Resident Evil Requiem: A Bold New chapter Shakes up the Survival Horror Formula
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Resident Evil Requiem, launching February 27 for PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S, is poised to redefine the long-running franchise, seamlessly blending the methodical resource management of its roots with the intense action of recent installments. Early hands-on time reveals a game brimming with surprises, notable changes to established playstyles, and a commitment to honoring what makes Resident Evil so compelling. For those eager to explore the different editions available, GameSpot’s Resident Evil Requiem preorder guide offers a comprehensive overview.
Zombies Get a Voice – and a Past
the undead, the festering heart of the Resident Evil experience, are back – but with a chilling new twist. According to a source close to the growth team, the newly infected in Requiem retain fragments of thier former personalities, manifesting in audible, if fragmented, speech. “It’s awesome,” one playtester remarked,describing an encounter with two zombies muttering to each other as if continuing a habitual conversation.
This isn’t entirely new territory for the series; talking zombies have appeared in previous titles, notably in the original Resident Evil (1996) with the iconic “itchy, tasty” entry in The Keeper’s diary, and in Resident Evil 3 Remake where Brad offers a remorseful “sorry” before attacking. Though, Requiem elevates this concept to a central gameplay element.
zombie Habits: A Unique Challenge in Every Encounter
The retention of personality extends beyond mere dialog, influencing zombie behavior and creating uniquely challenging encounters. A cleaner, for example, obsessively scrubs blood in a bathroom, and sparing her may lead to a later encounter where she continues her cleaning routine throughout the facility. similarly, a hulking cook relentlessly prepares “dinner,” posing a significant threat if disturbed. This implies a dynamic difficulty system where zombie challenge scales with their former professions and personalities.
Adding to the unsettling atmosphere is a singing, dancing woman whose joyful performance abruptly transforms into a deafening scream, alerting nearby undead to the player’s presence. A discovered doctor’s note reveals she suffered from “main character syndrome,” adding a layer of dark humor to the encounter. Zombies are also equipped with contextually relevant weapons – a wine bottle-wielding drunkard, an IV pole-armed patient – further diversifying the combat experience. The inclusion of these details gives the zombie archetype a level of variety and context previously unseen in Resident Evil games.
Crafting Evolved: Blood as a Valuable Resource
A significant departure from series tradition, Requiem introduces a crafting system where killing zombies yields a valuable resource: blood. Traditionally, eliminating zombies came at the cost of ammunition and resources. now, as co-protagonist grace Ashcroft, players can harvest blood to craft essential items. This includes collecting fluids from unsettling sources like mopped-up blood buckets and literal blood baths.
However, this new system doesn’t entirely replace customary resource gathering. ammunition remains scarce, and players will still need to scavenge for components to create more complex items. The blood-based crafting system appears to supplement, rather than supplant, the established survival horror loop.
Leon’s Arsenal: Chainsaws and Sharpening
Leon S. Kennedy’s combat options have also been expanded. His signature knife can now be sharpened using a dedicated block. The sharpening process doesn’t appear to require resources, allowing Leon to maintain his weapon’s effectiveness as long as he finds a safe moment.
Perhaps the most exciting addition is Leon’s ability to disarm zombies and wield their chainsaws. While powerful,this tactic carries risk,as the chainsaw spins wildly out of control until secured. The chainsaw also serves as a key to progress, allowing Leon to saw through barred doors – at the cost of damaging the weapon.
A New Chapter for Leon kennedy
Resident Evil Requiem marks Leon S. Kennedy’s first new storyline in 14 years, since Resident Evil 6.The game serves as a bridge between the remakes and the modern mainline series, completing a trilogy that charts Leon’s evolution from rookie cop to seasoned counter-bio-terrorist agent.
You can watch a video of all these changes right hear.
Worth a look
