I played Resident Evil 9, and they heard me scream in the booth next door

The demo of Resident Evil 9 is terrifying, featuring new lighting effects, a mechanic twist, and dual modes, sparking intrigue and excitement.

: Only a few had the privilege of experiencing the hands-on demo of Resident Evil 9, where protagonist Grace Ashcroft is hunted by a beast in a grueling setting. The game features familiar elements from series history, enhanced with a mysterious new enemy mechanic and impressive lighting improvements. A noteworthy feature is the option to switch between first and third person views, providing unique gameplay perspectives. The game is set to release on February 27, 2026, sparking great anticipation among fans and new players alike.

The latest entry in Capcom's iconic Resident Evil series, Resident Evil 9, also titled 'Requiem', astounds with a thrilling hands-on demo described by Alex Donaldson. Invited attendees at the Summer Games Fest got an exclusive glimpse not only through a pre-recorded gameplay showcase that stirred excitement but also by experiencing a rare hands-on demo behind closed doors. The demo emphasizes the visceral terror the title aims to deliver, validated by Donaldson's own startled outburst during play, humorously confirmed by colleague testimonials.

Protagonist Grace Ashcroft is introduced to players, who find themselves ensnared in a tense, claustrophobic struggle against a monstrous creature. Similar to past Resident Evil narratives, the gameplay involves puzzle-solving and stealth, drawing clear parallels to the atmospheric dread and mechanics of Resident Evil 7's harrowing Baker house. This similarity, however, branches into new territory with the introduction of a unique mechanic specific to the enemy, the nature of which remains undisclosed by Capcom's request. This new element engenders both fear and a slight advantage, igniting curiosity and speculation regarding its implementation.

Capcom pushed the boundaries of what the RE Engine can achieve visually, particularly through light aesthetics in Resident Evil 9. The setting—the Rhodes Hill Civic Care Center—oscillates between stark fluorescent glare and oppressive darkness, magnifying the terror experienced in the game. A notable sequence involves Grace maneuvering a hospital cart to access a toolbox, inadvertently creating noise and invoking an unexpected confrontation, brilliantly showcasing the game's capacity for dynamic horror.

A groundbreaking feature in Resident Evil 9 is its dual-mode gameplay option, allowing seamless transition between first and third person views. This provides players with diverse interaction experiences, aligning tense survival horror with more action-orientated sequences, contingent upon the player's chosen perspective. Dedicated players will appreciate both the return to familiar first-person anxiety and splitting into a possibly less directly frightening third-person optional viewpoint, as indicated by the developers' remarks on player preference influencing fear perception.

Demonstrating high ambition for Resident Evil's 30-year celebration, the potential for multiple narrative threads involving different protagonists or gameplay modes is hinted. An imagined duo of Grace's vulnerable experiences and a contrasting third-person character, possibly a STAR member, could highlight the series' evolution and cater to varying tastes. This intricately ties into Capcom's strategy for engaging storytelling, generating both nostalgia and new intrigue for veteran followers and newcomers, ensuring elevated expectations up until its awaited release on February 27, 2026.

Sources: Eurogamer, Capcom

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