“Resident Evil Requiem,” the ninth entry in the long-running survival horror franchise, is an amazing reminder that Capcom hasn’t lost it after 30 years of making “Resident Evil” games. The game’s balance of survival and action horror gives fans of the franchise the best of both worlds through a scarily gripping story.

While this franchise is no stranger to blending tones and gameplay styles, “Requiem” manages to create two distinct feelings throughout one cohesive story. This flow carries throughout the entirety of the game’s 13 hour runtime, and never once does it falter. 

“Requiem” follows two playable characters: Grace Ashcroft, a shy and unsure FBI analyst who has very little field experience, and Leon S. Kennedy, an agent for the fictional Division of Security Operations (DSO), and franchise sweetheart who was last seen in 2023’s “Resident Evil 4” remake. Grace’s inexperience and quick-to-scare nature make her a perfect fit for slow-paced, jumpscare-rife gameplay that entries like “Resident Evil 2” are known for.

Meanwhile, Leon’s story is action-packed, equipped with an expanded arsenal of weapons, melee moves, and a parry system similar to the “Resident Evil 4” remake. Not only that, but his sections have more than double the enemies of Grace’s gameplay, giving players the chance to fully take advantage of the switch in gameplay and feel like a true action hero.

This setup for its characters and story is not exactly new for the series, but “Requiem” takes the formula created by “Resident Evil 2” and flips it on its head. As you progress through the story, you will switch characters and see what they’ve been up to while you were playing. For example, after solving a few smaller puzzles as Grace, you swap over to Leon and experience his perspective, which keeps the gameplay interesting and engaging. 

To further distinguish their sections, Capcom offers players the ability to choose their camera perspective for both characters. (On their own recommendation, players should choose first person for Grace and third person for Leon.) Regardless, you are able to switch at will through the in-game settings menu. Personally, I enjoyed my first playthrough with both characters in third person, as Grace features unique stumbling and trembling animations that you can easily miss while playing in first person, which adds to the particular horror aesthetic. 

The game’s opening hours take place at the fictional Rhodes City Care Center, and for most of that runtime, you are playing as Grace. And it’s here that “Requiem” really flexes its muscles as a survival horror masterpiece: as you explore the center, you’ll find reanimated occupants who still retain some of their motor functions from when they were alive. You’ll encounter bellhops smacking at light switches, complaining that it is too bright, and a giant butcher who roams the kitchen with a massive butcher knife.

This mechanic adds an additional layer to Grace’s gameplay sections. Instead of focusing on taking out every enemy, you can evade and use their behaviors to your advantage, making each situation uniquely your own. 

While swapping back and forth between the characters makes for a fun and interesting game, towards the middle of the story, the game leans way too heavily towards Leon. It isn’t until the final act of the game that you finally switch back to Grace and by that point, you’ve already spent over three hours of game time as Leon.  

“Requiem” takes place 30 years after the Raccoon City incident featured in “Resident Evil 2” and “Resident Evil 3,” which saw the fictional city wiped off the face of the earth to contain a zombie outbreak. Through both Grace and Leon’s perspectives, players are thrust into a deeply rooted mystery that entangles both past and present “Resident Evil” lore in a satisfying way for fans of the series.

At the center of the story is a single word, “elpis,” which draws out both of the protagonists and intertwines them with the shadow organization known as “The Connections.” Capcom expertly unravels this mystery through its high-fidelity cutscenes, as both Leon and Grace come face to face with the truth of the Raccoon City incident.

Despite Leon having a full arc in this game, Grace is the true star of the show. Her growth from a scared and unsure agent to the confident character willing to take on the horrors that lurk within the ruins of Raccoon City is a satisfying watch. Her actress, Angela Sant’Albano, captures the complexities and nuance of Grace to such an extent that you might believe she actually experienced the story first-hand. 

Despite taking only 13 hours to complete, “Requiem” delivers on all fronts and is a love letter to “Resident Evil” fans everywhere.