This blog includes major story spoilers for Resident Evil 9 Requiem. Please only read if you have completed the story. Alternatively, read on if you simply don’t care about spoilers.
Resident Evil 9 opens with exposition on the death of Alyssa Ashcroft, mother of protagonist Grace Ashcroft. We then get to see what actually happened via a flashback. The acting displayed during this death scene was so intense and believable. It sounded like someone actually experiencing the greatest loss of their life. A very sad opening that sticks with you as you get to learn and play as Grace.
When Grace first encounters Emily, the small child locked within the security area of the hospital, she is motivated by survival alone. After freeing Emily you can see the switch in Grace from frantic fear to scared protector.
She goes through hell to rescue Emily from The Girl and get her out of the hospital to her freedom. When Emily was revealed to have been injured during the plane accident it was reminiscent of Sherry’s arc in Resident Evil 2. She’s injured and has to be laid down in a protective area so the player can investigate the new area. However, when Grace returns and realizes she was too late and couldn’t save Emily it was devastating. You were almost expecting to save and escape with her. Grace felt guilt over the death of her mother, and now failed to save Emily. Heartbreaking.
Emily then transforms into a monster. Leon has to take her down. It hurts Grace too much to harm Emily herself.
The weight of everything seemed to push Emily into feeling defeated enough to leave with Victor and Zeno.
It was sad, but it got completely undone by Emily magically being cocooned inside the monster and found off camera to be saved.
We see at the very end a photo that shows Emily is alive and well. She is living with Grace, and also healed of her cataracts. A happy ending.
Obviously I don’t wish death on a child. But removing that death from the story removed a lot of emotion as well.
I love Grace as a character so I am not mad that she got a happy ending. I just also like my games to be really sad sometimes and stay that way.
What were your thoughts on Emily’s death and resurrection?
MacabreMara 
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