Requiem's Subtitle is All About Leon Kennedy

Resident Evil Requiem is a special entry in the beloved zombie action series. The Resident Evil games were what first got me into playing horror in the first place, and Resident Evil Requiem bringing back Leon Kennedy was something I’ve been looking forward to ever since Capcom revealed he would be a major part of the story. I was excited anyway, but knowing Leon would be coming back was simply icing on the cake. The dynamic between him and Grace is a great balance, and seeing their trauma come to the surface throughout the story made Requiem one of the most emotionally heavy Resident Evil games yet.

When the flashiness of Leon’s roundhouse kicks and chainsaw dismemberment fades away, Resident Evil Requiem really does right by him as a character. It’s the most layered version of Leon Kennedy that we’ve seen in the series, and it makes the game’s “Requiem” subtitle make even more sense after beating the game. Leon’s past comes back to haunt him in a major way, but it also gives him the opportunity to find the peace that he’s been seeking for so long.

Major spoilers ahead for Resident Evil Requiem, Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil 6.

Leon Kennedy Has to Face His Trauma Head-On in Resident Evil Requiem

Leon had the worst first day on the job ever in Resident Evil 2. It’s hard to imagine a scenario that outdoes his RCPD debut. Ever since then, he has constantly been tortured by the need to save others. The events of Resident Evil 2 have left him suffering heavily from PTSD, and the guilt has followed him throughout the franchise. Resident Evil Requiem references past games in many ways, and almost all of them come back to Leon and his struggle to get past the trauma of his first day as a RCPD rookie.

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The Definition of “Requiem”

An act or token of remembrance

It’s a way to remember and honor the dead, and this is something Leon has continued to do through his actions. In Resident Evil 4, his drive to save Ashley ate away at him. No matter how hard he tried, though, there were still devastating casualties that he was unable to stop. Luis’ death in Resident Evil 4 only adds to Leon’s guilt. Resident Evil 6 piles it on even more. Leon has to kill President Adam Benford after he becomes infected, and it makes his need to save others that much more intense. By the time Resident Evil Requiem comes around, Leon is now in a race against the clock to save not only himself, but Sherry Birkin and any other Raccoon City survivor potentially suffering from Raccoon City Syndrome.

Leon’s Return to Raccoon City is More Than Just Simple Fan Service

Leon returning to Raccoon City after nearly 30 years is something a lot of longtime fans were looking forward to. I was, too, but I was also concerned that it was just Capcom leaning into fan service instead of making it a meaningful part of the story. Thankfully, I was wrong. Raccoon City isn’t just a trip down memory lane for fans, it’s forcing Leon into a situation that makes him confront all of his trauma at once. Leon opening the doors of the RCPD once more gave me chills, and it’s the first step in him fighting (literally) his guilt.

Raccoon City Syndrome Has a Deeper Meaning

Yes, Raccoon City Syndrome is a latent T-Virus strain that is killing Leon and Sherry, but it’s a profound metaphor, too. It’s a physical manifestation of Leon’s trauma from the Raccoon City outbreak. His trauma and guilt are literally eating him alive now, adding an even deeper layer to his search to cure it. Resident Evil Requiem shows Leon at his most desperate, and Raccoon City Syndrome is a great way to really drive home just how much his guilt and inner pain are beginning to burden him.

Leon Comes Face-to-Face With Some of Raccoon City’s Most Notable Characters

In Raccoon City, Leon is forced into a reunion he probably hoped to never have. Mr. X returns, and this Resident Evil Requiem boss fight brings everything back full circle for Leon. This time, it seems like Leon kills him for good, though. That’s the first fight that has Leon confronting his past and destroying it. The next is the showdown with HUNK – or someone who definitely appears to be HUNK. If Leon and HUNK had fought in Resident Evil 2, there’s no way that rookie Leon would have won. A lot of time has passed since then, though, and this fight shows just how far Leon has come since his first day on the job. Defeating the HUNK-like character is a reassurance that he’s grown and has become a far stronger and more capable person than he was back then. Leon is so overcome by the guilt of what he couldn’t do then that he’s become blinded to what he can do now.

Grace is the Key to Leon Forgiving Himself

The word “grace” basically boils down to someone receiving something good that maybe isn’t necessarily earned. Leon has definitely earned it, though, even he himself doesn’t think so. Grace’s name holds its own deeper meaning that’s made pretty obvious by the time Resident Evil Requiem‘s ending comes around.

When she and Leon are down in the ARK with Zeno, Grace knows the password to unlock Elpis. The password is “hope,” and Zeno is completely unaware that Elpis is actually a universal cure for bioengineered viruses. She uses a shot to stop the spread of Leon’s Raccoon City Syndrome, but that’s not all she’s curing. In a way, it’s another way to show Leon’s trauma and guilt literally fading away. At first, Grace Ashcroft seemed like she would constantly need saving from Leon, but it turns out that she was his savior all along. The ending cutscenes made it clear that Leon’s journey definitely isn’t over, but he can at least move on with a newfound sense of confidence and self-forgiveness. He’s more capable than ever, and it will be fascinating to see how this influences his character in future Resident Evil games.