'Resident Evil Requiem,' released to commemorate the series' 30th anniversary, hides the number 9 in its title. To be honest, that’s not a number that feels immediately approachable to someone who has never played the series. It is only natural to worry, "Do I have to play the eight previous games first."
However, to give you the conclusion first: 'Resident Evil Requiem' is one of the most accessible titles for experiencing the core fun of the series. In fact, this game could be the perfect starting point for stepping into a franchise that has spanned over 30 years.
The reason this title is perfect for newcomers is that it returns to the series' origin: Raccoon City. Thanks to a structure that circles back to the starting point of the global bioterrorism incidents, even those who haven't played past titles can naturally step into the world.
To help you understand, here are three key terms, without any spoilers.
Raccoon City
Leon S. Kennedy
Grace Ashcroft
Once you know these three things, the barrier to entry for 'Resident Evil Requiem' effectively disappears. Since the game itself is a story that looks back on the past, you will naturally absorb the context of the series as you play.
When 'Resident Evil Requiem' was first announced, it is no exaggeration to say that it was one person who got fans who have enjoyed the series for nearly 30 years excited: Leon, the protagonist who has been with the series since its peak. Once you know the path this man has walked and how his journey is woven into this title, you will be able to enjoy the pulse-pounding action of 'Requiem' better than anyone else.
Leon's start was in 1998's 'Resident Evil 2.' On his first day at the Raccoon City Police Department (he arrived late at night because he had been drinking heavily the night before due to a breakup), the city had already become hell. With no experience or equipment, he had to escape the zombie-infested police station and sewers, saving every single bullet. At this time, Leon was the protagonist of a pure survival horror game.
In 'Resident Evil 4,' released six years later, Leon returned as a completely different person. At the president's request, he is deployed alone to a remote Spanish village to rescue the president's daughter, Ashley. This title fundamentally changed the genre of the 'Resident Evil' franchise. It replaced fixed camera angles with an over-the-shoulder perspective and introduced 'Ganados'—enemies infected by parasites—instead of traditional zombies.
Leon injected new action DNA into 'Resident Evil' by planting bullets in enemies' knees and folding their waists with German suplexes. The rookie cop who used to run away to save a single bullet had become a human weapon.
Leon later appeared in 'Resident Evil 6' to confront a large-scale bioterrorism incident on the U.S. mainland. It was a mix of his personal trust with the President built in previous works, internal organizational conflicts, and a crisis spreading on a global scale, but honestly, 'Resident Evil 6' was not enough to be chosen as many fans' favorite. The excessive focus on action became a catalyst for the series to reflect on its own identity.
Afterward, the 'Resident Evil' franchise returned to its roots and released the 7th game, which emphasized 'horror' elements to the fullest. Quite a few people rated it as the scariest work in the series, which was likely the reaction the developers intended. In the 8th game, it showed a 'completed' form of Resident Evil that exquisitely combined horror and action, led by a villain with unique charm. However, Leon was nowhere to be found in that process.
And then, 'Resident Evil Requiem.' The young man who was a rookie cop has become a middle-aged veteran who has seen it all. On the ruins of Raccoon City, which he steps on again after 28 years, Leon pours out all the combat experience he has accumulated. The result is the most exhilarating and diverse action system in the history of the series.
The reason Leon's combat sections in 'Resident Evil Requiem' feel so satisfying is quite clear. It is because of the action loop where various actions (shooting, parrying, execution, weapon theft, etc.) are organically interlocked around a single melee weapon.
That axis is handled by the hand axe (tomahawk) that Leon carries by default. If the knife was the core tool for parrying or basic attacks in Resident Evil 4 (RE4), the tomahawk in 'Requiem' inherits that role but has transformed into something much more aggressive. It is divided into normal and heavy attacks, used as a tool to pry open lockers, and above all, handles parrying, the core of the combat system.
If Leon takes a stance by raising his hand axe precisely at the moment an enemy's attack lands, he can easily parry almost any attack. Unlike the dagger in the RE4 remake, which was consumable, the hand axe can be restored at any time using a whetstone even if its durability drops. In effect, this means parrying is possible whenever an opportunity arises.
'Being able to parry almost any attack' means that the application range of the parry is quite unconventional. He can parry not only zombies' bare-handed attacks but also swinging weapons and thrown objects, and can even deflect projectiles from an RPG-7 rocket launcher.
Immediately after release, a clip of Leon parrying a rocket with his tomahawk became a hot topic in the community, and this scene became a symbolic moment unique to Requiem, comparable to Chris Redfield punching a boulder in 'Resident Evil 5.'
In addition to counters using the axe, the 'Gun Counter' that is triggered under specific conditions is also a unique treat in Requiem. When an enemy's health is below a certain level, aiming your gun in front of an enemy attempting a melee attack allows you to finish them off with a cool action sequence reminiscent of the movie 'John Wick.'
Of course, the basics of combat that have continued since RE4 still apply. You can shoot an enemy's knee or head to make them stagger, then approach to perform a melee attack, and various 'execution' animations that change depending on the terrain and situation have been added. Axe swings down on giant zombies, kicks that explode on staggering enemies, and stealth assassinations where you approach from behind to strike the back of the head before slamming them to the ground. The driving force that makes you unable to stop fighting lies in the visceral feel of these executions.
Meanwhile, Leon in 'Requiem' can steal weapons held by enemies to use them, or throw them to attack. For example, you can shoot a chainsaw-wielding zombie to make it drop its weapon, then use that chainsaw to wipe out a group of zombies. It is an element that creates improvisation and variables in combat, and it is also the system that most directly reveals the design philosophy of the Leon sections: 'defeat enemies using all available means.'
