The stylish pro’s gameplay pulls from the best of Resident Evil 4 remake with some added flourishes like a brutal hatchet.
Capcom recently provided a hands-on preview of Resident Evil Requiem. The new playable sections, set in Rhodes Hill hospital, feature the iconic character Leon S. Kennedy. This preview focused on Leon’s updated combat capabilities, comparing them to his previous appearances in titles like Resident Evil 2 (2019) and Resident Evil 4 (2023).
Grace Ashcroft vs. Leon S. Kennedy
To fully grasp Leon’s role in Requiem, it’s essential to consider his counterpart, Grace Ashcroft. Capcom emphasizes that these two protagonists deliver distinct gameplay experiences. Grace’s segments prioritize evasion, puzzle-solving, and careful resource management. While she can defend herself with basic melee weapons and firearms, she is relatively new to confronting bio-engineered threats. In contrast, Leon’s sections are centered on the intense combat and dynamic crowd control that fans appreciated in Resident Evil 4. This design aims to strike a balance between the horror elements of RE2 and the action-packed intensity of RE4.
Director Kōshi Nakanishi explained the team’s approach to Leon’s aging: “The team gave [Leon aging] a lot of thought. He’s been fighting biohazards since RE2 where he got his sudden start there. Now it’s been close to 30 years of Leon’s life that he’s been doing that. He’s seen a lot of sacrifice, a lot of tragedy. He couldn’t save everyone in RE2 or RE4. He’s seen a lot. He’s been through a lot. So that’s a weight that weighs down on him. So you’ll see that Leon that that weight is something that the development team wanted to express with Leon’s appearance and personality in Requiem. So you’ll notice he does carry that weight, and he’s maybe a little bit more pessimistic.”
Leon’s Signature Sass
In Requiem, Leon S. Kennedy appears older with a more gravelly voice, yet retains his characteristic charm. When facing an infected, chainsaw-wielding doctor, he coolly remarks, “I want to get a second opinion.”
Weapons to Fight Evil
Leon’s gameplay segments include a variety of firearms, such as his reliable Alligator Snapper pistol and the MSBG 500 pump-action shotgun. A pistol attachment was observed that effectively reduces muzzle climb, enhancing aiming precision. Leon also seems to have exclusive access to hand grenades, which are highly effective for managing groups of enemies.
Weapon Stats
Similar to Resident Evil 4, weapons in Requiem display familiar statistics to evaluate their combat effectiveness. These stats encompass Power, Stability, Precision, Rate of Fire, Reload Speed, and Ammo Capacity. Capcom indicated that the weapon upgrade system for Leon’s arsenal would be functionally similar to the RE4 remake, with further details to be revealed later.
Requiem Revolver
A notable addition to the game’s weaponry is the new “Requiem” revolver. This weapon provides powerful, hand cannon-like piercing capabilities, though it has a smaller ammo capacity. Its robust ballistics can allow for one-shot eliminations of larger infected enemies with precise headshots. The Division of Security Operations (DSO) issues this weapon as standard equipment.
Director Kōshi Nakanishi elaborated on the title’s meaning: “The title “Requiem” references a remembrance of not only the [Raccoon City outbreak] incident itself, but all the effects and the people who were affected by it…so the Requiem gun also, in a way, lays the enemies to peace. In a way, it’s also a requiem for them as well.”
Inventory Management
The distinct playstyles of Leon and Grace also influence their inventory management. Leon’s storage features a 7×10 grid case, reminiscent of the Resident Evil 4 attaché case, allowing players to organize, rotate, or auto-sort their equipment. Grace, however, starts with a traditional eight-slot inventory, similar to RE2, necessitating more frequent visits to item storage boxes and the acquisition of special packs to increase capacity.
Hatchet Melee Weapon
Leon’s melee arsenal has been upgraded from a combat knife to a combat hatchet. Activating R1 deploys this new melee weapon, which functions similarly to his knife in the RE4 remake, delivering substantial melee damage and enabling precise parries with L1. The hatchet’s damage and staggering effect appear considerably more potent than his previous knife. It features a sharpness meter that, fortunately, does not result in breakage when depleted. However, a blunt hatchet prevents parrying; players can sharpen it using L1 + Square. Leon can initiate swings with R2, or execute a more powerful hatchet attack by holding L1 and then pressing R2. This stronger attack involves a brief windup before unleashing a powerful spin to stagger enemies. Beyond combat, the hatchet can be used to pry open sealed cabinets and doors that are otherwise inaccessible when playing as Grace.
Director Kōshi Nakanishi stated, “Leon’s hatchet is another way that the team wanted to show that Leon now has a lot more experience [fighting bio-weapons] than he did in previous games…so that was why they ended up changing the knife to a hatchet.”
Stealth Takedowns
The hatchet is effective for brutal combat finishers and can also be utilized for stealth takedowns (by pressing R3 to crouch), mirroring Leon’s covert abilities in the RE4 remake.
Item Crafting
While Grace features a new crafting system involving blood collection from enemies and the environment, Leon’s crafting appears more conventional. He can gather scrap, gunpowder, and other resources to produce new items and ammunition, consistent with the RE2 and RE4 remakes. A notable craftable item is the Stacked Hand Grenade, which combines two grenades for an amplified explosion.
Chainsaws Aplenty
Chainsaw-wielding adversaries have been a recurring challenge for Leon since Resident Evil 4’s Dr. Salvador, and Requiem maintains this tradition with chainsaw-equipped doctors. During the demo, Leon was confronted by a doctor revving a chainsaw. A precisely timed L1 press allows Leon to parry the chainsaw’s blades, and defeating the enemy enables him to acquire the weapon. Wielding the chainsaw as Leon, and using it to cut through infected with wide swings and lethal thrusts, provides a satisfying experience. However, caution is advised around dropped chainsaws still spinning on the ground, as they can cause damage.
Show of Strength
Leon’s formidable power was evident when facing enemies that Grace had previously struggled against. A corpse transforming into the swift and lethal Blister Head enemy, which had defeated Grace despite numerous magazine empties, was dispatched by Leon with a few shotgun blasts to its vulnerable area followed by a hatchet finisher. Additionally, Leon confronted “Chunk,” a large, grotesque monster protected by layers of flesh. While Grace’s optimal strategy was evasion, Leon was able to stun it with repeated shotgun blasts and then execute powerful, prompted hatchet attacks. This combat rhythm—blasting enemies, quickly turning to reposition, and then delivering strong, impactful melee attacks—is reminiscent of the most engaging battles from Resident Evil 4.
Resident Evil Requiem is scheduled to launch on PS5 February 27.
