'Resident Evil Requiem' begins a new chapter for the saga's 30th anniversary

Requiem, also known as Resident Evil 9, is the next major installment in the survival horror saga from Japanese company Capcom, also known for other great series such as Monster Hunter,Street Fighter or Dragon's Dogma. This new title coincides with the franchise's 30th anniversary, which began with the development of Resident Evil (1996) for the original PlayStation. The saga has endured and matured to become one of the genre's greatest benchmarks, as they have taken risks with new mechanics and have sought to adapt to the times.

Resident Evil, named Biohazard in Japan, is one of the most well-known video game sagas. Not only for the titles in the main series, but also because the franchise has prequels, spin-offs and remakes – in addition to having made forays into other areas, of course –. Precisely, the most recent release is the remake of Resident Evil 4 (2023), which tells the adventure of Leon S. Kennedy in Spain. The previous title, Resident Evil Village – the eighth main installment –, was released in 2021. It became the chapter that fastest reached over 10 million units sold, adding to the 170 million units the franchise has accumulated in its thirty years of existence.

Return to Raccoon City: the plot and protagonists

But where is the player placed in this new installment? The plot of Resident Evil Requiem is set in the year 2028, exactly thirty years after the Raccoon City incident. The adventure will take place mainly in the ruins of the city and in iconic facilities such as the Wrenwood Hotel and the RPD police station. The game introduces a system with two protagonists, with intertwined stories and gameplay differences: Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst investigating mysterious deaths at the hotel where her mother died; and Leon S. Kennedy, the veteran agent who returns with great determination and a more hardened appearance.

Regarding their differences, the sections where the player controls Grace are more focused on psychological horror and evasion. The analyst tries to avoid direct confrontation and focuses more on investigation, unlike Leon, who has missions more focused on action and combat, more similar to Resident Evil 4 which he himself stars in. Furthermore, with the dual perspective system, the player can freely switch between first and third person at any time, if they wish to prioritize immersion or environmental perception.

Zombies and the technical aspects of the new ‘Resident Evil’

As expected, zombies return as the main enemy of the saga, but this time they come with changes. The zombies have been redesigned with renewed, even more unpredictable behavior than in previous installments, which even shows traces of human instinct and intelligence. Some retain fragments of their former lives and can be found performing everyday tasks – such as cooking or cleaning – in a disturbing way, instead of just attacking aimlessly.

Regarding the technical aspect, the title has been developed with the RE Engine, the graphics engine created by Capcom itself for Resident Evil 7, and which has now been used in most of its titles. Requiem, furthermore, includes advanced technologies such as path tracing, which recreates lighting in an even more realistic way, or a new physics simulation system for hair. Thanks also to good optimization and performance, the game is available on all current platforms.

Overall, the new zombie behavior and more realistic graphics than ever before shape a new survival horror experience that will delight fans of the saga. It should be noted that, although Resident Evil has a lot of background and history, most installments – including this one – are relatively self-contained and can be a good place to start in the universe.

Three decades after its birth, the saga returns to where it all began to prove that horror and survival are more alive than ever. Resident Evil Requiem arrives this Friday on PC, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series.