When you first heard the announcement of Resident Evil Requiem, were the hairs on your arm suddenly standing up on end a sign of excitement, fear… or a little bit of both? Either way, there’s no denying that a new entry to this classic survival horror series always gets the blood pumping. Producer Masato Kumazawa got us a little more under the flesh of what we can expect when we head back to the broken and bleeding shell of Raccoon City…
PlayStation Blog: What does “Requiem” infer about the game’s story?
Masato Kumazawa: There are many layers to the title: a requiem for the protagonist, – Grace Ashcroft, – grappling with the loss of her mother eight years ago, and a requiem for all of the people who were caught up in the Raccoon City incident, to name but just a few examples. But once you complete the game, I believe you’ll find even more levels of meaning for the subtitle.
“When creating a story set in the ruins of Raccoon City, we felt it was fitting to have a character with a personal connection to the city itself.”
What made you want to bring back the Ashcroft family from the Resident Evil Outbreak series, and how does Grace’s inexperience factor into the player’s journey?
When creating a story set in the ruins of Raccoon City, we felt it was fitting to have a character with a personal connection to the city itself. In this title, which aims to focus on horror, we introduce Grace as a new, relatable protagonist, who is unlike previous protagonists Leon or Chris.
By making Grace someone who reflects the player’s own vulnerability, we believe players will enjoy a gameplay experience filled with tension and immersion. When walking alone down a dark hallway, her breathing becomes erratic; when an enemy suddenly appears, she jumps in fright. Grace is a character with a low tolerance for fear, but she grows throughout the story and eventually begins to confront various horrors with courage.
By the time players finish the game, we’re confident everyone will have come to love her!