Resident Evil Requiem (Switch 2) Impressions

When I heard the $90 price point for the trifecta of Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, and Resident Evil Requiem on Switch 2, I knew that was an offer I couldn’t refuse, especially since I haven’t played an RE game since Resident Evil 5. After pre-ordering, all three games began to download, so at midnight on release day, I was ready to dive into Capcom’s latest survival horror opus. I’m probably about five or six hours in and absolutely loving it.

A True Haunted House Needs A Scream Queen

Right off the bat, you know you’re in good hands, as the game establishes that one of your two primary characters, FBI Agent Grace Ashcroft, is a total “scaredy-cat” (the developers’ words, not mine). Her phenomenal voice acting combined with incredible sound design really sets the stage. She’s constantly steadying her breathing, lacks a dedicated melee attack beyond pushing over stunned foes, and starts out with lackluster stability when holding a pistol. Playing as her is terrifying, and that terror is greatly increased by the utterly inhuman foes that she has to tackle.

I’m going to endeavor to avoid spoilers for most of the experience, as this game is probably best if you’re going into it absolutely blind, but there’s a section very early on in the game that sees Grace trapped between several rooms in a hallway. Every single aspect of it is meticulously curated to be nightmare-inducing, and while playing this section at night with headphones on, I could feel my heart beating through my chest and my own breaths coming shallow, as well as my hands start to tremble like Grace’s. I can’t recall the last time a survival horror game did that to me, Maybe it was the first time I played Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

While the default is to play in first-person mode (I switch to third-person view at times due to my sometimes-motion sickness with many first-person games), Grace’s gameplay reminds me most of Resident Evil 2, in that you’ll be focused mainly on survival, careful item usage, and managing inventory. You also unlock the ability to craft certain items. Progress is mercifully quick, and the game isn’t extremely difficult thus far, but the atmosphere, the horror elements, and the need for the player to stay on their toes and be ready for anything and everything to happen is clear as day. There aren’t many real puzzles to solve, which will be disappointing for some. Also, the game helps the player out by marking key items on the map, so if you’re out of inventory space, you’ll know where to return. It’s handy.

Old Man Leon Can Still Wield A Chainsaw

So far, I’ve only played two quick sections with Leon, but his gameplay is radically different from Grace’s. He has the more Resident Evil 4 action-gunplay going on, where you’ll be handling many threats at once and switching between a melee axe, a handgun, and whatever you have at hand. The first section with him is more of a tutorial, taking place at night in a city, but the second sees him indoors, fighting off foes who take turns brandishing a chainsaw. As someone who uses a chainsaw regularly, it’s outrageous that the blade is able to stay sharp and the motor running throughout all of this abuse, but I digress. It’s a great callback to Resident Evil 4 (still one of my all-time favorite games), and a ton of fun. I look forward to using Leon again, but as I’m nearing the end of a major chunk of the game, I’m definitely going to miss the slow and methodical Grace gameplay.

Victor Gideon, the primary antagonist, makes a strong impression as well. I look forward to seeing what other horrors he has in store as I delve into the second half of this incredible game. I commend Capcom for pulling off the seemingly impossible feat of delivering both types of Resident Evil experiences - the methodical horror labyrinth and the zombie-slaying power trip - in the same game without compromising either vision.

The First Major Third-Party Win for the Switch 2

As for performance on Switch 2, the game runs excellently, with a 60fps target in docked mode that’s inconsistent, but not jarringly so. It never dips below 30, at least. I only played handheld once to test it out, but it apparently dips down to 50s-40s and occasional 30s during intense scenes. 

I couldn’t tell you what the framerate is in real-time, because I am too busy fighting for my life to remember to pay attention to framerates and the like, let alone take screenshots. The game is so immersive that I lose all sense of reality. 

Resident Evil 9 utilizes DLSS upscaling throughout, which allows for the graphics to be as crisp as they are. However, depending on the lighting, some imperfections in hair, a little noise, and dithering can be seen. It’s certainly not a deal-breaker, and the fact that this game can run as well as it does on Switch 2 greatly helps with the immersion. I never felt like the hardware was holding back the experience.

I had previously said that Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade raised the bar for visuals on the system, but as that game could only manage a consistent 30fps and this one features much more detailed textures, more complex models, and blood splatters right in your face all the time, I think that torch may have just been passed. 

It’s a great feeling returning to the Resident Evil franchise after so many years away. I can’t wait to see what else this game has to offer. It’s certainly made the last week, which I’ve spent recovering from a strained tendon, much more enjoyable for me, even if the game can be hard to play at times without sweating.

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About the Author - Joseph Choi

Filipino-American gamer, professional shepherd and farmer, author, and filmmaker/videographer living in Central California. First consoles were the Game Boy and Sega Genesis, and I've been gaming since then, with a focus on Nintendo and Sony consoles.