Resident Evil 9 Requiem: Difficulty modes explained, Modern vs Classic
Which difficulty mode you should pick when playing Resident Evil: Requiem.
If you’re just starting a brand new playthrough of Resident Evil: Requiem, then you might be a bit curious about which difficulty mode you should select.
If you’re coming hot off the likes of Resident Evil 4 Remake, then you won’t recognise these difficulty mode names, and there are, in fact, two different versions of the Standard difficulty mode. In this guide, we’re breaking down what you should expect from each mode and which you should choose to play in Resident Evil 9: Requiem.
Casual difficulty explained – RE9 Requiem
If you’re not confident about playing a third-person shooter, then Casual mode is for you. This mode gives players a powerful auto-aim tool to help with shooting and drastically reduces the challenge that enemies will pose. That means reduced health for almost all enemies, and they’ll inflict less damage on you. Puzzles and item locations remain the same as the two Standard modes.
You won’t have to worry about Ink Ribbons, and autosaves are frequent. This is the easiest way to play through Resident Evil: Requiem.
Standard (Modern) difficulty explained – RE9 Requiem
Standard (Modern) difficulty is what players fresh from the likes of Resident Evil 4 Remake will be expecting. In this difficulty, enemies will pose a reasonable threat, but both Grace and Leon are capable of taking down pretty much every foe they encounter.
Modern difficulty means that Ink Ribbons won’t be a concern, and autosaves are still plentiful. If you don’t want to risk losing progress when you run out of health, then the Standard (Modern) difficulty is for you.
Standard (Classic) difficulty explained – RE9 Requiem
Standard (Classic) is basically the same as the Standard (Modern) difficulty, at least in terms of puzzles, item and enemy placements, and the amount of damage you deal and receive.
The big change here is the inclusion of Ink Ribbons and Ink Ribbon Tins. While playing as Grace, you’ll need to spend an Ink Ribbon item to save at a typewriter. Ink Ribbon Tins are also available, which you can craft into Ink Ribbons using Infected Blood. Autosaves are also scarce in this mode, meaning you will need to spend Ink Ribbons to ensure you don’t lose too much progress.
The lack of autosaves can make each time Grace leaves a safe room feel very tense, though the biggest difficulty change for experienced players will be managing Grace’s limited inventory while also juggling Ink Ribbons and Ink Ribbon Tins. If you’re an experienced Resident Evil player looking for a tense experience on your first run, the Standard (Classic) difficulty is for you.
Insanity difficulty explained – RE9 Requiem
Insanity difficulty is a post-game challenge that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In this difficulty many enemies will be able to take more than half of Leon’s health in a single attack, enemy spawns have been increased, their health has been increased, and some items have changed location, while a few new items have been added for variety.
Grace’s sections are tough, but Leon’s might be even tougher, with certain enemies only feeling beatable if you’re already really good at parrying with the hatchet. Insanity mode is certainly made expecting players will be using a few of the Special Content shop bonuses.
This isn’t for the faint of heart, and should only be undertaken by players who already understand the game and want a few new surprises along the way.
