Resident Evil Requiem comes full circle with The Last of Us

Resident Evil Requiem is one of the strongest entries in the entire franchise, delivering a story filled with a fantastic mix of wild action and sweat-inducing horror. Like a die-hard Resident Evil damn i had high expectations for this game. I didn't think it would be so emotional though. Resident Evil VillageThe finale was a little heartbreaking, though Requiem dives even deeper into the emotional depth of which the iconic zombie franchise is capable. Resident Evil Requiem feels like a new era for the franchise, and it may have The last of us game to thank.

Back in the day Resident Evil franchise has been well known for its scares and over the top moments. Chris Redfield punching a boulder is one of the most notable and goofiest examples. Also in RequiemLeon can parry rockets if you really nail the mechanic. However, the series has not been known for emotional storytelling. Resident Evil Requiem really showed how future chapters can have all the base Resident Evil tropes and balance them with meaningful storytelling. The last of us series remains one of the best stories in horror gaming, and the first game has Resident Evil 4 to thank. The latter helped inspire The last of usbut it now feels like Naughty Dog's post-apocalyptic story has made an impact Requiem in some important aspects.

Major spoilers ahead too Resident Evil Requiem and The last of us part 2.

Leon Kennedy stands over bodies with an axe

Family

Leon in Resident Evil Requiem raises the bar for future Parry Mechanics in any game

Resident Evil Requiem raises the bar for its own franchise, but Leon's wild parrying ability sets a new standard for gaming in general.

The Last of Us might have been a very different game if Resident Evil 4 had never been made

Back in 2013, ex-Naughty Dog designer Ricky Cambier shared some of the inspirations for The last of us in an interview with MMGN. He said, “We've always wanted to take the character building and the interaction, looking at something as far back as Icoand mix it with the tension and action of Resident Evil 4.” There have been many games inspired by Resident Evil 4 since its launch in 2005. Its influence on The last of us may not be as clear as games like Dead Spacebut Naughty Dog definitely took its excitement to heart when developing its own zombie story.

Rearrange the cases in the correct US release order.

Light (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

The last of us' approach to its main characters is also reminiscent. While Naughty Dog made Joel and Ellie incredibly unique protagonists, it's easy to see how Leon's main mission of escorting Ashley helped inspire that direction The last of us would bring his two characters.

The last of usThe first chapter was already emotionally heavy, but The last of us part 2 dived in even deeper. The last of us part 2The story is controversial, but it feels like some of Naughty Dog's choices were affected Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi. Aside from the more emotional story, two of the most obvious similarities between these games have been the grounded, gritty gameplay and the dual protagonists. Resident Evil is no stranger to dual protagonists, but this is the first time the series has used two main characters in this particular way.

Play as Grace and Leon in Resident Evil Requiem feels incredibly distinct, just like Ellie and Abby did. Of course Ellie and Abby were at least both hardened by their world, so they're much more capable in survival scenarios than Grace is. Both still feel quite different when playing. Resident Evil Requiem takes this approach and makes the difference feel even more drastic. The age difference between Leon and Grace also gives off some serious Ellie and Joel vibes. It might not be much of a father/daughter relationship, but it's clear that the duo have become close by the end of Requiems story. In the post-credits scenes, Leon checks up on Grace at work after she returns to her job as an FBI analyst. The two feel very much like brother and sister in the finale, leaning towards each other The last of usthe theme of creating a chosen family after so much loss.

Both Grace and Ellie have dealt with sudden, tragic losses

Grace and Ellie end up losing their parental figures in horribly violent and unexpected ways. Joel's death in The last of us part 2 still inspires debate. Alyssa Ashcroft's death in Resident Evil Requiem may not be nearly as controversial, but the brutal violence in both deaths is similar. Because of how sudden and heartbreaking Alyssa's death is, it wouldn't be surprising if Requiems development team used Joel's murder as a template to work from.

Trauma in general is a big theme in both Resident Evil Requiem and The last of us part 1 and Part 2. Grace and Leon have their own demons to confront Requiemand Joel and Ellie have been through more than any person should have to. Leon's story i Resident Evil Requiem takes him back to the place that started all his guilt, and it's a wonderful development of the character. The two games do a beautiful job of exploring trauma in unique ways that also feel true to their respective worlds.

Resident Evil Requiem sets a new standard for the future of the series

Now the question for many fans is what next Resident Evil match after Requiem will have in stock. It will be a few years before that Resident Evil 10The release date is getting here, but there have already been plenty of theories. Requiem told a gripping and well-crafted story, but it also left a lot of loose ends that Capcom hopefully plans to tie up in the next main chapter.

Capcom has even confirmed that a Resident Evil Requiem DLC is already underway. A release date hasn't been announced yet, but it will hopefully either answer the questions that linger after Requiem or set the scene for Resident Evil 10. For now, all fans can do until then is speculate about what's next for the players. Requiem proved it Resident Evil has what it takes to land its emotional moments, and the next chapter will hopefully explore that further.