Resident Evil Requiem leans too much on the series’ past
#Resident Evil Requiem #Leon Kennedy #Grace Ashcroft #Game Review #Horror Gaming #Franchise Nostalgia #Character Development
📌 Key Takeaways
- Resident Evil Requiem overemphasizes past characters instead of developing new protagonist Grace Ashcroft
- The game effectively balances between Grace and Leon in the first half but loses this dynamic in the second half
- Nostalgic elements for longtime fans alienate newer players to the franchise
- Leon takes over as the main lead despite Grace being set up as the primary protagonist
📖 Full Retelling
Jay Peters, a senior reporter at The Verge, published a review of Resident Evil Requiem on March 1, 2026, criticizing the game for overemphasizing the series' past at the expense of its new protagonist, FBI agent Grace Ashcroft. The ninth mainline entry in the Resident Evil franchise, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, attempts to balance between longtime fans and newcomers by featuring both a new character and series veteran Leon Kennedy. Peters notes that while the dual-character approach works initially in the horror-focused first half, the game loses its way in the second half when it shifts focus to Leon's nostalgia-driven journey through Raccoon City. Resident Evil Requiem begins with an effective balance between protagonists, with Grace's limited arsenal creating genuine tension as she navigates a medical care facility while evading terrifying creatures like 'the girl' and a butcher knife-wielding zombie. Peters praises these sections as among the freshest horror experiences he's played, noting that Grace's story stands on its own without requiring deep knowledge of the franchise's extensive lore. The brief interludes as Leon provide relief with his combat capabilities, creating an engaging push-pull dynamic that keeps players engaged with both characters' distinct strengths and weaknesses. The review highlights the game's turning point when Grace abruptly leaves with a mysterious new villain, forcing players to continue with Leon in the ruined setting of Raccoon City. Peters notes that without the character-switching dynamic that made the first half compelling, the game becomes 'drag like an overly long action movie.' While longtime fans might appreciate references to previous games, such as Leon commenting on past puzzles, these nods fall flat for players who haven't experienced the entire series.
🏷️ Themes
Game Design, Horror Gaming, Franchise Evolution
📚 Related People & Topics
List of Resident Evil characters
Resident Evil is a horror game media franchise created by Capcom. The series' success has led to a live-action film series, animated films, television series, comic books, novels, audiobooks, and merchandise. The franchise features an extensive cast of characters in its horror-based narratives.
Resident Evil Requiem
2026 video game
Resident Evil Requiem is a 2026 survival horror game developed and published by Capcom. It is the ninth main Resident Evil game, following Resident Evil Village (2021). It features a new protagonist, FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, who investigates the remains of Raccoon City with the help of the federa...
Entity Intersection Graph
No entity connections available yet for this article.
Mentioned Entities
Original Source
Gaming Entertainment Resident Evil Requiem leans too much on the series’ past Leon gets more of the spotlight when Grace should be the real star. Leon gets more of the spotlight when Grace should be the real star. by Jay Peters Mar 1, 2026, 1:00 PM UTC Leon Kennedy, one of the game’s protagonists. Image: Capcom Jay Peters is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. Resident Evil turns 30 this year. The series is full of history — the new Resident Evil Requiem is technically the ninth mainline game, but there are a bunch of spinoffs, remakes, movies, and even a TV show — which can make it fun to follow for fans. But it’s also intimidating for people like me who haven’t played everything. The latest release, Resident Evil Requiem, tries to appeal to both sides by starring a new character, the cowering FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, and a series favorite, action hero Leon Kennedy. Initially, it really works: the first half of Resident Evil Requiem is one of the freshest horror games I’ve ever played. But as the game goes on, it gets bogged down by Resident Evil ’s past. **Spoilers for Resident Evil Requiem are below.** Grace Ashcroft, the game’s other protagonist. Image: Capcom For much of the first half of Requiem , the balance between the two is close to perfect. Most of the time, you’re playing as Grace, and her limited arsenal means you have to be thoughtful about every step and bullet. I was constantly on edge as I crept through the hallways of a medical care facility, narrowly creeping past horrors like a monster known only as “the girl” and a huge zombie wielding a butcher knife. And despite some connections to past games, Grace’s story stands on its own, meaning I wasn’t worried about lore I had missed while I was also trying to survive. When the game would switch to brief sections in Leon’s perspective, I could take out enemies that I felt powerless against as Grace with relative ease. ...
Read full article at source