Raccoon City is the Undeniable Star of Resident Evil Requiem

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The last issue of the Raccoon City Times, crumpled and faded, simply says: “Run. Find somewhere safe. Survive.” The city was once ablaze, with infected people wandering the streets, but now, a hazy sunlight filters through the dust. You hear only the sound of footsteps – Leon’s – and an unsettling silence. It’s a place of ash and memories, he notes, but strangely… it feels like returning home after three decades.

Okay, so we’re finally back in Raccoon City with Resident Evil Requiem! It’s awesome to revisit the city that was completely destroyed and changed everything. Seriously, this place gave us so many iconic characters – Leon, Claire, Ada, Sherry, and even the terrifying Mr. X and Nemesis. I’ll never forget those moments, like when Jill Valentine was running for her life through the streets, or Alyssa Ashcroft trying to escape. It’s great to be back in a place with so much history.

The developers didn’t just create this game for fans of the original – although there’s a lot for them to enjoy, and we’ll discuss that later. They’ve built a world that still feels mysterious and offers opportunities for new experiences. Be warned: the following discussion contains major spoilers, so if you haven’t finished this part of the game, you might want to stop reading now.

The game quickly throws you into the action with a huge spider encounter. Leon jokingly calls it “Raccoon City hospitality,” and it’s a brutal introduction to the terrifying creatures lurking within. You’ll battle the spider while navigating tight corridors, fending off both the adult and its young, until you finally manage to defeat it – a truly memorable, if unsettling, welcome to the city.

The real heart of Raccoon City is finally revealed. Remember the talk about Leon exploring a big area and having ways to travel around? Besides a Porsche, that travel takes a surprisingly unique form. Essentially, Raccoon City is a large, semi-open environment where you’ll find camps to investigate, secrets to discover – including the reason the BSAA is looking into the city – and locked containers to open.

The game’s design focuses on creating a richly detailed environment where you’ll find something interesting around every corner. While searching for parts in an abandoned warehouse on the way to the Raccoon City Center, Leon suddenly encounters zombies rising from the debris, armed with makeshift weapons. The environment also features flooded areas that can hide enemies, and opportunities to find chainsaws and unleash them on unsuspecting foes. What’s great is you can explore in almost any order, and a kill tracker system lets you earn credits to upgrade your weapons and armor, keeping pace with the increasing danger.

I especially love the area with the huge skyscrapers. It’s exciting, but also really tense because the buildings could crumble at any time. You’re always on edge, expecting danger. Even walking on glass is scary, though you can cleverly shoot out the glass under zombies to make them fall.

This leads perfectly into a thrilling section where Leon finds a motorcycle and races through the ruined city streets. He eventually faces off against Victor Gideon and his terrifying mutated dogs. While this part is a fairly linear shooting sequence, it’s incredibly exciting and visually stunning, even offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city. I could describe it all, but it’s something you really need to experience for yourself – it’s wonderfully over-the-top!

Okay, so things really hit me with nostalgia when I finally got to the Raccoon Police Department as Leon. Seriously, it was like walking into a time capsule! They had photos of the S.T.A.R.S. team, decorations like it was my first day, and even a nod to Marvin Branagh. But honestly, the biggest shocker, the thing I wasn’t expecting at all, was running into someone I hadn’t seen in ages – an old friend. It was a wild moment!

Mr. X has returned – or rather, a new version of the T-00, this time without his signature hat. He’s just as powerful, and Leon finds himself in the same situation as he was 30 years ago: trying to escape the RPD, and survive. Navigating the complex, blocked-off police station is frustrating enough, but with Mr. X breaking through walls and posing a deadly threat, it’s even harder. The only downside is not getting to explore the station more, but considering how much damage there is – and what Leon is actually trying to accomplish – it makes sense.

The action isn’t over! Leon then faces Mr. X in a classic boss fight, starting with a barrage of missiles – as you’d expect. It’s impressive that Leon is capable enough to defeat such a powerful enemy without relying on his rocket launcher, though it definitely feels iconic. Even so, it’s a challenging battle that really puts your timing and blocking skills to the test.

Following a brief remembrance of the late Robert Kendo, Leon struggles to reach the Raccoon City Orphanage and ventures deeper into the ruined city. He fights off huge, tentacle-like creatures and discovers strange, mutated plants along the way – a clear hint of things to come. This ultimately leads to a boss battle against a gigantic, infected plant, reminiscent of the infamous Plant 42. It also echoes the V-Complex from Darkside Chronicles, which stemmed from the Veronica Plant. Fans who wanted to see a plant-based enemy return from the original Resident Evil will be pleased!

Although Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center is initially engaging, particularly with the interplay between Leon and Grace, Raccoon City truly steals the show in Requiem. The game expertly blends straightforward and more exploratory gameplay, and it maintains a great pace without feeling drawn out. It’s a visually stunning return to familiar locations, even if those memories are filled with death, sadness, and painful losses.

Even though Raccoon City is in ruins, the environment still feels vibrant and full of life. The level design cleverly guides you where to go without feeling forced or artificial. The Resident Evil series has always created immersive levels, but this is the first time we’ve seen such a large, semi-open world. It makes you excited to see what the developers could create if they continue to build on this approach.

Even with areas for improvement, this game already shines with memorable moments. From solving puzzles reminiscent of classic Resident Evil titles, to exploring the decayed city, finding inventive ways to defeat zombies, and simply taking in the atmosphere, Requiem’s version of Raccoon City is a must-play for any fan. It perfectly balances honoring the series’ legacy with a fresh, well-paced experience that truly celebrates everything we love about Resident Evil.

Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect the views of GamingBolt.

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2026-03-03 15:12