[STEAM] Resident Evil’s perspective identity crisis means RE9 gets to combine the best of both experiences

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RE2 until many, many years later (as a kid, the scene with the zombies crashing through the glass at Kendo's Gun Shop made me turn off the console and subsequently have nightmares for weeks). But I've since tackled just about everything else in the franchise since then, and I'm always excited to play and see what's next. I consider it in my "big three" of franchises I've been a fan of since childhood, along with Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy.

And so I've seen just about every twist and turn the series has gone through. From tank controls and fixed camera angles, to Resident Evil 4's revolution of the third-person shooter, to Resident Evil VII and Village bringing everything into a claustrophobic first-person perspective.

Previews of Resident Evil Requiem, or RE9, hit the internet this morning (I sadly did not attend Summer Game Fest). Those who saw a demo of the game confirm how you'll be able to freely switch between first and third-person. And thank goodness.

Resident Evil has gotten so good at both perspectives, with RE7 and Village creating tension in first-person, while the remakes of 2, 3, and 4 are a master-class when it comes to third-person action horror. And now, we get the best of both.

Previews from outlets like

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confirm attendees were shown gameplay of new protagonist Grace Ashcroft wielding nothing but a lighter and her wits as she navigates a dark, horrifying hotel as a grotesque creature stalks her. Perfect. But that's not all.

Being able to switch to third person is an excellent option for those who maybe don't love first-person perspective or get nauseous from it. But I don't think this is just an accessibility feature. I think it's a necessity for when the game ramps up the action with an assumed second protagonist that gamers have known and loved for nearly 30 years.

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It's only a matter of time before Capcom reveals Leon S. Kennedy is the second character in RE9. Leaks point to that, the inclusion of a return to Raccoon City hint at it, and his action hero gameplay style not seen since Resident Evil 6 will be best suited for the third-person perspective. And of course, if this is truly going to be an end of the "OG" storyline and jumping-off point for something new, Leon needs to come back.

Leon is Resident Evil's most famous character, along with Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, and Claire Redfield. Leon hasn't been seen in the games since 2012's RE6, so it's high time for him to make a return as a grizzled, veteran secret agent badass to bring everything to an explosive finale.

Resident Evil has succeeded as both a first-person survival horror game and a third-person action horror game, and I'm expecting this title to be a little of both. Grace is an FBI agent but likely inexperienced when it comes to combat as she's described as an analyst in the reveal trailer, so she will take center stage in the cramped hallways and P.T.-like atmosphere of the hotel.

And then, eventually, our boy Leon will come in, guns blazing, roundhouse kicks flying, and killing whatever needs to be killed. And so in this case, I think Resident Evil's identity crisis is a boon to the series and an excellent thing for Requiem. I believe we will get the best of both of the franchise's playstyles in this game.

So far, Capcom is just showing Grace's gameplay in a small teaser. RE9 will be playable at gamescom later this summer, so players will be able to try it themselves in Cologne, Germany. The only question for me is if the publisher will use that event to confirm Leon's return. We all know it's coming.

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Resident Evil Requiem launches on Feb. 27, 2026.

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