Audiences finally got a good look at the nextResident Evilgame,Resident Evil Requiem, during this year’s Summer Games Fest. Sadly, the reveal trailer consists solely of cinematics, not offering much insight intoResident Evil Requiem’s gameplay or broader structural elements, but it at least shines a light on its narrative.Requiemwill follow FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from 2004’sResident Evil Outbreak, as she investigates a series of mysterious deaths in the hotel where her mother died eight years prior.
This positionsResident Evil Requiemas a significant step forward for the franchise, introducing a new hero and an ostensibly new conflict, removed from the plots ofResident Evil 7andResident Evil Village. But players can be sure to encounter at least one familiar concept: Raccoon City. The infamous ground zero will be the domain of this next game, although notable leaker Dusk Golem remains steadfast in their claims that Raccoon City won’t be the main setting ofRequiem, nor will Grace be the main character. These points seem a bit dubious in light ofRequiem’s reveal trailer, which also contradicts some of Dusk Golem’s previous leaks. But regardless, Raccoon City will ostensibly be featured in at least part ofResident Evil Requiem, which is a big deal.
Resident Evil Requiem Will Be Take Players Back To Raccoon City for the First Time in Over Two Decades
The Last Mainline Resident Evil Game To Take Place in Raccoon City Was Resident Evil Zero
Despite being such an important location for the franchise, Raccoon City hasn’t actually gotten much representation in recent years. Sure, it was featured in 2019’sResident Evil 2and 2020’sResident Evil 3, but these are remakes, not wholly new games in the series. Similarly, while 2009’sThe Darkside Chronicleshas a chapterset in Raccoon City, which technically makes it the last time the metropolis was the setting of anREgame, it is a rail-shooter spin-off, not a mainline entry. Moreover,The Darkside Chronicleschapter in question is actually a retelling ofResident Evil 2’s story, making its Raccoon City setting even less impactful.
Thus, the last time thatResident Evilactually visited Raccoon City in a non-spin-off, non-remake game wasResident Evil Zero, which focuses heavily on the Arklay Mountains just beyond the city’s borders. ButResident Evil Zeroreleased in 2002, long before the technological and game design advancements of today, making it notably dated despite its graceful aging in certain respects. WithResident Evil Requiem, Capcom could reinvigorate its most famous locale.
Why Resident Evil Requiem’s Raccoon City Setting Matters
One of the best aspects of theResident Evilfranchise is the diversity of its chosen settings. The series has taken players all over the world, pitting them against zombies in Africa, Spain, Louisiana, and even international waters. But the long-running evolution of the series adds an interesting dimension to these myriad settings, as they play a different role depending on the era of the series. For instance, the Raccoon City Police Department of theoriginalResident Evil 2feels remarkably different to explore than the Baker residence ofResident Evil 7, mostly as a result of changing tech and game design trends.
With luck, these modernizations will makeResident Evil Requiem’s rendition of Raccoon City a breath of fresh air. It’s not clear how much of Raccoon City will be explorable, but if there’s any credence to the rumors aboutResident Evil 9being open-world, then it’s possible that the relationship between players and this iconic setting will be unlike anything the franchise has seen before.
WHERE TO PLAY
Requiem for the dead. Nightmare for the living.
Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth title in the mainline Resident Evil series.
Prepare to escape death in a heart-stopping experience that will chill you to your core.
Technological advancements combined with the development team’s depth of experience combine in a story with rich characters and gameplay that’s more immersive than ever before.
