Resident Evil Requiem Seems Like a Masterclass in Genre Evolution

The new Resident Evil movie, Requiem, is coming soon, and we’ve been digging into the story to give you some extra details. We’ve been looking for clues about Grace and Leon’s investigation into Epsis, and trying to learn more about the character Victor Gideon.

As we played, we noticed that Resident Evil 2 Remake isn’t just inspired by Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2. While the game heavily references those classics in its trailers and gameplay, it also includes smaller elements from many other titles. This makes it clear that the game is a celebration of the entire thirty-year history of the Resident Evil franchise.

This game successfully blends familiar elements from the entire series with fresh, new ideas. But can it also stand out as a great game on its own, especially when compared to its predecessors? We’re going to explore that, and it’s going to be a nostalgic journey! Let’s dive in.

A Touch Of The Unfamiliar

Let’s start with Resident Evil Zero and look closely at what happens at the beginning of the game. We’ll examine how the events on the Ecliptic Express unfolded, and how Rebecca and her team were attacked while investigating the local murders.

From the very start, the game threw us into a confusing and unsettling situation, immediately raising questions about what had happened. We were left wondering about the strange, leech-like creatures, the identity of the man observing everything from a distant mountain, and the fate of Rebecca’s fellow team members.

The game started in a surprisingly unsettling way, especially since it aimed to feel connected to the original Resident Evil. Its pacing was inconsistent, leaving us constantly guessing what would happen next, and that feeling continued throughout the entire story.

In Requiem, Grace’s story kicks off with her being an FBI analyst assigned to an on-site investigation due to her ties to the Wrenwood Hotel. The case quickly takes an unexpected turn when Gideon kidnaps her. This immediately creates a sense of mystery, and the biggest question at the start is why Grace is being held captive and suspended upside down.

Being taken felt strange and confusing, and it immediately made us question why someone would kidnap an analyst with no fighting skills, especially since she seemed completely unprepared for what was happening. This established the central mystery of her story – much like it did for Rebecca – placing her in a difficult situation where finding answers wouldn’t be easy.

Grace and Rebecca both started with almost no information, and their only option was to move forward and hope for the best. This echoes a common theme in the Resident Evil series, which often excels at telling stories this way.

But wait! There’s more.

Iconic Locations That Could Be Characters On Their Own

Let’s talk about the Resident Evil 1 Remake, specifically the Spencer Mansion. Instead of discussing its importance to the story, we’ll look at how the mansion is designed. Knowing what happened before we arrived, every step felt frightening as we explored the gloomy hallways, constantly anticipating something scary to happen.

We repeatedly encountered locked doors that forced us to take long, dangerous detours. Each obstacle heightened the tension and mystery as we investigated the T-Virus and tried to uncover the identity of the traitor among us. It felt like a slow, agonizing process of discovery, filled with constant dread and uncertainty.

The design of the Spencer Mansion itself reinforced the game’s unsettling atmosphere. Its decaying grandeur and visible history of tragedy created a sense of claustrophobia, as if the mansion was a haunting storyteller revealing the events that had unfolded within its walls.

If you’re getting the sense that all of this describes the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center in Requiem, you’re spot on. Exploring the facility as Grace and seeing how badly damaged it was created the same feeling of unease and anticipation we felt – a sense that something terrible was just around the corner.

We hadn’t fully understood the story’s emotional weight until seeing the scene with the butcher in the preview. The way he turned his head, and the chase that followed, highlighted the tragic elements and Grace’s confusion as she tried to reunite with Leon after being separated from him.

As for Leon, it’s important to remember why he went to the Rhodes facility: he was independently investigating both Gideon and Elpsis.

The Search For Answers

Leon and Grace are both searching for clues to help them understand what’s happening. Like most Resident Evil games, they investigate the source of the horror, a dangerous facility. But the series isn’t just about scares; it also relies on a compelling mystery to keep players engaged.

We’re revisiting the original setting of Leon’s story with Resident Evil 2 Remake. Exploring the RPD police station after all this time felt both comfortable, as we knew the layout well, and unsettling, even though we’d played through these levels many times before.

