Resident Evil Requiem Review – A Haunting Homecoming
- Matthew Rondina
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
Resident Evil Requiem offers a visceral blend of survival horror and explosive action, dual protagonists, in a thrilling tribute to 30 years of terror, my full review.
There’s something poetic about returning to Raccoon City after three decades of survival horror history. I remember playing Resident Evil 2 on the PSX for the first time back in 1998, and it completely changed my expectations for survival horror video games. Since then, for nearly 30 years, the Resident Evil franchise has reinvented itself repeatedly, swinging between fixed-camera dread, bombastic action, and intimate first-person terror.
"for nearly 30 years, the Resident Evil franchise has reinvented itself repeatedly, swinging between fixed-camera dread, bombastic action, and intimate first-person terror."
And now, with Resident Evil Requiem, it feels like all those lessons have culminated into something special. With Requiem, Capcom doesn’t just revisit its roots; it reconstructs them with modern design, dynamic dual perspectives, and a confidence that only a 30-year-old franchise can wield.
The experience feels less like a sequel and more like a culmination of the series’s best parts. It channels the claustrophobic dread of early PlayStation-era entries, the swagger of later action-heavy chapters, and the immersive first-person terror that reshaped the series in recent years. Somehow, it fuses those philosophies into one cohesive, polished experience that stands among the franchise’s strongest efforts.
"Somehow, it fuses those philosophies into one cohesive, polished experience that stands among the franchise’s strongest efforts."
I played through the campaign on PlayStation 5 Pro and Nintendo Switch 2, and across both platforms, Requiem delivers a survival horror experience that feels both reverent and daringly new. Let’s return to Raccoon City in my full review.
Resident Evil Requiem Details
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Pro and Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Survival Horror / Action
Available game modes: Single-player campaign
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Two Perspectives, One Unfolding Nightmare
Requiem’s biggest gamble when it comes to storytelling is its dual-protagonist structure, and it completely pays off. The campaign alternates between newcomer Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst and series veteran Leon S. Kennedy, both pulled into unimaginable horrors, old and new.
"Requiem’s biggest gamble when it comes to storytelling is its dual-protagonist structure, and it completely pays off."
Scraping by to Survive with Grace
The story picks up with Grace, offering a fresh perspective to the franchise. Ashcroft is brought into the story to investigate multiple murders linked to Raccoon City survivors. Rather than opening with a battle-hardened zombie slayer, you’re introduced to this latest chapter through vulnerable eyes. Her early hours are deliberately paced, tight corridors, heavy silence, shadows that linger; it’s nerve-wracking and sets the stage perfectly.
"Her early hours are deliberately paced, tight corridors, heavy silence, shadows that linger; it’s nerve-wracking and sets the stage perfectly."
The first mission, which is an investigation of a murder scene, reminded me of Condemned: Criminal Origins with its gritty setting and off-putting atmosphere. I found myself creeping slowly, headset volume turned up, bracing for every creak and distant thud.
Grace’s sections lean heavily into the psychological horror of earlier Resident Evil games. The first-person perspective amplifies vulnerability, and I highly recommend sticking to this default viewpoint from the outset. You don’t feel like a hero; you feel like prey desperately trying to survive.
The Leon Kennedy Revenge Tour
Leon's arc, by contrast, is where “the hunters become the hunted.” His campaign unfolds in third-person, offering greater mobility, heavier firepower, and a seasoned confidence that reshapes familiar spaces. Watching the narrative weave its stories together is one of Requiem’s most satisfying achievements.
"Leon's arc, by contrast, is where 'the hunters become the hunted.'"
Grace uncovers conspiratorial threads, emotional context, and just tries to survive, while Leon provides momentum and cathartic release through a host of action hero-style moments in which he dispatches enemies. He has a smug confidence even in the most grave situations, dropping some great one-liners along the way.
Without spoiling anything, there’s an unmistakable melancholy running through the story, especially for Leon, whose return to Raccoon City carries emotional weight. The writing strikes a compelling balance between blockbuster intensity and quieter, reflective beats. By the end, I felt genuinely invested in both arcs. The latter half of the game is a little Leon-heavy; aside from one extended interlude with Grace facing off against classic foes, it would have been nice to see a better balance between the two storylines throughout.
Resident Evil Requiem Gameplay: Fear and Firepower
What truly elevates Requiem is how seamlessly it merges two distinct gameplay philosophies. On paper, I thought this wouldn’t work, or I would have a preference for one character over the other, but both deliver the best aspects of the Resident Evil franchise in their own way.
Grace: Vulnerability and Dread
Grace’s campaign embodies classic survival horror, and it’s done masterfully, especially in her early chapters. You can see her character struggle with her new terrifying reality and do her best to muster the courage to fight back. Inventory management matters; ammunition is scarce, puzzles require observation rather than brute force, and any upgrades require you to carefully scour some seriously creepy environments.
