Resident Evil Requiem – Grace and Leon Dual Protagonists Creates Horror Magic
Capcom just unveiled its Resident Evil Requiem showcase on January 15, and it was jam-packed full of content. From showcasing more Grace and Leon gameplay to announcing big brand collaborations, this showcase revealed so much of what we can expect once the game launches. One of the biggest things that was deep dived during the showcase was the stark contrast and duality of both Grace’s and Leon’s gameplay portions, and here’s what the devs had to say about how the two perspectives create magic.
Resident Evil Requiem Showcase
A new showcase for Resident Evil Requiem was just unveiled in a livestream earlier today, which showcased more gameplay of the game and new information about the launch. The showcase unveiled new game mechanics that put a twist on the usual Resident Evil game mechanics we are used to.
The devs have added the ability to switch between first and third camera perspectives for both Leon and Grace. The devs have also added the ability to collect infected blood from zombies to use in crafting, which will create an injector you can use to kill more zombies. The game will offer different game modes. In Casual, you’ll be able to use aim assist to help you kill zombies better, and in Standard (Classic), you will need to collect ink ribbons around the map to save the game while playing as Grace.
The Resident Evil Requiem showcase unveiled two major brand collaborations with Porsche and affordable luxury watchmaker Hamilton. Porsche created a one-of-a-kind custom car made just for Leon, to reflect his style and character. Also, Capcom has collaborated with watchmaker Hamilton, where they’ve created custom watches for both Grace and Leon, and will make and sell 2,000 of these limited-edition pieces once the game launches.
Grace and Leon’s Contrasting Gameplay Creates Magic
During the showcase, Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi dived deep into the contrasting roles of both dual protagonists, Grace and Leon. From the beginning, Nakanishi knew he wanted to make a really scary game and push away from the action we usually see in the Resident Evil series. He also knew he wanted Leon to return in some form or fashion for this game, but knew, given how Leon is as a character, it wouldn’t fit. Here’s what Masato Kumazawa had to say about the duality of the two characters:
“Our aim was to deliver a gaming experience that alternately immerses players in the most terrifying horror and the most thrilling action,”
“Therefore maximizing both the terror felt when transitioning from action to horror segments and the exhilaration experienced when shifting from horror to action segments. To this end, as Leon’s counterpart, we introduced Grace, an easily frightened character who is experiencing a biohazard situation for the first time.”
The devs made a smart strategic decision in how they would bring Leon back, while also keeping with their desire to create a psychological horror game and introducing a new character. The contrast between Grace and Leon is so stark. Grace plays a more relatable character, where she’s put in a horrifying situation, and uses her wits instead of expertise to survive. On the other hand, Leon, being the iconic badass he is, turns the horror into action during his playable portions.
The dev team really wanted to deliver an experience that meshes both the horror in Grace’s portion of the game and the action in Leon’s. The contrast between not only the characters, but also how players will get to experience each part, will create a thrilling horror experience we’ve yet to see in a Resident Evil game. Resident Evil Requiem is set to release on February 27 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Windows via Steam), and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, with pre-orders available now on various digital storefronts like Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