The Resident Evil Remake brilliantly captured the feeling of the original game while adding a fresh sense of suspense. Even though we recognized the locations, the game constantly kept us on edge, curious to see what changes had been made and what new dangers lurked around the corner. It was a fun and unsettling experience, playing on our memories of the original while keeping us guessing.

One of the most appealing parts of the original game was exploring the mystery, and that continues in Requiem. Trailers suggest we’ll likely return to the Raccoon Police Department, bringing a sense of nostalgia. The trailer’s depiction of the ruined city, combined with the story’s focus on the event that shaped Leon’s life, strongly indicates this will happen.

Dealing With A Stalker

We still believe the Stalker in Requiem is linked to Alyssa, but that’s not our main point right now. We want to talk about how suddenly this character appears and how it completely changes the feel of Grace’s parts of the game. It forces you to go from being cautious and deliberate to feeling panicked and making mistakes.

The developers highlighted how Grace’s movements become more awkward and panicked when she’s running from the Stalker—or really, any enemy, given how terrified she is. We expect players will feel the same fear and play with that same frantic, desperate energy. That’s a testament to the immersive design of Resident Evil.

Man, I instantly thought of Nemesis from Resident Evil 3 when I started playing Requiem and ran into The Stalker. Seriously, that thing just shows up out of nowhere and throws everything into chaos until you can find somewhere to hide and catch your breath. It’s the same feeling of being relentlessly hunted as with Nemesis, but honestly, The Stalker is way more terrifying because of how it hunts you – it’s really evolved!

Honestly, fighting The Stalker felt like facing off against all the best villains from past games – it really paid tribute to those experiences. It’s like this enemy has been a constant pain for us throughout the series, and now it’s come full circle. Which reminds me of a lot of things we’ve seen in other games!

Leon’s Action-Packed Sequences

Leon’s updated abilities are a great nod to his history, especially his story in RE2 Remake and how he learned to fight specialized weapons. The new moves combine his best moments from RE4 Remake, RE6, and the action-packed gameplay of RE5, essentially bringing all those games’ experiences into one character!

Stealth is just as important in Requiem, and Grace’s escape from the Stalker perfectly demonstrates that.

The Struggle For Survival

A persistent worry throughout Requiem is that not everyone will survive, which is a common theme in previous games in the series. While developers have said Grace and Leon will have roughly the same amount of screen time, it’s possible Gideon will eliminate one of them.

Ever since Leon shared his secrets, we’ve been worried that all the talk about his fighting skills might be a distraction – a way to make us think he’s safe when his investigation could be cut short. We’ve noticed Grace is always shown as being in danger, but Leon isn’t, which makes us question if it’s due to his experience or a hint at how his story will conclude. It’s strange that we even considered this possibility.

The answer to that feeling can be found in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. The entire experience with the Baker family was incredibly tense because you constantly felt hunted, making almost every location feel unsafe. The game built up this tension so consistently that it rarely let up. You were always on edge, feeling like death was just around the corner, and the story amplified that feeling. Adding to the pressure, the fate of Mia, a key character, remained uncertain until the very end, depending on a critical decision you made during the game.

In the game Village, Ethan quickly found himself overwhelmed while trying to find Rose, and it was obvious from the start he wasn’t equipped to handle the dangers he faced. The situation felt even more daunting with the involvement of Chris and his team, as the threats were far beyond his capabilities.

In Requiem, Grace struggles just as much as before, while a skilled operative handles the main action (though playing as Leon is a nice addition). Both Ethan and Grace rely on quick thinking and ingenuity to overcome challenges, unlike Chris and Leon who use more standard methods.

Both experiences create a sense of being relentlessly pursued by a destructive force. Plus, a disturbingly familiar infant, reminiscent of the one from Village, appears in Requiem.

An Anniversary Title Indeed

It’s clear how Requiem builds on previous games in the series. However, it successfully combines those elements into something fresh and unique, making it both a great addition to survival horror and a respectful nod to what came before.

The game builds on what makes classic Resident Evil titles great, while also trying out new ideas that could revitalize the series. This fresh approach might be its most compelling feature, and we’ll soon find out if it works!

Just so you know, the opinions in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

2026-02-24 14:44