Ultimately, all these actions are connected in a single loop. You make enemies vulnerable with shooting, → create counterattack opportunities with parrying, → finish them off with executions or gun counters, and → turn the tide if necessary by stealing enemy weapons. It inherits the formula of 'Resident Evil-style TPS action' established by RE4, but greatly expands the combat options by adding the versatility of parrying and the new variable of weapon theft.
While the basic loop is fun enough on its own, Leon's action in 'Resident Evil Requiem' truly shines when this system is varied in different situations. Boss battles, vehicle sequences, and moments where the 30-year legacy of the series is mixed into one.
The boss battles in 'Requiem' are stages where the essence of Leon's action is concentrated. In particular, the confrontation with the Tyrant is a design that shows how the parry mechanic practiced in normal combat expands in boss battles. Only successful parrying opens up opportunities for counterattacks. The final boss, Victor Gideon, divided into two phases, is a very 'traditional' boss battle that requires you to quickly learn and adapt to different patterns to continue the fight.
Another point to note is that 'Resident Evil Requiem' has brought back monsters that had disappeared from past series. In the original 'Resident Evil 2,' a giant spider infected with the T-virus appeared in the sewers, but it was deleted in the 2019 RE2 remake.
Back in 2019, producer Tsuyoshi Kanda revealed in an interview with GameRevolution that "as we shifted toward photorealism, it was difficult to adapt fantastic creatures of the past to modern graphics." Co-producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi also mentioned that giant animals in a realistic environment "could look really ridiculous." For the same reason, giant moths and zombie crows were also deleted, and the plant-type B.O.W. 'Plant 43' was also significantly altered.
'Requiem' has restored these enemies from older works that were left out during the remake process, using modern graphics and mechanics, and placed them in boss battles. Not only the giant spider, but also Plant 43-type bosses reappear. For die-hard fans, it is a welcome reunion, and for new users, it will be an opportunity to experience the B-movie horror charm that 'Resident Evil' originally possessed.
As you play through Leon's sections in 'Resident Evil Requiem,' you can feel the history of the series permeating the game scene by scene. The knife parry from the RE4 remake has evolved into a hand axe parry, and the inventory management system, which is as fun as Tetris(?), has been carried over as is.
When you enter Raccoon City in the latter half, the background of the RE2 remake is precisely recreated as it would look 28 years later, so it is fun just to compare the locations of buildings and vehicles. Boss designs inspired by past works are also placed throughout. In short, 'Requiem' can be enjoyed without knowing the series, but the more you know, the more you see.
There is a structural reason why Leon's action feels so exhilarating. 'Resident Evil Requiem' adopts a design where the two protagonists' parts intersect within a single story, and that contrast maximizes the amplitude of emotion.
Grace's part is traditional survival horror with a basic first-person perspective. Resources are extremely limited, and you must rely on stealth and puzzles rather than combat. Grace's reactions and expressions, such as her hands shaking and her breath becoming shallow in front of enemies, are conveyed directly to the player. It can be said to be a part that directly inherits the horror of 'Resident Evil 7' and RE2.
Then, the moment the perspective shifts to Leon, a completely different game begins. Enemies that Grace had no choice but to run away from are split in the head by Leon with an axe or blown away with a shotgun. The sense of liberation this transition provides is likely not just because Leon is strong, but because the tension accumulated in Grace's part is released all at once.
What's interesting is that the two characters' paths share the same space. If Grace deals with zombies in a certain area, there will be fewer enemies in the Leon section that passes through the same space later; conversely, if she leaves them, Leon has to deal with them himself. In multiple playthroughs, it is possible to play strategically using this system.
Through this contrast, 'Resident Evil Requiem' has provided an answer to the old dilemma of 'Is Resident Evil a horror game or an action game?' with "Both." Grace handles the survival horror of the early series, and Leon handles the exhilarating action since the 4th game. It melts both genres into one game, but in a structure where they reinforce each other. Furthermore, the system that allows you to freely switch between first-person and third-person perspectives makes this design even more flexible.
As a title released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the series, 'Resident Evil Requiem' hides homages and fan service for past works everywhere.
Not only is Raccoon City, which disappeared from the map after 1998, precisely recreated as it looks 28 years later, but most of the boss battles in the latter half are infused with references to the 2nd and 3rd games. The reappearance of the series' popular character Sherry Birkin is also an element that has been well-received by fans. There are also many elements that are hard to miss, such as the 'Dimitrescu' costume in the Deluxe Edition and Leon's past costumes.
However, not knowing these elements doesn't make the game any less fun. If you don't know the Easter eggs, you just won't find them, and even if you don't find them, the core experience of the game remains intact. The real strength of 'Requiem' is that it fully conveys the tension and pleasure of the intersection of horror and action even to those who are encountering the series for the first time. And if 'Requiem' sparks your interest in the past series, it's not too late to go back to the RE2 remake or RE4 remake then.
Also, thanks to the detailed difficulty levels of 'Resident Evil Requiem,' there is no need to worry even if you are new to the series. 'Casual,' which features aim assist and lowered enemy health, is suitable for beginners at the easiest difficulty, and for those who want to enjoy a 'Resident Evil' closer to the original, the normal difficulty is also divided into 'Modern' and 'Classic.' In Normal (Classic) difficulty, an item called an 'Ink Ribbon' is required to save the game, making inventory management even more demanding. The 'Madness' difficulty unlocked after clearing the game is perfect for those who want even more challenging gameplay.
The moment Leon's hand axe parries a rocket, everyone smiles, whether they know the history of the series or not. And that is likely the universal power that 'Resident Evil Requiem' possesses.
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