| Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) | |||
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| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
Resident Evil Requiem is the latest addition to CAPCOM's legendary Resident Evil series, featuring a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft! Read on to learn how it plays, what it's about, and everything else we know so far.
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Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) Gameplay
Two Protagonists, Two Play Styles
Resident Evil Requiem splits its time between two protagonists equally with franchise all-star Leon Kennedy and series newcomer Grace Ashcroft. As such, players will experience a different facet of Resident Evil-brand horror whenever they switch from one to another.
Grace's Survival Horror
Grace's side of the story leans into survival horror, playing more like Resident Evil 2 and 7. Grace is still equipped with a gun, a rather powerful one at that, but ammo is scarce, and enemies are deadly. Shooting is treated more like a last resort rather than Plan A, with players having to intelligently navigate tight quarters and avoid enemies while playing as Grace.
A major gameplay feature in Grace’s section is the ability to extract infected blood from fallen enemies using her Blood Collector tool. This allows her to stockpile blood and use it to craft life-saving items such as makeshift knives, handgun ammo, and healing supplies. Another key tool that can be crafted is the Hemolytic Injector, which enables her to stealthily eliminate zombies with ease.
Grace has no weapon upgrades or item shops, meaning she must rely solely on her skills to survive the horrors of her sections. However, she does have the Requiem Gun, a powerful magnum given to her by Leon, capable of piercing through enemies and dealing massive damage.
Leon's Action-Packed Gameplay
Leon’s sections, on the other hand, reflect his extensive experience fighting bio-organic threats. His half of the game is more action-oriented, similar to Resident Evil 4 and Village. Leon is equipped with a diverse arsenal of powerful weapons, including sniper rifles, shotguns, and grenades, which he can use to dispatch the infected with relative ease.
Another major addition to Leon’s gameplay is the hatchet, a melee tool that allows him to quickly take down incoming zombies with its sweeping slashes. It can also be used to parry attacks, opening enemies up for a precise counterstrike. Additionally, the hatchet supports stealth gameplay, enabling players to silently eliminate unsuspecting zombies. While the Hatchet does not require repairs, it must be regularly sharpened, as its durability gradually decreases with use.
Throughout Leon’s sections, he can discover a Tracking Module, a high-tech device that logs his kills and awards points. This can be used to upgrade weapons and purchase items at the game’s multiple computer terminals. This system allows players to customize his playstyle, choosing from different guns and upgrades to help him survive the game’s challenging array of boss encounters.
HUD Matches Subgenre Switches
Reflecting each protagonist’s distinct playstyle, RE9’s HUD adapts depending on whether Leon or Grace is currently active. When playing as Leon, the equipped weapon and current ammo count are displayed on-screen, along with a traditional health gauge, echoing the action-oriented approach of RE4 and RE5. He also retains his iconic attaché case inventory system introduced in Resident Evil 4, allowing players to organize items for more seamless management.
Another key feature in Leon’s gameplay is the new Tracking Module, which replaces the shop system from his previous entries. As Leon defeats enemies, a HUD display awards points based on the enemy type. These points can then be used to purchase items and weapon upgrades at multiple computer terminals found throughout the game.
Grace’s gameplay sections emphasize immersion, featuring a minimal HUD that only shows ammo when shooting and health when taking damage. Her health is displayed using Resident Evil’s traditional three-step, color-coded system, ranging from Fine to Caution to Danger, with subtle hue shifts indicating remaining hit points.
Her inventory system differs significantly from Leon’s, starting with only eight slots. This encourages players to manage their items carefully and store them in select storage boxes scattered throughout the game. Another key aspect of Grace’s gameplay is collecting infected blood samples using her Blood Collector tool, which can be used to craft items like the Hemolytic Injector for stealthy takedowns. A UI prompt appears whenever an infected blood sample can be collected, adding a fresh gameplay loop to her playstyle.
Choose Your Perspective
Players can switch perspectives on the fly in RE9, opting for either RE7 and Village's first-person or the franchise's more traditional third-person perspective. The setting can also be switched specifically for Leon or Grace, meaning players will not have to repeatedly go back to the settings menu whenever the protagonist changes.
While both perspectives are highly recommended to fully experience RE9, Capcom suggests a preferred setup: Grace’s sections in first-person, and Leon’s in third-person. Each perspective comes with its own caveats. First-person limits the player’s field of view, intensifying the horror since threats from behind are harder to spot. Third-person also adds unique tension, especially Grace in third-person, where she may stumble while sprinting, heightening the intensity of chase sequences.
Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) Story Plot
Resident Evil Requiem Story
While Requiem connects to Resident Evil 2 and 3 through its shared Raccoon City setting, it also acts as a distant sequel to 2003’s Resident Evil Outbreak. The story begins with investigative journalist Alyssa Ashcroft, one of Outbreak’s only canonical survivors. For years, Ashcroft investigated the experiments of Dr. Victor Gideon, a former Umbrella-affiliated researcher.
After the destruction of Raccoon City and Umbrella’s collapse, Gideon continued working in secret to free "Elpis," a secret government project tied to Ozwell Spencer’s final moments in Umbrella. Ashcroft’s investigation eventually led to her demise at Gideon’s hands.
8 years after the murder, Gideon discovers that Alyssa's daughter, an FBI analyst named Grace, is the key to his master plan. He then promptly kidnaps the younger Ashcroft in the Wrenwood Hotel, kicking off the events of RE9. Unfortunately for Dr. Gideon, Leon Kennedy, now working for the Division of Security Operations, is on the case.
Resident Evil Requiem Setting
Resident Evil Requiem brings the franchise back to Raccoon City, roughly 30 years after its destruction in RE2 and 3. The game largely takes place in the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, Raccoon City and a secret Umbrella Corp. facility called "ARK".
The first section of the game takes place in Wrenwood Hotel, a dilapidated hotel with a dark past. This serves as Grace’s prologue chapter, teaching players how to move and navigate while easing them into her survival horror experience.
Leon’s prologue chapter occurs in Elbridge, a city near the ruins of Raccoon City and Wrenwood Hotel. Like Grace’s section, this chapter primarily introduces players to the controls and new mechanics, and these areas are not revisited in later chapters.
Much of Grace’s gameplay takes place in the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, where survival horror elements are at the forefront. Here, she must carefully manage her inventory, evade pursuing monsters, and use limited Ink Ribbons (on Classic difficulty) to save her progress.
Most of Leon’s sections, on the other hand, take him through the game’s iconic Raccoon City, now ruined and abandoned following a missile strike intended to contain the T-Virus outbreak. Players can explore the city, reliving the horrors of the past nearly 30 years ago, including the still-standing Raccoon City Police Department (R.P.D.), where Leon first made his mark as a survivor.
The game’s final location, known as the ARK, is a mysterious Umbrella Corporation facility. Without giving away spoilers, this setting ties together the series’ long-running mysteries surrounding The Connections, Umbrella, and Ozwell Spencer’s legacy.
Resident Evil Requiem Characters
Leon Kennedy
Leon Scott Kennedy is one of Resident Evil's most recognizable characters, having been in the starring role of multiple entries, most notably Resident Evil 2, 4, and 6. A former Raccoon City Police Department rookie officer, Leon would go on to dedicate his life to fighting bioterrorism around the world. Just as he did in RE6, Leon currently works for the Division of Security Operations (DSO).
Grace Ashcroft
Sharing the spotlight with Leon is Grace Ashcroft, a brand-new character in the world of Resident Evil. She is an intelligence analyst in the FBI. In Requiem, Grace is assigned to investigate the suspicious death seemingly related to a deadly infectious disease. On this mission, Grace is kidnapped by Victor Gideon and must face both her personal trauma and unfamiliar terrors in order to survive.
Emily
Emily is a key supporting character in RE9. Her role is shrouded in mystery, but she is closely tied to Grace Ashcroft’s origins and the T-Virus outbreak in Raccoon City. Her backstory and connection to Umbrella hint at deeper secrets that intertwine with the series’ overarching narrative.
Sherry Birkin
Sherry Birkin, a returning character from Resident Evil 2, is one of the few survivors of Raccoon City. She is the daughter of Dr. William and Annette Birkin, Umbrella scientists behind the creation of the T-Virus. In the game, Sherry serves as Leon’s support specialist, providing critical intel and guidance from afar.
Victor Gideon
Dr. Victor Gideon is a former Umbrella Corporation researcher and the antagonist of RE9. Operating out of a former Umbrella research and treatment facility, Dr. Gideon is dead set on unleashing a virus, named 'Elpis,' upon the world. In the events of Requiem, Gideon assassinates Alyssa Ashcroft and kidnaps her daughter, Grace, 8 years later.
Alyssa Ashcroft
Alyssa Ashcroft is the mother of Grace Ashcroft and is assassinated at the beginning of Requiem. She made her first appearance in the franchise in 2003's Resident Evil Outbreak, being one of the playable characters. She is a reporter whose investigation into Victor Gideon's operation in Raccoon City led to her eventual murder.
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