The Requiem is finally upon us and I am happy to report
Dear Readers that the 9th mainline entry of the Resident Evil
franchise, which arrives just in time for it’s 30th Anniversary, is
a pretty damn good time. It’s both a
solid new chapter for the universe and a homecoming of sorts for longtime fans
who have been readily awaiting the return to Racoon City after its destruction. I honestly didn’t expect to run through the
Campaign as quickly as I did so now I have a legit excuse to talk about the only
other game I’ve been hyper obsessive about this year next to Persona 5. And do not worry, I wont be spoiling anything
major for the games storyline since the release is still in its early
days. So, without further ado, let’s
grab out flashlights and Devil May Cry style Magnums to explore the Top 5 Best
Things About Resident Evil: Requiem (No Spoilers).
Grace Ashcroft as a character feels like a return to basics
for the RE experience.
This cute but
rightfully scared out of her mind FBI Analyst is in a situation no one expects
and few expect her to survive.
While
Grace’s terrified state is justified, she begins to slowly feel like a fusion
of Leon and Claire from RE2.
Despite the
scares, she’s resourceful and uses whatever means at her disposal to avoid some
very gruesome deaths and battle some pretty intimidating bosses and even normal
foes.
You grow more confident and
reassured in all of Grace’s sections as you earn every victory against foe that
are unstoppable (unless you’re Leon).
And yes, Grace to me is way less annoying and way more interesting than any
of the Winters clan we had to spend the last couple of mainline titles with.
#4-It’s actually pretty scary
While horror has always been the name of the game for
Resident Evil, putting the “Horror” in “Survival Horror”, few moments have
managed to terrify me like the Baker Family Dinner from RE7 or, probably top of
the list, that demon baby fetus in the Benneviento Basement in RE Village.
Requiem ups the ante right away throughout
pretty much all of Grace’s half of the campaign. The Rhodes Center in
particular is teeming with unstoppable monsters who play on the Mr.X/OG Nemesis
methods of appearing when you least expect them.
There is one other section that scares the
bejezzus out of me but that would be spoiler territory.
Suffice to say, I was gasping for air a lot especially
thanks to the recommended First Person perspective instilling a fear that ranks
among the best horror experiences in the franchise.
#3-The Monsters With Soul…kind of…not really
Requiem beefs up the traditional zombie outbreak with a
new breed of virus that not only transforms it’s unfortunate victims, it leaves
them in a frozen state of time.
For the
first time in a while (if ever), standard foes have personality and
dialogue.
They’re locked into the last
moments of whatever they were doing before the infection took over.
In the Rhodes Hill Center you have Maids who
cant stop cleaning, Doctors who wont stop operating and a ton of pissed off
patients with their own laundry list of issues so long that not one of them is
the same.
It’s a saddening reminder that
every enemy was once a human being whose life was ruined by the ghosts of Umbrella.
#2-Leon “John Wick” S. Kennedy
The revamped action of RE4 Remake makes a triumphant
return in Leon’s action focused set pieces in Requiem.
Leon’s getting up there in age and he cant
quite parry or dodge as well as he used to.
Sure he’s not as spry as he was in RE4R but hot damn can Mr. Kennedy
still bring the pain and punishment of a long time Anti Bio Weapon DSO
agent.
Leon’s sections are a much needed
breather from Grace’s more panic inducing moments when you get to let loose on
foes with guns, hatchet and even chainsaws at certain points.
Save for one section, it never goes as over
the top as RE6, remaining as grounded and maybe even more personal in feel than
RE4 Remake.
It’s good to have you back
Mr. Kennedy.
#1-A Perfect Anniversary Experience
It feels like Requiem was crafted for the 30
th
Anniversary of Resident Evil in mind.
Every speck of the game feels infused with every major gameplay element from
the last three decades.
You have the Third
and First Person perspectives pioneered by RE4 and RE7 respectivley.
Visually, Requiem continues in the same vein
as the Remakes with the Rhodes Center bearing lots of similarities for the
Spencer Mansion and the RPD Ruins echoing the amazing visual update the place
got in RE2 Remake.
You’ve got the action
heavy Leon sections that lean heavily into RE4R but with an older Leon while
Grace’s sections, as I mentioned, ooze with terror that keeps you on the edge of
your seat while you traverse hallways and turn corners.
This is a Resident Evil game that appreciates
it’s history and functions both as a stellar entry point for new fans and a
beautiful love letter to long time fans who have followed RE’s evolution to
this point.
Frak there’s even a very
small reference to RE6 at one point, nothing is getting left out.
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