Enter Alyssa, exit Leon?
Resident Evil 9, also known as Requiem, got a surprisingly new dark and noir-esque cinematic trailer featuring the mother-daughter duo of Alyssa and Grace Ashcroft. The gritty flashback sequences focus on Alyssa (RE: Outbreak) as she navigates through the gloomy corridors of the Wrenwood Hotel with young Grace.
The four-minute-long trailer eventually transitions to gameplay, as players take control of Grace and follow her mom’s footsteps. While this new Resident Evil 9 trailer literally and figuratively puts the spotlight on Alyssa, it ends abruptly, with Grace screaming to what could likely be her mother’s untimely death.
New Resident Evil 9 trailer is its most intense yet
Moody environments and stunning character models aside, what’s inherently intense about this new Resident Evil 9 trailer is the dynamic between Grace and Alyssa. The opening sequence shows a young, blatantly workaholic Grace anxiously typing on her laptop at night as her equally workaholic mother, Alyssa, enters.
Without even lifting her gaze from her laptop, Grace puts up her hand as Alyssa steps up from the other side of the room to reassure her daughter; a comforting sight against an eerie background. It also suggests how close-knit their bond is and provides an idea of its brutal repercussions on Grace’s mental health after Alyssa’s impending death.
Three minutes in, we see Alyssa holding Grace’s hands once again, trying to ground her as the latter has a panic attack. It’s a surprisingly intimate moment for a series known for its campy horror. If anything, Requiem's direction feels more in line with a Naughty Dog or a Remedy Entertainment title.
Capcom believes Resident Evil 9 will usher in a “new era of survival horror.” Koshi Nakanishi is directing, who previously worked on Resident Evil 7, arguably the scariest entry in the franchise to date.
In a recent Q/A with PlayStation, producer Masato Kumazawa described the tone of Resident Evil 9 as “addictive fear,” which emphasizes horror and tension over action.
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Leon Kennedy skips yet another Resident Evil 9 trailer
Some players may be disappointed to learn that everyone’s favourite swashbuckling zombie-slayer, Leon Kennedy, is noticeably absent in the new Resident Evil 9 trailer. However, rumors suggest Leon is one of the playable protagonists in this latest entry.
Resident Evil Requiem does feature an explorable, dilapidated Racoon City, a place no one knows better than Mr. Kennedy. While all signs point towards his return, game director Nakanishi suggests otherwise. According to him, “No one wants to see Leon scared.”
Nakanishi’s statement doesn’t outright confirm that Leon isn’t in Resident Evil 9. Capcom may just be holding its cards a little too close to its chest. Thankfully, fans won’t have to wait much longer to get their hands on this latest survival horror experience.
Resident Evil Requiem launches on Feb. 27 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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