Resident Evil launched in Japan as Biohazard on March 22, 1996. Shortly thereafter, Capcom launched “Resident Evil” for PlayStation on March 30, 1996. Development began in 1993 by Shinji Mikami, the series’ inaugural producer. Shinji Mikami was encouraged to develop “Biohazard,” by the creator of “Sweet Home,” which was a video game based on a film of the same name. Tokuro Fujiwara created “Sweet Home” for Famicom (Nintendo in Japan). Since then, Resident Evil has been selling so well, that it greenlit Resident Evil 2, which was released in 1998. Then, in 1999, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was released. So, Resident Evil has been successful for Capcom for a long time. Resident Evil Requiem is the 9th main installment in the “Resident Evil”/”Biohazard” franchise. “Biohazard” is the Japanese localization brand, while “Resident Evil” is the rest of the world.

It was difficult to find Resident Evil Requiem in any store that carry Video Games. To get Resident Evil Requiem, I had to pay $10 more than the asking MSRP, JUST to get it. I bought it for PlayStation 5, and so that is today’s review. All footage captured in videos embedded and all images captured were all straight from the PlayStation 5 console. And, I made sure that videos that I captured are in full 4k high definition. This is also the longest review I’ve had to do. I did a few livestreams of Resident Evil Requiem as soon as I got it. Then, to accompany this review, I played the whole game – again. To record in full 4k. I hope you can appreciate it!

Also, it’s important to mention, that Resident Evil Requiem can be played in two different modes for both characters. First Person perspective, and Third Person perspective. Starting with Resident Evil 7, the series have gone this route – First Person. Third person perspective is a series staple. However, in Resident Evil Requiem, and some games – the third person perspective is from over the shower view. The first 3 games were using pre-rendered backgrounds, and they use varying different perspective(s) but for the most part – it’s third person. Starting with Resident Evil 4, the series went the route of over-the-shoulder third person camera position. Resident Evil fans are split on which perspective they prefer, but for the majority of the fans – they love RE4. In both playthroughs, I used the standard First Person view.

Gameplay

As I said, Resident Evil Requiem is played from a First Person view as a standard option, but there is also a second option: Third Person view. Resident Evil Requiem for the most part, plays like an action game in either views or perspectives. When Resident Evil 4 was being developed, Capcom wanted to tackle the action genre so much, that Resident Evil 4 in prototype stage became a separate game. That prototype became “Devil May Cry.” Capcom, then went back to developing a new Resident Evil game, which ultimately became “Resident Evil 4.” This idea did not die with RE4, it persisted in RE5 and beyond. The development of DMC, and RE4, brought Capcom’s creative juices to maximum so much, that whatever came out of RE4’s development has become so iconic, that going forward, Capcom continued the RE4 formula. Why am I bringing this up? Because in 2019, Capcom has begun their remake collection journey. Capcom has been perfecting the Resident Evil formula, and engine since then. The RE Engine was created in 2014, the logo was created in 2020 to help crystalize the engine. The branding for MT Framework was sour for a while, because of some issues surrounding Marvel Vs Capcom 3 line of games. The final games to use MT Framework were ports. Resident Evil 7 was the first game to use the RE Engine, and Capcom has been modifying the engine since. Resident Evil Requiem represents their mastery of the engine. And it shows.

Because, using the RE Engine, starting with Resident Evil 4 Remake – Capcom’s staff has been refining the RE Engine, to work around the idea of making the Resident Evil series an action series. Resident Evil 4’s animation mechanics, gun mechanics, controls are all refined so much they felt very, very comfortable with the RE Engine. Very comfortable. So comfortable that Capcom felt confident in their ability to make the animation(s) work in tandem with the gameplay mechanics. Therefore, controls benefits (or benefitted) from this refinement. I feel like Resident Evil Requiem is Capcom’s way of saying “That‘s it. This is it. Going forward, this is how we design Resident Evil games.”

So, how is gameplay? Well, if you played the previous games in the series, you know what to expect from Resident Evil Requiem. Resident Evil Requiem is using Resident Evil 4 Remake as the design philosophy for Resident Evil Requiem. It really shows, I swear. You start in a city in RE9 (Requiem), and you start out as Grace. There is no single protagonist for the game – a first in the series. Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 had you playing multiple characters, and other games in the series, do. This is the first time in the series that there is two main protagonist, as in the stories are cannon in the series. Like, there is no “Oh, Claire is a playable character in Resident Evil 2, let me play as her!” No. You play as both characters, and they both intertwine their storylines that by the end of the game – it all ties together. It all comes together. I won’t spoil it, but there are two endings, but they have NOTHING to do with the actual character. The endings have more to do with the outcome of the storyline.

Right now, I’m gonna assume you are a newcomer, a casual, or just someone who bought RE9. Like I said before, you start out in a city, and you play as Grace. You are an FBI agent, and you are tasked with solving your mother’s murder. I am being vague on purpose. Because gameplay in Resident Evil games is this: You arrive at a mansion, you scrounge for items to survive the games. Yes, I said games – this is the 9th main game in the series. Your job is to survive a zombie outbreak. You shoot at zombies, you attack zombies, you escape from zombies. By the middle of the game, you are now battling against what is known as “blister” zombies. You are also battling with mini-bosses. While you do all this, you need to find items to use them, to upgrade your weapons, to craft your items and/or bullets, and/or weapons.

Fun fact: Requiem is a custom-made Desert Eagle. “Resident Evil Requiem” is based on a weapon, and later it is being used in a sentence and is the inspiration for the title.

