can fault is the lack of an additional Mercenaries-type mode and a true New Game +, as currently very little is carried over from one completed playthrough to the next.

Resident Evil Requiem is the best Resident Evil since RE 4 (at least when it comes to new entries in the series). It continues the incredible streak of quality releases since Resident Evil 7 and is one of the best horror games we've seen in the last decade. Requiem was created by people who fully understand what we want from a modern survival horror game and lavishly deliver it. With an awesome atmosphere, a breakneck pace, shifts in tone, action and horror (with the scales tipping in favor of the latter), and polished gameplay which stands at the peak of the series.

Resident Evil Requiem is distributed by CD Media, whom we would like to thank for providing the review code.

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