Serving both chilling throwbacks and terrifying new beginnings, “Resident Evil Requiem” caters to new and classic franchise fans alike, striking a perfect balance between spinetingling horrors and action-oriented frights.

Featuring Leon S. Kennedy in his first mainline appearance since 2012’s “Resident Evil 6,” the latest entry follows the government agent — and FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft — in the franchise’s most daunting story in years, as the pair investigate a series of brutal murders all tying back to the birthplace of bioterrorism: Raccoon City.

Since the series’ revival with 2017’s “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” and 2019’s “Resident Evil 2” remake, the franchise has continuously shifted between first person horror and third person action romps, yet it’s in “Resident Evil Requiem” that the two identities finally become one.

Alongside this blending of genres, the ninth entry also gives players a newfound sense of freedom that hasn’t been seen since the original “Resident Evil.” 

As Grace, players enter the Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center, a space drowning in its foreboding, menacing atmosphere. 

Not provided many hints on how to escape, players are forced to crawl further into its pitch dark rooms and zombie infested corridors.

 While the franchise has always done a stellar job of including memorable, eerie locations, the care center is without a doubt in the franchise’s upper echelon.

Although the setting is a throw back to a bygone era of survival horror, “Resident Evil Requiem” still features plenty of new bells and whistles that feel fresh and warranted. 

One of the most notable additions is its use of personable zombies. 

No longer are they simply soldiers of the dead, but their previous lives can still be seen through their actions, whether it’s an opera-singing zombie screeching into the night, a bellhop zombie obsessed with keeping an eye on light switches or a burly butcher enemy looking for his next meal, every opponent you’ll come across has their own quirk. 

It’s because of this that players are given a variety of options on how to take out – or run away – from an enemy.

 Even with the game’s interesting new onslaught of zombies, it’s the inclusions of Blisterheads and “The Girl” that really shape “Resident Evil Requiem” into an entirely new beast. 

In a callback to the original game’s “Crimsonheads,” Blisterheads are zombies that — when not properly disposed of — come back to life in a far strong, faster and deadlier form. 

While they’re a bit troublesome when playing as Leon, they’re a force not to be reckoned with when controlling Grace. 

However, “The Girl” is without a doubt the entry’s most formidable, terrifying enemy. 

Slinking through burrows in the walls and hoping to catch you off guard, the creature’s ominous movements — cued by the sound of heavy chains dragging against the ground — conjure up some of the game’s most frightening sequences.

Not only is it easy to die by the jaws of The Girl, but she adapts to your every movement, making sneaking around her more difficult with every encounter.

 If it wasn’t already stressful enough, developer Capcom only intensifies the horrors with Grace, as the character’s limited ammo, shaky aim and fearful cries make the experience all the more dreadful. 

Yet it’s through actress Angela Sant’Albano that players will continue to search for a will to live, as her performance is nothing short of phenomenal, cementing her place in “Resident Evil” history before the game even reaches its halfway point.

 Whereas Grace’s sections of “Requiem” perfectly represent the franchise’s horror roots, Leon’s bloody, gun-toting segments are incredibly fun – even if they never become the series’ definitive action-horror experience. 

Although the moments of free roam exploration are a nice change of pace to previous action-centered Leon entries, it’s loose gameplay loop becomes repetitive after some time, as Raccoon City’s dusty, dreary tone and enemy variety aren’t anywhere near as interesting as the claustrophobic ambience of the care center. 

It also doesn’t help that a majority of the game’s boss battles are found in Leon’s campaign, many of which are either uninspired or copy-and-pasted from previous entries. 

While they’re still fun, it’ll be hard for long-time fans not to view them as reheated leftovers. 

Yet even with these struggles, Leon’s half of the story still manages to provide pops of excitement and adrenaline through some of the franchise’s best action set pieces — particularly two moments involving a motorcycle and a debilitating building.

Despite minor hiccups in the game’s second half, “Requiem” represents an evolution that the franchise has needed — an exciting continuation and finale to the series’ long-running storyline, and a bold, refreshing reinvention into the unknown.

“Resident Evil Requiem” released Feb. 17 and is available on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC and Xbox Series X/S.