Resident Evil Requiem quickly secured its spot as one of my favorite modern entries in the series upon release. At just 10 hours long, it managed to keep me hooked through every zombie jumpscare and complex puzzle. However, recent news has surfaced where Resident EV 9's director reveals there was a 'phantom Chapter 2' that was ultimately removed during development.

The Lost Content of Resident Evil Requiem

In a recent interview with Denfaminicogamer, director Akifumi Nakanishi explained that the development process involves heavy structural changes. He noted that while he previously discussed a phantom chapter for Resident Evil 7, a similar situation occurred with Requiem.

"I've mentioned in interviews before that there was a phantom 'Chapter 2' for Resident Evil 7 that was cut during development," Nakanishi explained. "It was a scene where you move from the first annex to the main building. But actually, there was also a phantom Chapter 2 for Resident Evil Requiem."

Speculating on the Missing Scenes

While Nakanishi didn't provide specific details about what the cut content entailed, we can speculate on what might have been lost between Grace leaving Rhodes Hill Hospital and Leon's segment in Raccoon City. Potential missed opportunities could have included:

  • Driving around in Leon's shiny new Porsche.
  • A much-anticipated trip to the Arklay Mountains.
  • Additional character development for Grace.

Why Resident Evil 9's director reveals there was a 'phantom Chapter 2'

The reason Resident Evil 9's director reveals there was a 'phantom Chapter 2' boils down to the necessity of refinement. Nakanishi explained that during the finalization of the game's structure, developers must make difficult choices regarding pacing and content.

"In the process of finalising the game's structure, we make a lot of choices, like 'Let's move this scene further in the story,' 'Let's cut this part out completely,' or 'Let's add a different element here,'" Nakanishi said. He emphasized that subtraction is a vital tool for maintaining interest and clarity.

Nakanishi believes that cutting unnecessary elements ensures the game remains accessible to casual gamers. "We don't just suddenly cut things out at the end of development; we often make repeated revisions during the initial, rough draft stage," he added. He noted that sometimes, the overall result is actually better if certain elements are omitted to maintain the intended tempo.

While I won't complain about the length—Requiem is a perfect weekend title—I do think an extra chapter in Raccoon City would have been great. The balance of horror and action felt slightly off during Leon's segment compared to the hospital section. Ultimately, while it is a shame we missed out on more content, the final structure of the game remains a high point for the franchise.