Resident Evil Requiem

The ninth main entry marks franchise's 30th anniversary, but does it deliver or disappoint?

Warning. Heavy spoilers.

Summary

In October 2026, (28 years after Raccoon City wasn't completely destroyed by a missile strike), FBI intelligence analyst Grace Ashcroft is sent by her superior Nathan Dempsy to report on the latest T-Virus related death at Wrenwood Hotel, where her mother Alyssa was murdered by ex-Umbrella scientist Dr. Victor Gideon eight years prior, on 19 October 2018 to be exact.

After recovering a disk left by Alyssa at long abandoned venue, Grace is kidnapped by Victor.

Meanwhile, DSO agent Leon S. Kennedy (working closely with Sherry Birkin), are also investigating the deaths and displaying T-Virus symptoms.

M'boy meets Grace at Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Centre, but are soon separated.

When I say all hell breaks loose, I'm not taking the Elpis.

Grace Under Pressure

Ms. Ashcroft fights back with a pistol and molotov cocktails, but largely must evade lumbering hag beast The Girl.

Siphoning infected blood crafts items and hemolytic injectors, which kill zombies and prevent corpses from reanimating.

PS. Oswell Spencer adopted her as an infant.

Leon the Professional

The equivalent of blood is a gunpowder-based scavenging system.

Once in Raccoon City, we get a Tactical Tracker that logs combat data in real-time.  Credits are tallied up at supply boxes and used to buy, sell whatever and upgrade weapons.

For the first time, Leon can throw weapons dropped by enemies and also swing a chainsaw.  His hatchet is used to attack, parry and block attacks.

Melee kills would make John Wick blush and splattering environments with zombie claret never gets boring.

Ash and memories

Around 10 hours is packed with horror, excitement and stylish action, which had me mixing herbs with giddy delight.

As per Revelations, story alternates between characters and identical to RE 3, sections state a specific time and date.

Obese bastards (dubbed Chunks) are actually brothers.  Thomas K. Jackson is triggered at Rhodes Hill once the Level 1 ID wristband is acquired, and can be killed with three hemolytics.

Leon takes care of Timothy B. by traditional means.

Unlike the mindless shamblers in previous games, zombies at Rhodes Hill retain memories of their human selves and actually talk, giving some unique personalities.

For example, the chef continues to work in his kitchen and a maid obsessively cleans.

Creepiest of all is the singing lady, whose screams literally hurt.

Broken dialogue can be amusing, but not in a stupid way.  In general, voice acting is strong and script doesn't slice cheese, appropriately giving Leon plenty of sarcastic quips.

Gore, dismemberment and body physics are on another level and protagonists die in a variety of brutal ways.

While Blister Heads are never as terrifying as Crimson Heads, they still shouldn't be taken lightly.  Uber versions (Blister Bornes), can only be killed by destroying tumours on body.

Zeno (strongly inferred to be a clone of Wesker), plays Grace footage of the Orphanage in February 1990, focused around red-eyed Children.

Getting caught will result in a broken neck (albeit off-screen).

Raccoon City

Almost immediately, we're ambushed by Titan Spinner, the best giant spider series has ever produced.

Exclusive locations include Logistics Warehouse, Cedarbrooks Apartment and Grimstone Building.

A particular highlight at Willis Tower is shooting glass underneath zombies, but brings its own problems.

The shell of RPD may be nostalgia porn, but every nod and callback must be savoured.

After taking care of Super Tyrant, we go underground to access ARK, taking out Plant 43 on the way.

Endings

Grace enters the control chamber with Leon and a choice must be made at the terminal housing Elpis.

Destroy

The wrong password activates facility's self-destruct sequence and Zeno executes Leon.  Grace reaches the surface and Zeno is buried in the debris.

Release

After entering 'Hope', Grace realises Elpis is not a weapon, but an antiviral.  Unaware, Zeno injects himself, inadvertently removing superhuman powers, while Grace cures Leon.

Victor appears and decapitates Zeno, intending to take Elpis for nefarious means.  He becomes a monster, then stereotypical wall of flesh.

Leon and Grace are rescued by Captain Chris Redfield's Hound Wolf Squad and in the aftermath, Emily is found alive.

Post-credits

Available only in the canon ending, Grace tells Leon she's adopted Emily (who's since regained her eyesight), and Sherry is also fine.

At the ARK wreckage, two unknown soldiers have neutralized the remaining BSAA forces and retrieve their 'objective'.

Is this setting up DLC with Ada?

Maybe.

Verdict 9/10