Resident Evil Requiem Offers New Weapons
Grace isn’t completely helpless: A new standout addition is added to her inventory with the hemolytic injector, a device that allows stealth eliminations and blood extraction for crafting resources. It’s a mechanic that adds more options to her arsenal, while at the same time providing something vastly different from Leon’s arsenal. It also forces uncomfortable decisions. Do you risk proximity to a threat for crafting materials? Or conserve supplies and avoid confrontation altogether?
There were moments I found myself crouched behind overturned desks, barely breathing, tracking enemy movement patterns. That tension, that razor-edge survival, is Resident Evil at its purest, and Resident Evil: Requiem delivers it in spades.
"That tension, that razor-edge survival, is Resident Evil at its purest, and Resident Evil: Requiem delivers it in spades."
Leon: The Action Hero Horror Experience
Leon’s segments flip the tempo entirely, returning to fast paced action of Resident Evil 4. His hatchet enables brutal close-quarters finishers, and environmental weapons add improvisational flair. At one point, I wielded a chainsaw in a narrow corridor and carved through a wave of undead in a sequence that felt unapologetically cathartic.
What I appreciated most was how Leon revisits areas previously explored as Grace. Spaces that once felt suffocating become battlegrounds. The doors Grace couldn’t open are smashed aside with Leon’s trusty hatchet. Hallways once tiptoed through are stormed confidently. The contrast isn’t just mechanical; it’s thematic, and I really enjoyed taking down enemies who pursued, harassed, and terrified me while playing as Grace.
If there’s a minor critique, it’s that Leon’s later sections occasionally lean heavily into spectacle, slightly diminishing the sustained tension. Still, for fans of action-forward entries in the franchise, these moments will feel like a reward rather than a compromise.
Evolved Enemies
Requiem’s enemy design deserves special recognition. The infected aren’t mindless obstacles as they have been in the past; they retain fragments of who they were. Some swing objects instinctively like axes, chainsaws or even IV Poles. Others erratically fire weapons they held before turning. One particularly unnerving encounter involved a zombie repeatedly flicking lights off, plunging me into darkness at the worst possible moments.
Giants That Crash Through The Night
The return of towering “Stalker” variants raises the anxiety further. One grotesque mass of flesh slowly advances through corridors, physically blocking escape routes. Confrontation is rarely wise, especially when you are running low on ammo and health. Evasion and strategic retreat become survival essentials when playing as Grace.
Stay In the Light
Then there’s the towering, bug-eyed predator lurking in the darkness. Light becomes your only protection. The dynamic lighting system transforms illumination into safety and shadow into immediate peril. I had multiple heart-pounding sprints toward lit doorways that felt like desperate bids for survival.
"I had multiple heart-pounding sprints toward lit doorways that felt like desperate bids for survival."
These encounters rival some of the franchise’s most iconic pursuers in terms of tension, right up there with classic relenting foes like the Tyrant from Resident Evil 2.
Resident Evil Requiem Visuals and Performance: A Technical Showcase
Powered by Capcom’s RE Engine, Requiem looks exceptional on PlayStation 5 Pro. Character models are intricately detailed, facial animations feel natural, and environmental storytelling is rich with atmospheric nuance. Performance is equally impressive.
"Powered by Capcom’s RE Engine, Requiem looks exceptional on PlayStation 5 Pro."
Load times are nearly nonexistent, and frame rates remain stable even during particle-heavy combat scenarios. Ray tracing at 4K/60 FPS delivers enhanced reflections and global illumination, while disabling it unlocks higher frame rates for those prioritizing responsiveness.
Resident Evil Requiem on the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 version, while visually scaled back, remains remarkably intact. Textures are softer and environmental detail is slightly reduced, but performance holds steady. Experiencing a survival horror game of this scope on a handheld still feels like a technical triumph.
Resident Evil Requiem Offers A Fitting Tribute to 30 Years of Terror
Three decades after the franchise began redefining survival horror, Resident Evil Requiem feels like both a celebration and a reinvention. It merges dread and action, vulnerability and empowerment, nostalgia and innovation. More importantly, it feels confident. This isn’t a franchise searching for identity; it’s one that understands exactly what makes it endure. Requiem doesn’t simply revisit Raccoon City; it paves a way forward for the franchise, one that I am quite excited about.
Resident Evil Requiem PROS
+Dual perspectives create dynamic pacing and replay value
+Exceptionally tense atmosphere and sound design
+Strong character contrast deepens narrative impact
+Technical performance shines on PS5 Pro hardware
Resident Evil Requiem CONS
-Occasional abrupt difficulty spikes during boss fights
-Resource scarcity may frustrate action-focused players
-Grace and Leon’s sections needed better balance throughout the story
-Navigation can feel unclear in darker areas
Overall Assessment of Resident Evil Requiem
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 10/10
Lasting Appeal / Replayability: 8/10
Overall Rating for Resident Evil Requiem: 36/40 (90%)
Capcom provided a copy of the game to conduct this review.
About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina
Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!
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