Resident Evil's Leon: Immortal Zombie Slayer or Just Really Good at Hydrating at 70?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi has boldly declared that franchise icon Leon S. Kennedy could still be a compelling character even at 70, dismissing the notion that long-running series must constantly age or replace their iconic heroes and highlighting Leon's enduring appeal amidst Requiem's massive success. Big thanks to Matt Wales at Eurogamer for the original scoop!
Alright, mate, let's chew the fat about our favourite perpetually stressed federal agent, Leon S. Kennedy. The bloke's already pushing 50 in the *Resident Evil* universe, yet he's still pulling off action hero hijinks in *Resident Evil Requiem* like he's chugging youth potions instead of green herbs. And get this: *Requiem* game director Koshi Nakanishi reckons Leon's got the chops to still be a 'great character' even when he's hitting the big seven-oh.
Ever wonder about the shelf-life of our digital heroes? Do they ever get a bit long in the tooth, or do game devs just hit the 'reset' button on their biological clock every few years? This whole debate popped up during Nakanishi’s recent natter with Matt Wales over at Eurogamer, where they were gabbin' about *Requiem*'s popular protagonists. We saw newcomer Grace Ashcroft make an immediate splash (though, fair dinkum, her DLSS 5 makeover was a bit of a faceplant, eh?), which naturally leads to questions about the pressure to introduce fresh faces in a three-decade-old series. Like, surely the old guard's got an expiration date if they keep ageing with each instalment, right?
Well, according to Nakanishi, it’s not some cast-iron rule etched into a stone tablet somewhere that demands every character precisely matches the timeline. He pointed to the *Resident Evil Revelations* side series as a prime example of breaking that mould. The team, he explained, doesn't 'feel the need to replace [its most recognisable faces] with younger characters.' And honestly, that's music to my optimistically chaotic ears. We're talking about characters we've grown up with, digital legends whose stories we've invested in – why throw 'em out just because they've seen a few too many sunrises (and zombie apocalypses)?
And here's the kicker, the true gem of this little confab: Nakanishi reckons Leon, currently rocking the 'wise-cracking, roundhouse-kicking' vibe in *Requiem* (and let's be fair, that skintight shirt probably helps), would still be a 'great character' even at the ripe old age of 70. 'I mean, I think Leon is really appealing in his current form,' Nakanishi said, adding, 'And who knows, we could bring him back when he's 70, and I'm sure he'll still be a great character.'
Now, this chat happened *before* *Requiem*'s newly released game mode opted for a title that pretty much demands Leon's untimely demise – talk about irony, eh? But regardless, Leon's clearly still got that something. *Resident Evil Requiem* is officially the fastest-selling entry in the series' 30-year history, having shifted over 7 million copies. And it's well-deserved, by all accounts – Matt Wales himself called it 'a masterful bit of suffocating horror and a nostalgic, fan-thrilling victory lap.'
So, what's the takeaway, eh? Seems like our boy Leon S. Kennedy is less a ticking clock and more a fine wine, apparently getting better with age – or at least, he's got a director who's willing to roll the dice on his geriatric zombie-slaying potential. I, for one, would absolutely pay to see a 70-year-old Leon complain about his back while still dodging a Licker. Big thanks to Matt Wales over at Eurogamer for sniffing out this rather insightful tidbit from Koshi Nakanishi!
Tags: ResidentEvil, GamingIndustry, CharacterLongevity, GameDevelopment, GamingNews
Original article: Eurogamer