Good news for survival horror purists: Resident Evil Requiem is bringing back the classic ink ribbon save system when it launches on February 27. But before you panic—it’s completely optional and only kicks in if you choose the hardest difficulty setting.
What the Resident Evil Showcase Revealed About Requiem
Capcom’s recent Resident Evil Showcase gave fans their deepest look yet at Resident Evil Requiem, confirming details about gameplay, characters, and some pretty cool zombie behavior that hardcore fans will appreciate.
Two Playable Characters, Two Completely Different Experiences
Resident Evil Requiem features two protagonists with wildly different playstyles:
Grace Ashcroft – The classic survival-horror experience
- Limited ammo forces you to think strategically about every encounter
- Armed with a powerful large-caliber revolver called “Requiem”
- Can harvest blood from dead zombies to craft weapons (yes, including a syringe that makes zombies explode)
- Her sections will challenge you to decide: fight or flight?
Leon S. Kennedy – The action-horror veteran
- Shoots, stomps, and hacks his way through hordes with brutal efficiency
- Uses a hatchet and can even grab weapons from enemies, including a chainsaw
- His gameplay mirrors the action-packed style of Resident Evil 4
Zombies That Remember Their Former Lives
One of the coolest reveals? Zombies in Resident Evil Requiem retain echoes of their past lives:
- A custodian zombie still tries to clean
- A chef zombie mindlessly chops at meat
- A hotel guest zombie pushes elevator buttons over and over
You’ll be able to study these routines to either avoid zombies entirely or ambush them when they’re distracted. It’s a smart touch that adds tactical depth to exploration.
How the Ink Ribbon Save System Works in Resident Evil Requiem
Here’s the breakdown of Resident Evil Requiem’s three difficulty modes:
Story Mode – Focus on narrative and puzzles without the stress Standard (Modern) – The “normal” difficulty comparable to recent RE games with unlimited saves Standard (Classic) – The hardcore option where Grace’s sections become significantly tougher and saves are limited by ink ribbons you find
The ink ribbon system is a nostalgic callback to the original Resident Evil games. In Classic mode, you can only save at typewriters when you have an ink ribbon in your inventory. No ribbons? No saves. It’s nerve-wracking in the best way, but again—it’s only if you deliberately choose that difficulty.
Other Announcements From the Showcase
Beyond gameplay, Capcom announced some interesting tie-ins:
- Porsche collaboration – Leon drives a Porsche in-game
- Limited edition Hamilton watches – 2,000 units each for Grace and Leon’s in-game watches
- 30th anniversary concerts in Japan, Europe, and North America
- 1/6 scale figures launching this fall
- Amiibo figures on the way
- Resident Evil Requiem Switch 2 Pro Controller confirmed
- GeForce Now support at launch
The Elpis Mystery Teased
The showcase ended with a cryptic tease about something called “Elpis,” which ties into Leon’s story and the death of Grace’s mother, Alyssa Ashcroft. We’ll have to wait until February 27 to learn more.
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