Difficulty

Okay, please do not get me wrong when I say this: Resident Evil Requiem is “hard” on your first try. Your first run is spent learning where everything is. Your first run is spent learning how gameplay mechanics work. Your first run is where you learn how to do everything in the game. But, on your second run – and that‘s what they want you to do. Capcom wants you to replay the game. Capcom hid a lot of secrets in the game, throughout the whole game. In my second playthrough, I found a lot of stuff differently.

Story

I am going to skip this part, because I want you to experience the game for yourself. The story is told inside the game, inside the gameplay. The story is told in the photos, the papers, the scrap papers, the letters, and so on and forth. There are cutscenes, but for the most part, the story is told as you are playing. Like I said, Capcom mastered the Resident Evil formula, and the RE Engine.

Controls

I am going to reiterate this again: If you played the original Resident Evil 4 and/or Resident Evil 4 Remake, you are right at home. The gameplay refinements, the animation refinements, all combine to make the most responsive Resident Evil title to date. The minute you pick up the controller, you will feel like you’re at home. No matter what kind of player you are. RE9 was designed to be played by just about anyone. I don’t care if you are a Resident Evil fan, a Resident Evil 2 fan, a RE4 fan, a first person shooter fan, a third person shooter fan… It does not matter. Capcom made sure to make this universally playable by anyone. Doesn’t matter who you are. Resident Evil fan or not. It also does not matter if you are playing as Grace, or Leon, controls are one-and-the same, and does not deviate from the design philosophy. Ever.

Graphics

The visuals is where the game shines. The graphics in RE9 are absolutely beautiful, and crisp. Resident Evil Requiem is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Xbox Series S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions are also available, but this review is assuming that you bought PS5, Xbox Series X, or PC version of the game. Why? Because Xbox Series S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions are stripped down. You want the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or PC version of the game to really get the feel for what RE9 has to offer. RE Engine games are beautiful, but here with RE9, this is only scratching the surface. RE9 uses PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) for the platforms that use them.

Character models are clean, and crisp. The environments are beautiful, detailed, and overall crisp. I mean, look at this…

Again, this image was pulled straight from my console. On PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC there is a lot of volumetric lighting, and Ray Tracing. Special effects are little stuff that you don’t necessarily see, but blood spatter is the most special effect you’ll see from the game. Again, look at this. The blood spatter stays on the wall long after you kill a zombie. And for most part, when a zombie dies, it “bleeds” out under the zombie – this is Ray Traced, too. Look at the image above. It’s right there next to the doctor’s “bed.”

User Interface

For the most part, the User Interface is simple. If you played a Resident Evil Remake game since 2019, with Resident Evil 2 Remake – then you know what to expect from the User Interface. With one small, yet interesting improvement. So, in previous games, the way you got better items, weapons, or gear is pit stops around the map. In Village, in order to get new weapons, you had to buy from merchant. In order to get an upgrade, you have to complete a specific mission, and go back to this merchant. In RE4 (Remake), to get either one you need to go to the “what ya buying” merchant. In RE9, there’s a separate menu just for upgrading your items. And to do that, you need to find items or absorb items. In RE9, your scraps, your metals, and blood are basically your “currency” for your items.

I’m gonna focus on blood for a second here, because this falls under gameplay, controls, and User Interface. I buried this feature in this section because it’s a surprising mechanic in the game. I quite like it. A lot. In RE9, you collect blood. Yes. Every time a zombie or enemy dies, blood is “bled” out on the ground. You can’t just absorb any blood spatter. The designer has to trigger it. You have two choices to collect blood. You can either absorb blood from the nearby enemy, or you can go to the various blood deposits scattered around the game. What do you do with this blood? Like I said: It’s your currency. You combine blood with scrap for example to get a certain item in the game. But in order for you to do this, you need an empty injector. This injector holds the blood. Once it gets full, you have to use it in the game by going to the crafting tab.

However, I could never figure out what the blood transfusion items are. And how to use it..? That is the only mystery to me in Resident Evil Requiem.

Music & Sound

Music is brooding, errie, and sometimes intense. The sounds are punchy, and loud. The game wants you to feel scared. The game wants you to feel a sense of dread. Of course, it’s a horror game, a survival horror game. It aims to petrify you until the end. However, the game does not take itself seriously – and the dialogue, while for the most part is serious, it does not take itself too seriously. There are some jokes here and there, but for the most part the game is creepy, yet action packed with chaos.

CarlosX360’s Resident Evil Requiem Gameplay Playlist

Misc. Feedback: I love the creativity in Resident Evil Requiem. You have small details here and there in the game. At one point, you can play casino games in the Parlor. My favorite creative location in Resident Evil Requiem – when you get to the abandoned skyscraper? Shoot the glass. That whole section must be difficult to design. I am commending the developers here. I don’t think Capcom executives appreciates this creativity, but I’m gonna commend you here. More of that, please.

Carlos’ Verdict

Resident Evil Requiem is Capcom’s magnus opus in game design. Capcom has spent a decade mastering their craft with the RE Engine. Their comfort with the RE Engine shows in the attention to detail in all aspects of RE9. Everything from gameplay, to controls, to sound design, to graphics, to the absolute creativity in their game design has blended to make RE9 a great game. If you are a survival horror fanatic, I highly recommend Resident Evil Requiem. It ranks in the best of the best, and goes pound to pound for the best Resident Evil game ever made. RE9 is neither hard, nor easy. RE9 is neither short, nor long. There is replayability depending on what you are looking for.

Rating: 95/100