Aftermath Hours Leon Kennedy Is Italian American
Feb 27, 2026
Giovanni Colantonio, Polygon editor-at-large who reviewed Requiem, and Joshua Rivera, freelance games columnist, join to unpack Resident Evil: Requiem. They debate its tone shifts between horror and action. They argue about thematic reads like Giovanni’s Hiroshima comparison and whether the series can handle real-world trauma. They riff on remakes, Capcom’s creative choices, and why the franchise still endures.
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Two Games Smashed Together
- Resident Evil Requiem splits into two tonal games: Grace's claustrophobic, first-person survival horror and Leon's action-heavy, third-person showpiece.
- Giovanni and Joshua say the halves thematically fit their characters but sometimes clash when switching, creating a jarring tone shift.
Game As Franchise Maintenance
- Requiem often functions as franchise maintenance, closing continuity gaps rather than delivering surprises.
- Giovanni notes the game has “very little story” but deliberately resolves long-running loose ends from the series' 30-year lore.
Leon Kennedy Was Originally Italian American
- Giovanni dug through old materials and found Leon Kennedy was originally described as Italian American, with mob-adjacent backstory hints.
- He cites a design book and fake magazine interview suggesting witness protection and a changed last name to Kennedy.