Resident Evil Requiem preview: a return to form with Leon Kennedy at the helm

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I recently got to play a two-hour demo of the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem. It’s great to see the game bringing back Leon Kennedy as the main character, and he’s portrayed as a more mature and weathered version of himself. Capcom is really delivering on a return to the series’ roots with this one.

The demo starts with Leon Kennedy immediately facing danger – a zombie attacks with a chainsaw! Players join Kennedy as a zombie outbreak begins at the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, a creepy medical facility with narrow hallways, shadowy rooms, and patients and doctors now turned undead.

Okay, so right at the start, you’re playing as Leon and immediately thrown into a fight with a bunch of zombie doctors. The best part? Taking down the one with the chainsaw and then *using* it! Seriously, it’s a blast tearing through the remaining zombies with it – super satisfying. It doesn’t last forever though, so you’ll quickly switch back to your gun and hatchet to keep going.

As a researcher studying this game, I’ve noticed a significant change with the melee weapon. Unlike previous titles where Leon would lose his knife, the hatchet is a permanent fixture. It’s incredibly useful – you can parry incoming attacks, and while using it a lot will dull the blade, you can actually sharpen it during combat. This is a huge advantage because it means you always have a way to fight back against the zombies, even when you’ve run out of ammunition – something that wasn’t possible in earlier games.

I quickly discovered a useful tactic: shooting zombies in the legs and then pressing X when prompted to perform a finishing melee attack. These attacks change based on where you are, and while they’re pretty brutal, they feel really good to pull off.

Shortly after starting, we find Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst, who was just attacked but luckily saved by Leon. They briefly talk before the game’s villain, Dr. Gideon, appears and captures Leon, forcing you to take control of Grace.

Like the previous installments, this care center is divided into east and west wings. Initially, certain areas are off-limits, and I need to find security access bands – up to level 3 – to unlock them. Once I gain control of Grace, the game truly opens up, and I’m free to explore both wings at my own pace.

Your mission in this section is to escape the medical center. The main doors are locked, so you’ll need to find keys and figure out how to unlock them. You’ll solve puzzles and collect items to help you along the way.

From the start, this game strongly evokes the feel of classic Resident Evil, successfully blending action and horror. Fans of the Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 remakes will likely find a lot to enjoy in Requiem. It uses the same core gameplay formula but adds fresh mechanics and surprises, like more dynamic zombies that don’t simply stand around waiting to attack.

In the game Requiem, zombies don’t just shamble around – some continue to perform the jobs or hobbies they had when they were alive. For instance, you might find a zombie chef still working in the kitchen, busily chopping meat when you’re not looking. I also noticed a zombie in a hallway who compulsively turns off the lights after you switch them on – it’s a really interesting detail.

This game introduces a clever new way to handle zombies, making encounters more strategic. Unlike past games where you’d immediately shoot every zombie, you can now try sneaking past them if they’re busy with something else. However, not all zombies are easily distracted – some will still relentlessly pursue you!

Certain zombies now possess unique abilities you’ll need to watch out for. For example, there’s a female zombie who can use her singing to disrupt your balance, even from afar.

While playing as Grace, I noticed ammunition was much harder to find than in past games. I often ran out completely, which meant I had to rely on stealth to avoid enemies.

Grace and Leon play quite differently. Leon is well-equipped with weapons and ammo, and can use his hatchet to open wardrobes and even parry attacks. Grace, on the other hand, relies solely on ranged weapons, but she has to conserve ammo carefully because it’s limited.

Playing as Grace and Leon felt quite different. It seemed intentional that Leon felt more powerful, so I often fought zombies directly with him. With Grace, I usually avoided zombies because she wasn’t equipped to handle them in a fight.

One key difference between the characters is the default camera perspective: you control Leon from a third-person view, while Grace is played from a first-person perspective. This first-person view for Grace adds to the horror experience by limiting your field of vision. Although you can adjust these settings for both characters, I appreciate that the developers considered this detail when setting the defaults.

Following my exploration of the care center, I regained control of Leon. He now finds himself in what looks like an attic, and it wasn’t long before I faced a boss – a large zombie. To move forward, I had to take it down, and true to Resident Evil form, it had specific weak points I needed to target to defeat it quickly.

I have to say, this game is visually stunning. The details are incredible, from the textures of walls and floors to the realistic character models and gore. The sound design is equally impressive – sometimes fascinating, sometimes unsettling – and everything feels incredibly polished. It’s great to see Leon all grown up; he looks fantastic with a more rugged appearance and a rougher voice.

Resident Evil Requiem feels like a fantastic return to the roots of the classic Resident Evil games. Playing the demo reminded me so much of the Resident Evil 2 remake – and that’s a good thing! For fans of the older titles, Requiem takes that classic gameplay and makes it even better in almost every way.

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2026-01-26 18:10