When I first played Resident Evil Requiem last year, Capcom was being coy about whether Leon S. Kennedy would actually appear. At the time, I suspected the fan-favorite protagonist was being saved for a surprise reveal in the final game. It turns out I was wrong! Capcom has officially confirmed Leon is a playable lead, and as someone who considers Resident Evil 4 the series’ peak, I couldn’t be more stoked.
At a recent hands-on event, I got to step into Leon’s boots. His action-heavy segments bookended my session, while the middle two hours focused on the new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. This structure is a brilliant move; hopping from Grace’s desperate survival horror to Leon’s high-octane “run-and-gun” gameplay keeps the pacing snappy and the dread fresh.
Since I’ve already covered Requiem’s core mechanics and impressive visuals in my previous preview, I want to focus this time on the visceral experience of playing as this duo. Even more than before, this demo proves that Requiem can be considered a “greatest hits” collection of the series’ best elements.
The zombie slayer
The PR rep at the event gave us a simple directive for Leon’s section: don’t worry about conserving ammo or healing items because Leon is a “bad-ass.” While I’m sure resource management will be tighter in the final game, this demo was a satisfying playground for testing the gunplay. In short? It’s freakin’ awesome.
I’ll be the first to admit that Resident Evil combat can sometimes feel sluggish compared to dedicated shooters. That deliberate weight is still present here, as you’ll need a second to line up a headshot properly. That said, Leon feels more capable than ever thanks to some new tricks. For example, he can now perform brutal, context-sensitive melee finishers and quick-kills that feel like a more savage evolution of the RE4 prompts.
One highlight was a frantic boss encounter in a cramped, cluttered attic. The monster relentlessly hounded me, leaving only a split-second window to unload a shotgun blast or two before I had to scram. The area was littered with ammo and healing herbs, which allowed me to focus entirely on taking out the monster and not getting killed. Without spoiling the ending, I’ll just say the payoff to this encounter was incredibly satisfying. Leon might be older, but he’s as cool as ever, complete with his signature cheesy one-liners.
House of terror
Where Leon’s segment was all about intense action, Grace’s is slower and more methodical. Her demo picks up in a decaying medical facility, and the shift in tone and gameplay is immediate. If you try to play Grace like Leon, you’ll be staring at a “Game Over” screen real quick.
As I did before with Grace, I mostly played in third-person mode since first-person is way too terrifying. One interesting thing is that Leon’s segments were automatically in third-person, while Grace’s defaulted to first-person. I’m not sure if that’s how it will be in the final game, but those respective perspectives fit well with the characters. Regardless, I stuck with third-person and was still suitably scared witless.
Grace’s gameplay is a love letter to classic Resident Evil. It’s all about claustrophobic atmospheres, intricate puzzle-solving, and searching for items to unlock more sections of the building you’re trapped in. Unlike the previous demo, Grace had access to firearms here, including a massive “Requiem” revolver that Leon had given her. However, ammo is agonizingly scarce. I had to be extremely judicious, often choosing to sneak past the “sentient” zombies rather than engage them.
To that last point, it’s interesting seeing zombies that retain some of their human personalities. For instance, a maid zombie kept complaining about how dirty the floor was, while another zombie insisted that the lights be kept off. Brainless zombies aren’t nearly as scary, since you can view them purely as monsters. Hearing glimpses of a zombie’s previous life as a human is super unnerving (but awesome).
I won’t spoil anything, but suffice it to say you’ll encounter some surprises with Grace. I could be wrong, but I get the feeling Capcom is trying to broaden the core Resident Evil story beyond the Umbrella Corporation’s evil aspirations. We’ll see how the story ultimately plays out, but regardless, I expect we’ll be treated to a gripping and cinematic experience.
Outlook
My hype for Resident Evil Requiem was already high, but after seeing how these two playstyles complement each other, that hype has risen exponentially. It feels like a back-to-basics affair that manages to retain everything fans love while pushing the narrative in new directions. I’m especially curious to see how the game balances the two playstyles and if Grace will have longer sections than Leon. Either way, consider me ready.
Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27, 2026, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for my full review!
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