Resident Evil 9 Requiem

Penn · 11-03-2026 05:57PM

Plus thanks to unlimited saves, I saved 69 times

holds up hand for high-5s

Zero-Cool · 11-03-2026 06:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124304661#Comment_124304661

Aw c'mon man, that's so juvenile. You should have looked for the high five when you got to 67 saves.

johnny_ultimate · 11-03-2026 07:08PM

The tone for this thing goes completely off the wall in the back half 😆

Wandering around the RPD and encountering Tofu survivor playing its own little game of hide and seek is certainly not something I expected from a first run though.

Necro · 12-03-2026 01:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124304559#Comment_124304559

I know right, it's like a nervous tic I have with Resi games. Item change, save. Explore a room or two, save. Run outside and back in again? Oh you'd better believe that's a save.

johnny_ultimate · 12-03-2026 03:01PM

Finished it last night. While I enjoyed overall, it definitely has the Resident Evil problem of running out of steam as the game goes on.

I actually really liked the main, extended Leon section in the second half of the game. While the combat definitely lacks the intensity and depth of Resi 4 - and, frankly, even the intensity you get in the early chainsaw sequence here - I did like how it embraces its silliness when it comes to Leon's sheer power and aptitude, but also manages to translate the classic Resi looping level design into a more action orientated version.

I thoroughly enjoyed navigating the Racoon City rooftops and basements before inevitably looping back around to the safe house camp.

It has just the right amount of calculated combat setpieces to keep things interesting, even if there are few genuine threats to worry about.

Tonally the game is all over the shop, in ways both endearing and absurd. As I mentioned in a spoiler above, one easter egg cameo in particular was so out of leftfield it immediately removed any sense of tension in a particular environment. It also goes hard on the fan service without particularly doing anything super interesting with it.

It's the final quarter of the game where I felt it started overstaying its welcome more.

The ARK is pretty standard Resi secret lab fare, without much to elevate it above what came earlier. The last Grace gameplay sequence also throws so many resources at you it's pretty trivial to work through the Lickers, as opposed to the constant resource management that defines the care home parts.

The weakest aspect overall though was the boss design. There's only really a handful of them here, but they all to me felt rather janky and insubstantial - mostly just a matter of pumping bullets into them until they finally go down. While Resi has always been a mixed bag when it comes to bosses, I think this one even lacks the puzzley or spectacle elements that make some of the ones in the past more interesting and memorable.

Overall the first half of the game is probably the most effective sustained horror and tension section of the 7-9 trilogy. I think the technology has caught up with the design intention to counter some of the limitations of 7 in particular. And as someone who cites the OG Resi 4 as my favourite of the series, I definitely enjoyed Leon's section even if it won't be troubling that earlier game in the pantheon. It is well worth playing, even if I do hope one of these years a Resi game manages to totally stick the landing.

Retr0gamer · 12-03-2026 04:04PM

My friend described Leon in this game perfectly.

Leon is both totally fed up of zombies while at the same time having the time of his life dispatching zombies.

Penn · 12-03-2026 04:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307157#Comment_124307157

Saw a clip of someone earlier making fun of how some internet commentators were questioning who would win in a fight; Leon or Joel from The Last of Us. As if Leon wouldn't parry-roundhouse kick a brick back at Joel, blow his head off with a magnum, and then say "I guess now I'm the last of us" as he walks away.

Edit: Just copped that I saw it here in the Humour thread

one armed dwarf · 12-03-2026 11:47PM

I'm halfway through on insanity mode, I think if you go in and try to do it without the bonus unlocks it ends up being maybe the best iteration Capcom has ever done of the Spenser Mansion/RPD template. When it comes to resource management, planning, combat, everything. It's so well designed

Kinda baffled then how poor the Leon stuff is in comparison. Feels like a beta from a cancelled game. People say that Resi runs out of steam, but I think this is on another level, it's one of the most polarised experiences I've ever played, the arse just drops out of it.

I really recommend trying out the first half of the game on insanity though without infinite ammo, I think a lot of people are going to be singing praises for years and years writing about how well designed this part is and how much interesting interactions can happen when every single bullet and piece of scrap counts

Underground · 13-03-2026 01:23PM

I think what really doesn’t help the Leon stuff from the second half onwards is the generic zombie design. You spend the first half of the game in the care centre where the pacing is tightly controlled and each of the zombies has their own personality, some of them even have their own backstory through the files, it’s great.

It’s a tricky one for the developer as it’s a level of detail they couldn’t realistically sustain over an entire game if they’re planning to hand you over to Leon on a more sprawling map, hence we get the generic zombie fodder from the second half onwards.

Retr0gamer · 13-03-2026 02:58PM

Honestly enjoying the ink ribbon Management. Just like most of these games with item/weapon degradation, the scarcity isnt really a big deal as I've more ink ribbons than I need to save. I did have a pretty hairy moment when I went to save but didn't have enough blood to make an ink ribbon but it just added to the tension, and they are pretty cheap to make.

Penn · 13-03-2026 03:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124309154#Comment_124309154

I didn't mind that as much, as it kind of makes sense. The zombies in the care centre were turned recently in a different way, whereas the ones in Leon's main bit of the game were long abandoned normal zombies for the most part, aside from the BSAA zombies who still fire their guns. Plus the way you can manipulate the zombies in the first half as Grace just wouldn't work or be necessary for Leon to have to deal with. It does give them scope to expand on it in future games though.

I did like the "Rest easy, Officer" Leon gives to the one zombie in the RPD. That was a nice touch.

Zero-Cool · 13-03-2026 04:28PM

"should have worn a helmet" made me burst out a laugh 😂

McFly85 · 13-03-2026 05:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124309154#Comment_124309154

Yeah I loved the zombies in Graces part. Each of them having their own personalities and how that affected gameplay was great. Probably the first time in one of the games I managed to feel pity for one!

In the underground when trying to get the final electrical plug and having to travel through the zombies on the conveyor, one seemed to have more awareness than simply going though a routine and could just utter something like Whys…happening as he was being dragged up to the grinder by his feet, poor bastard!

It sort of continued in Leon’s mode with the BSAA agents but for sure it wasn’t as enjoyable as before.

McFly85 · 14-03-2026 09:57AM

Finished it last night - went through it pretty quickly but don’t feel like I missed a whole lot. Total playtime was 9 hours, which is as long as it needs to be I think.

Agree with most that the first part was far stronger and much more in line with what I’d want in an RE game. The hospital was a stunning looking location and I loved every minute there, would have happily had extended hospital grounds with the same gameplay for the whole 9 hours and it would likely be up there with the very best RE games for me.

Leon’s part was enjoyable but almost felt like it could be DLC for RE4 as a celebration of the franchise. Totally completely separate from Graces game, and while I enjoyed it I did find myself wishing for more survival horror and less action. I did massively enjoy Leon’s goofy action hero nonsense though, and the whole ridiculousness of the plot in general, it’s absolutely the right kind of silly for RE.

Would definitely put it up as the best of the latest trilogy of RE games, but I am unlikely to play it again until RE10 is almost out. Definitely glad to see Capcoms still got it when it comes to survival horror - just wish they would have the guts to make an entire game around it!

Retr0gamer · 14-03-2026 11:07AM

From Maddie

Retr0gamer · 14-03-2026 09:54PM

More from Maddie

Retr0gamer · 15-03-2026 12:01PM

Sorry, but more from Maddie

Zero-Cool · 16-03-2026 09:10AM

Just passed RPD...

Kendo shop was a very nice touch. Mr. X was a bit of a surprise 😂 awful boss battle though, just pumping rounds into him and parrying his claw with a bloody hatchet, took all the suspense out of fighting a tyrant.

The underground section looked so cool, RC as a post apocalyptic bomb site really is incredibly detailed, but i ran through the plant section. No idea if i missed any items but i feel like I'm ready to finish up the game.

HopingforNewZ · 16-03-2026 01:28PM

Platinumed it last night having ran through the game a few times on all difficulties. One note on the Insanity difficulty run (late game spoilers):

Boss fight with the Grim Reaper took me literally 50/60 goes at it. Bought the other Hatchet with the enhanced parrying and got him eventually.

As an old school RE fan (particularly love RE2 OG), I loved all the old tributes to the past. I really enjoyed the game throughout. Main issues would be (as has been mentioned) the boss design wasn't fantastic and I found some of Graces sections* tedious on subsequent playthroughs (but enjoyed the on the first playthrough).

*The very first section when you have the lighter. Just get out of the way Girl! Also to a lesser extent the Care Centre Basement with the Joint Plugs etc.

Zero-Cool · 18-03-2026 02:54PM

Finished it up, 10 hours 30 mins on standard difficulty. Really enjoyed it all the way through, just wish they could find a way to keep in the game for the last 3rd. All modern resi games have this issue unfortunately and no different here but i did enjoy the back end more than 7 & 8. Awful final boss though. Roll on remakes for code Veronica and 0.

Penn · 19-03-2026 09:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307157#Comment_124307157

Jason Schreier on Bluesky:

Resident Evil Requiem is a video game about a woman named Grace who's having a very bad time and a man named Leon who's having a very good time

The Raging Bile Duct · 22-03-2026 02:06AM

Finished it there and it's... grand. Second half of the game killed it for me. Didn't enjoy Leon's sections at all. One sequence in particular felt very RE6. Bought into the hype and it was probably never going to live up to my expectations. Will trade it into Cex on Monday after work.

recyclops · 23-03-2026 10:43PM

After 9 went back and play 2/3 remake. On 1 now and it's confirmed my believe that it is the last one that needs a ramake.rhe gamecube version is near perfect.

The White Wolf · 25-03-2026 03:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124325527#Comment_124325527

The balance was fine to me. Grace was a fantastic gameplay experience going through her own unique experience, whereas Leon was exactly what you would want from him, experienced without really having to grind again for it. It seems like a hollow complaint to me.

I thoroughly enjoyed the game first playthrough but as someone else mentioned, I took a break to play RE3 remake before trying another go of Reqiuem.

Penn · 25-03-2026 03:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124339978#Comment_124339978

Schreier wasn't complaining at all, just making fun of the different experiences of the characters; Grace sh*tting bricks every twenty seconds, heavy panicked breathing all the time. Leon busting out dad jokes and having chainsaw duels.

The White Wolf · 25-03-2026 04:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124340018#Comment_124340018

Try it on the harder levels and it's even worse for Grace.

Le Bruise · 25-03-2026 05:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321720#Comment_124321720

Would love a Code Veronica remake. Really enjoyed it but never got to finish it the first time round as I left half my stuff on the island, assuming I could access it in the Artic. Didn't have enough fire power for the final boss.

Looking forward to trying out 9, as the clips I've seen of Raccoon City (especially the one mirroring the original Resi 2) have me all sorts of nostalgic.

Edit - I also need to buy a PS5 to play it….might be a while!

brady12 · 25-03-2026 11:29PM

I played and finished it the weekend it came out . Prob my fave one . Tempted replay it already .

Resident Evil 9 Requiem

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