At a Glance
- The latest preview of Resident Evil Requiem shows the game will alternate between Grace Ashford’s stealth-puzzle segments and Leon S. Kennedy’s action-packed fights.
- Grace’s sections focus on limited inventory, scarce ammo, and careful exploration, while Leon’s parts feature abundant firepower and fast-paced combat.
- Players can switch between first-person and third-person views on the fly, allowing each character to play to its strengths.
- Why it matters: The dual-character structure could redefine how survival horror blends tension and excitement, offering fans a fresh take on the franchise.
The newest preview of Resident Evil Requiem, unveiled at Summer Game Fest 2025, lets players glimpse a game that will alternate between the vulnerable, puzzle-heavy adventures of FBI agent Grace Ashford and the gun-slinging, high-octane exploits of veteran Leon S. Kennedy. In under an hour of gameplay, the demo cuts between two very different experiences, hinting at a new formula that could change how the series balances fear and action.
Two Distinct Gameplay Styles
The preview demonstrates that Requiem will feature two iconic gameplay modes, each tied to one of its protagonists. Grace’s chapters emulate the original Resident Evil experience: tight inventory, limited ammunition, and a need to solve puzzles while avoiding detection. Leon’s sections echo Resident Evil 4, delivering fast combat, plenty of ammo, and a more aggressive playstyle.
Grace Ashford
Grace starts in a derelict hospital, waking from her abduction and sneaking past a grotesque matronly mutant. Her gameplay is:
- Limited inventory – Players must juggle a small number of items.
- Scarce ammo – Shooting is a last resort; stealth is essential.
- Puzzle-heavy – Solving baroque puzzles and using a new crafting system that turns zombie blood into ammo and defensive weapons.
- First-person view – Recommended for maximum tension, especially in tight corridors.
Grace’s segment is a 2-hour gameplay stretch that places the agent in a foyer between two staircases, with a door that can only be unlocked with three crystal gems. The environment echoes the Spencer Mansion from the first game, with ornate wooden furnishings and zombies that patrol set paths. The player must avoid making noise and retrieve key items from save rooms to progress.
Leon S. Kennedy
Leon enters the hospital after Grace’s escape, confronting zombie doctors and orderlies. His gameplay is:
- Abundant ammo – Plenty of firepower to keep the tension low.
- New weapon – A carbon-fiber hand ax for satisfying executions.
- Chainsaw combat – A chainsaw is picked up after killing a zombie with one, allowing players to carve through enemies and barriers.
- Third-person view – Recommended for easier navigation through crowds of undead.
Leon’s sections feel like a cathartic release, letting players cut loose with a lot of ammo and intense enemies. The demo shows him dispatching a “horrifyingly large mutant baby” and later a group of reanimated, deadlier zombies with a shotgun.
Camera Switch Feature
A new feature in Requiem allows players to toggle between first-person and third-person cameras at any time. Capcom employees suggested:
- Play Grace’s sections in the former to ratchet up the tension.
- Switch to the latter for Leon’s action-oriented segments.
The ability to switch on the fly gives players flexibility to adapt to each character’s strengths and the game’s changing pacing.
Narrative Flow and Story Elements
The preview starts after a snippet where Grace awakens and evades a mutant. Leon then arrives, fights a zombie with a chainsaw, and picks up a powerful revolver named Requiem. A gate slams down between them, and Dr. Gideon, the tall, pale overseer, operates from a distant control room.
Control then shifts to Grace for a 2-hour segment, placing her in a setting familiar to veterans: a foyer between two staircases, with a door that can only be unlocked with three crystal gems. The environment mirrors the Spencer Mansion from the first game, with arcane puzzles and ornate wooden furnishings.
The preview also shows a twist: undead retain their memories and wander along the paths they patrolled in life. Players can sneak around and avoid making noise to stay safe. When a zombie from the 2002 Resident Evil 1 Remake comes back to life, it becomes crazier and deadlier. Grace uses the Requiem revolver, firing the single bullet she has to kill it.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Grace Ashford | Leon S. Kennedy |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory | Limited | Abundant |
| Ammo | Scarce | Plentiful |
| Primary Weapon | Crafting system (blood-based) | Revolver, ax, shotgun |
| Camera | First-person (recommended) | Third-person (recommended) |
| Combat Style | Stealth & puzzle solving | Fast-paced gunplay |
| Key Challenge | Solving puzzles, avoiding detection | Overwhelming hordes, melee attacks |
Key Takeaways
- Requiem blends two established gameplay flavors into a single title, offering both tension-driven stealth and high-octane action.
- The camera-switch mechanic lets players tailor the experience to each character.
- Grace’s vulnerable, puzzle-heavy segments create a sense of vulnerability, while Leon’s sections provide a release valve of action.
- The narrative ties the two characters together, with Dr. Gideon and a mysterious gate separating them.
- Early impressions suggest the game could redefine the survival-horror formula, but how well the two styles mesh remains to be seen.
The preview, which includes a handful of undisclosed details, showcases a game that feels like an intriguing combination of familiar and new. After the saga of Ethan Winters in Resident Evil 7 and 8, it’s a relief to return to fan-favorite Leon and discover Grace’s story. Running around a strange hospital ward overrun by its undead residents, locked in the purgatory of their old routines, is delightfully bizarre. Peering into a microscope to research a way to craft bullets out of scrap metal and blood adds a fresh layer to the franchise’s surreal horror.
