Throughout the history of Resident Evil, we’ve seen entries where different characters would have their own routes, their actions sometimes intersecting. Resident Evil 2 and 6 are perhaps the best examples, but in the sushi analogy that is Resident Evil Requiem, any action that Grace takes can have a direct impact on Leon.
In a new interview with PlayStation Blog, director Koshi Nakanishi spoke about the sanatorium that both characters fight through, and how “their stories branch out to different spots later on.” So far, so typical for the series, right? However, if either character slays enemies in the same location, they’ll remain dead for the other.
“If you switch from Grace to Leon in the same location, any enemies Grace took down stay dead for Leon, and the same goes for items on the ground,” says Nakanishi. “However, it’s tough for Grace – who’s always short on ammo – to wipe out all the enemies. Using Leon to take down enemies that Grace fled from is one of this game’s highlights.”
Granted, it doesn’t sound like both characters will always be in the same location. Leon allegedly has larger levels, which he navigates to with his own transport, while Grace’s sections are more claustrophobic, harkening back to the more traditional survival horror formula. That doesn’t mean the sanatorium is the only location where this can happen.
“The more you play, the more you discover how actions in one part affect the other, so it creates a different kind of replay value compared to previous games in the series,” he said, agreeing with interviewer Sachie Kobari that it’s “fun to strategize and maximize efficiency during subsequent playthroughs” with this aspect in mind.
Of course, some items are exclusive to Grace and Leon, including the upgrade materials. “Antique coin upgrades in the sanatorium are exclusive to Grace, so Leon can’t pick any up. There are still traditional upgrades available for Leon, like weapon enhancements and modifications.” Nakanishi also notes that the demo that the press recently went hands-on with “emphasized Leon’s action-packed gameplay, but as the game progresses, even he will face uphill battles. Properly upgrading Leon will become crucial, too.”
Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 for $69.99. It also offers PS5 Pro support on day one, from 4K/60 FPS with full ray tracing enabled to 90-120 FPS without RT for those with compatible monitors.
