Resident Evil Requiem Reveals Smarter Zombies And Blood-Infused Crafting

We are officially only one month away from the launch of Resident Evil Requiem, the ninth main installment in Capcom’s legendary franchise. To ramp up the anticipation even further, the developers hosted a dedicated Resident Evil Showcase this Thursday, January 15th.

While the event lasted only about 13 minutes, it was packed with chilling new information about the gameplay – that literally makes the final month of waiting feel like an eternity.

Two Heroes, Two Completely Different Games

For starters, the showcase focuses on the distinct differences between Leon S. Kennedy’s and Grace Ashcroft’s campaigns. While it was previously revealed that both storylines share a similar length, today’s presentation clarified that the experiences will be worlds apart. “In this title, it’s like you’re playing completely different games with Grace and Leon,” explained director Koshi Nakanishi.

To match Leon’s status as a veteran who has seen too much, his gameplay is much more action-oriented. But don’t worry – we are not talking about the over-the-top action of Resident Evil 5 or 6. Instead, it draws from the dynamic, high-stakes combat of Resident Evil 4. Although they did not specify which version, it was clear from the images shown that it is more focused on the 2023 remake.

This means we can expect satisfying, exaggerated melee kicks and even the use of extremely loud chainsaws while playing as him!

In contrast, Grace’s campaign focuses on atmospheric horror. Her segments prioritize tension over combat, featuring a lack of a soundtrack to heighten the dread, which is a style more reminiscent of Resident Evil 2 and 7.

Interestingly, the gameplay footage also suggested different camera perspectives for each: Leon’s sections were shown in third-person, while Grace’s were in first-person, maybe subtly hinting at the intended way to experience each character’s journey.

Human Echoes and Blood-Based Survival

While the dual-campaign structure is pretty exciting, the new mechanics revealed afterward are even more impactful for me, as a Resident Evil fan.

That’s because the showcase introduced a haunting new type of zombie – enemies that appear more human and intelligent. After all, they retain some kind of “echoes” of their former lives. For instance, a zombie who was once a janitor before dying might be found mindlessly cleaning a window due to a distant muscle memory.

“There are many zombies that cling to the habits of their past lives. By watching their actions closely, you can deftly dodge or take them down, adding more depth to the gameplay,” Nakanishi explained.

This idea significantly expands gameplay, as Resident Evil titles are known for offering the option to kill or ignore zombies if you have the necessary skills to do so, and they have literally just added a new mechanic to that!

Finally, another piece of news that really excited me involves the iconic crafting system (which has largely revolved around colored herbs for many years) is receiving a gruesome spin. Now, players will be able to utilize infected blood from “dead” zombies to create vital injectors needed for survival.

This means you will eventually be forced to engage with enemies rather than simply running away if you want to stay stocked on supplies. “Since crafting requires blood, that means you'll have to take down enemies,” the director warned.

Last but not least, the showcase also announced some unexpected partnerships. Capcom has teamed up with Porsche and Hamilton to design Leon’s in-game car and the protagonists' watches, respectively.

For hardcore collectors, there are stunning 1/6 scale figures of Leon and Grace on the way (I’m staying away from those because I don't want to go bankrupt), along with a special Resident Evil Requiem themed Switch 2 Pro Controller (this one I may buy, I must confess).

You can watch the full showcase below to see all the reveals for yourself: