Resident Evil Requiem Review

Gameplay: VECTOR AI Changes Everything

Resident Evil Requiem's headline innovation is its adaptive enemy AI, and it delivers on the promise. Standard Molded enemies in earlier encounters behave predictably — patrol routes, detection cones, hearing radii function as expected for survival horror. Within two or three room visits, however, the AI begins demonstrating its learning: the locker you hid behind now gets investigated proactively, the desk you used as a barricade is circled rather than approached directly. The system isn't omniscient — it models based on your previous behavior in each specific location — but the effect is a palpable sense that the enemies are hunting you specifically.

Combat remains the satisfying survival horror loop Capcom has refined across the RE Engine era: limited ammunition forces headshots and stagger management over spray-and-pray, environmental kills (explosive barrels, ceiling fans, falling shelves) serve as ammunition conservation tools, and knife-parry mechanics from RE4 Remake return with expanded enemy type support. The new Quarantine City setting adds navigational complexity — 15 districts with interconnected shortcuts that gradually reveal as you acquire keycards and bypass mechanisms.

Atmosphere and Technical Achievement

The RE Engine's lighting has never been more impressive. Candle and emergency lighting in the Cathedral district create genuinely oppressive darkness, and the volumetric fog that carries enemy detection cues is both a gameplay mechanic and atmospheric marvel. The quarantined city aesthetic — abandoned apartments, overturned vehicles, bioweapon containment signage everywhere — creates a coherent horror diorama that rewards exploration with environmental storytelling.

Campaign Length Considerations

At 10–14 hours for a focused playthrough, Requiem is shorter than RE2 Remake (12–16 hours) and RE4 Remake (15–20 hours). This is the primary criticism in reviews, and it's valid — the campaign ends at a narrative moment that feels like it has more room to expand. Mercenaries Mode adds substantial replayability for players chasing leaderboard positions, and a New Game+ unlocks after completion with harder difficulty and additional enemy behaviors.

Verdict

Resident Evil Requiem is essential survival horror with a genuinely innovative AI system that makes every encounter feel consequential. The shorter campaign keeps it from franchise-best status, but it's unmissable for Resident Evil fans and survival horror enthusiasts.

Pros & Cons