00:00Resident Evil Requiem is here, and it's quite literally a game of two halves.
00:04The dual protagonists, newcomer Grace Ashcroft and series veteran Leon S. Kennedy, both represent
00:09disparate aspects of the long-running survival horror franchise.
00:12With Grace you get the tense first-person exploration, while Leon delivers the bombastic
00:17third-person action.
00:18It's an intriguing formula that, on paper, should offer something for all kinds of Resident
00:23Evil lover.
00:24But is it actually worth playing?
00:25I've just finished two full runs of the game, one on Nintendo Switch 2 and another
00:30on PC that you're seeing now, and I can say that it mostly lives up to its potential.
00:34The highlight is easily the game's strong first half, navigating these wonderfully designed
00:39interconnected environments that are filled with mysterious puzzles as you scrounge for
00:43resources while dodging these prowling horrors as Grace is a consistent delight.
00:48And it's punctuated by these really refreshing moments where you can briefly let loose as
00:52Leon by tearing through zombie hordes with an almost unlimited supply of guns and ammunition.
00:57Unfortunately, this careful balance is upset by the overwhelming number of sequences in the
01:01action camp later on.
01:03There's still a blast to fight through, even as the plot becomes increasingly bizarre, but
01:07I still found myself hoping for more of the serious scares that I experienced earlier on.
01:14From the get-go, it's clear that Resident Evil Requiem is intended to be a celebration
01:19of the series, smartly blending elements from almost every entry thus far.
01:23Grace inherits not only the first-person perspective of Resident Evil 7, but also the classic puzzle
01:28solving of the original Resident Evil and its immediate follow-ups.
01:32The Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Centre, which is the first section where you play as her, is
01:36a show-stopping example of this formula at its best, and some of the greatest level design
01:40in Resident Evil history.
01:42The whole area is an unsettling blend of tight corridors and small rooms, with objectives
01:47that require you to carefully scour your surroundings as you match keys with their respective locks,
01:52decipher secret codes, or collect other important items.
01:55How to move forward is always intuitive, and I never found myself scratching my head wondering
01:59what to do next.
02:00In part because there are often multiple possible ways to progress with what you have on hand.
02:04Rooms like the ornate banquet hall and the facility's expansive main foyer also echo the iconic
02:10design of the Spencer Mansion, a tasteful throwback for long-time fans, while a barrage of new
02:15enemy types keep things from feeling fresh and prevent you from ever getting too comfortable.
02:19The new viral strain at the heart of this game's outbreak gives us some of the most intelligent
02:23zombies yet, and they're repeating phrases that often hint at ways to counter their unique
02:28behaviour.
02:28A zombie obsessed with turning off the lights, for example, can be lured out of your path by the
02:33flicking of a switch in order to preserve valuable ammo.
02:36Even if you do choose to go guns blazing, a handful of powerful horrors like the kitchen's
02:41huge mutated chef can only be taken on with ample reserves of equipment.
02:45Successfully down them and you're treated to a deluge of goodies, namely these collectible
02:50coins that can be spent on useful upgrades, so there's a genuine benefit to taking on the
02:55risk.
02:55Like the classic Resi games, saving is restricted to set points where you can access a typewriter
03:00in dedicated safe rooms.
03:02This adds an extra layer of tension, even if, in reality, their plentiful nature means
03:07you're never really short of opportunities to use them.
03:09Despite this safety blanket, you're never out of harm's way while you're playing as
03:13Grace though, as you're constantly on the run from an invincible foe.
03:17This terrifying, long-limbed woman appears in both scripted scares and more dynamic moments
03:22where she stalks you through the building.
03:24She has a good range of possible behaviours, like suddenly reaching under a table to grab
03:28you if you make too much noise, or prowling towards your path after catching your scent
03:32as you creep by.
03:33The creature is easy to outsmart if you make liberal use of distraction items like glass
03:37bottles, but the persistent dread that she might appear around any corner is hard to
03:42shake.
03:43That's only amplified by Grace herself.
03:45Where Ethan Winters of Resident Evil 7 and Village was an emotional brick wall, Grace
03:50is an incredibly relatable protagonist.
03:52Her shaking hands and haggard breaths are a brilliant contrast to Leon's quippy confidence,
03:58and she's endearingly awkward in the many stunningly animated cutscenes too.
04:17Her desire to discover the truth of her mother's grisly murder eight years ago is also a compelling
04:22hook that drives you to push on in spite of the horrors you face.
04:26It's a real shame, then, that she practically vanishes from the story at the halfway mark,
04:30as the focus shifts almost entirely towards Leon.
04:36Returning to the ruins of Raccoon City and some surprisingly hefty semi-open world sections,
04:41it's an unremitting bombardment of combat gauntlets, boss fights and cinematic action sequences.
04:47Some moments, like a ridiculous rocket launcher motorbike chase that extends up the side of
04:52a collapsing building, are certainly reminiscent of the much-derided over-the-top events of
04:57Resident Evil 6, while others feel like something you'd watch stone-faced in one of the franchise's
05:02many terrible live-action movies.
05:04Throw in heaps of gratuitous fan service and an unsatisfying ending that leaves loads of
05:09unanswered questions, presumably just for the sake of setting up future sequels or DLC, and it left me yearning for
05:14a tighter, more self-controlled,
05:16and emotionally impactful experience, like Resident Evil 7 was.
05:20That's not to say that these moments are ever dull, though.
05:22To Capcom's credit, while events may veer unapologetically into the camp and ridiculous,
05:27I was practically on the edge of my seat wondering what the hell could possibly happen next.
05:32It definitely helps that Resident Evil Requiem is never boring to look at, either.
05:36This is a visually stunning game, which really pushes the envelope for environmental fidelity,
05:40with its beautiful ray-traced reflections, fluid animation, and even subtle character details
05:44like strands of hair or droplets of blood and sweat.
05:47Yes, this is even the case on Nintendo Switch 2, despite some noticeable resolution cutbacks
05:52and the odd stutter or two.
05:53I've enjoyed my time with the game a lot, but I can't help but wish Capcom was a little
05:57bolder with the plot.
05:58After more than 30 years of Resident Evil games, surely now is the time to be moving the series
06:03forward more decisively, rather than constantly harking back to the past.
06:07Resident Evil Requiem launches for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and Nintendo Switch
06:132 on February 27th.
06:14I know what you're thinking, but don't discount that Nintendo Switch 2 version either.
06:18It's the first one that I played, and it's a surprisingly good port, with some excellent
06:21graphics in handheld mode.
06:23Will you be playing Resident Evil Requiem?
06:25Let me know in the comments.
06:26Or if you're watching this video from the future, tell me what you thought of the game.
06:37Wait until ya'll see it later.
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