According to leaker Dusk Golem (AestheticGamer), the newest issue of Famitsu magazine confirms something significant about Resident Evil 9: the game will not have melee attacks – no punches, no kicks.
For protagonist Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst described as fearful and inexperienced, this makes perfect sense. But here’s the interesting part: for months, leaks and rumors have heavily suggested that Leon S. Kennedy would be playable in RE9.
And that creates a very interesting question.
What We Know From Famitsu
On October 7, 2025, Dusk Golem shared details from a Famitsu interview with RE9 director Koshi Nakanishi:
Combat System:
- No melee attacks – no punches or kicks like in RE4, RE5, or RE6
- Focus on “resourceful combat loops more about survival”
- A mysterious “new way” to fight enemies tied to weapons/tools
- Nakanishi asks fans to wait for an explanatory video “to avoid any misinterpretations”
Gameplay Structure:
- Progression similar to RE1 and RE2: exploration, backtracking, puzzle-solving
- Less linear than RE3, RE4, or Village
- Action/horror balance aimed at RE2’s level
Enemy Design:
- Virus-infected individuals driven to eat others (never called “zombies” in-game)
- Completely different from any zombies in series history
- Designed to be unpredictable
On the surface, this all tracks with what we know about Grace. But what about Leon?
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No Melee Makes Perfect Sense for Grace
Let’s be clear: removing melee combat isn’t inherently a problem.
Resident Evil has always been primarily about firearms, resource management, and survival. Melee attacks were introduced in RE4 and became a staple in RE5 and RE6, but they were never core to the series’ identity.
RE2 Remake proved this perfectly – Leon and Claire had no melee attacks (just the knife as an equipped weapon), and it worked beautifully. The game was tense, scary, and the combat felt great.
For Grace Ashcroft specifically, no melee makes complete sense:
- She’s an FBI analyst, not a field agent
- She’s described as introverted and easily scared
- She has no combat training or experience
- Her vulnerability is central to her character
Having Grace unable to perform martial arts moves isn’t a limitation – it’s characterization. She’s supposed to feel overwhelmed and under-equipped. That’s the point.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
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The Leon Question: Three Possible Scenarios
For months, Dusk Golem and other sources have hinted that Leon S. Kennedy would appear in RE9. But if the game has no melee attacks system at all, what does that tell us about Leon’s role?
Scenario A: Leon Isn’t Actually Playable
The Theory:
- “No melee attacks” as a design decision only makes sense if Grace is the sole playable protagonist
- All the Leon speculation from leakers has been about him appearing as an NPC or in cutscenes
- Leon’s role might be smaller than leaks suggested
Why This Would Make Sense:
- It would explain why they can confidently remove melee entirely
- The game is clearly designed around Grace’s perspective and limitations
- Leon could appear as a mentor figure or supporting character
This Would Be Disappointing:
- Many fans have been anticipating Leon’s return based on leaks and rumors
- It would be a let-down after months of speculation
- Leon is one of the most popular characters in the franchise
This would explain everything cleanly, but would disappoint fans who believed the leaks.
Scenario B: Leon IS Playable But Can’t Do Melee Either
The Theory:
- The Famitsu article says “the game” doesn’t have melee attacks
- This suggests it’s a system-wide design decision affecting all playable characters
- Leon would play similarly to Grace
Why This Would Be Strange:
- Leon is a trained government agent with established combat abilities
- His fighting style has been part of his character since RE4
- Dusk Golem previously said Leon’s combat would see “huge innovations”
- How is removing his signature moves an “innovation”?
Possible Explanations:
- Leon is significantly older (50+) and physically can’t perform those moves anymore
- There’s a story reason why close combat isn’t viable against these new zombies
- His combat “innovations” are about something else entirely (dodge mechanics, tactical tools, new weapons, etc.)
It could work with proper story justification, but feels like an odd direction.
Scenario C: “No Melee Attacks” Means Something More Specific
The Theory:
- “No melee attacks” specifically refers to context-sensitive punch/kick prompts
- Combat still exists but works differently (weapon-based, dodge-focused, stealth-oriented)
- Different characters might have different combat options
The Evidence:
- Dusk Golem compared Leon’s combat to The Last of Us Part 2
- TLOU2 doesn’t have punch/kick buttons but has robust combat
- Nakanishi warns about “misinterpretations” and asks fans to wait for a video
What This Could Mean:
- Grace fights defensively with limited options
- Leon (if playable) has access to more advanced tactics, weapons, or tools
- The “new way to fight” differentiates characters through equipment and strategy rather than martial arts
This would explain the confusing messaging and the TLOU2 comparison.
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What Does The Last of Us Part 2 Comparison Actually Mean?
Back in August, Dusk Golem mentioned that Leon’s combat would have “huge innovations” with some influence from The Last of Us Part 2. If RE9 has “no melee attacks,” what could this comparison mean?
TLOU2’s Combat System:
- Advanced dodge and evasion mechanics
- Prone positioning and stealth
- Context-sensitive takedowns
- Heavy emphasis on positioning and awareness
- Resource scarcity creating tension
What the comparison is probably NOT about:
- Swinging improvised weapons (pipes, bats) – RE has never done this
- Weapon-based melee system – knives in RE are equipped items, not “melee”
What it’s probably about:
- Dodge mechanics – Maybe a dedicated dodge button or evasion system
- Stealth options – Avoiding combat when possible, they did this in RE4 Remake.
- Positioning-based combat – Using environment and spacing tactically
- Resource tension – Making every bullet count
- Context-sensitive actions – Maybe knife takedowns in specific situations
So when Famitsu says “no melee attacks,” they likely mean no RE4-style roundhouse kicks or RE6-style hand-to-hand combat. The knife will probably still exist as an equipped weapon (like in RE2 Remake), but those context-sensitive martial arts moves? Gone.
The “new way to fight” is probably about smarter positioning, better evasion, and more tactical use of limited resources – not a secret melee weapon system.
What This Tells Us About Leon
Here’s what I think is most likely happening:
Leon is probably playable, but his sections will play differently than Grace’s:
- Grace is survival-focused: limited combat options, emphasis on evasion and problem-solving
- Leon is tactical-focused: better weapons, more combat experience, advanced movement options
The “no melee attacks” statement applies to both characters in the sense that neither will do RE4-style kicks. But Leon will likely have:
- Access to better weapons and equipment
- More aggressive combat options
- Advanced tactics like stealth takedowns or tactical tools
- Possibly different movement abilities (faster, more stamina, better dodging)
This would explain:
- Why Dusk Golem compared his combat to TLOU2 (tactical, not martial arts)
- Why Nakanishi warns about “misinterpretations” (people thinking it means no combat at all)
- Why they need a video to explain it (the system is more complex than “no kicks”)
The real distinction isn’t melee vs. no melee – it’s novice vs. expert.
Grace is someone learning to survive. Leon is a professional adapting his skills to a new threat. They both can’t do kung fu kicks, but Leon’s experience shows through in other ways.
Why The Confusion?
If this interpretation is correct, why the confusing messaging?
I think Capcom is trying to set clear expectations: this isn’t RE4 or RE6. No flashy martial arts, no action hero moments, no roundhouse kicking zombie heads off.
They want players to understand this is a survival horror game first, even in Leon’s sections. Saying “no melee attacks” is a blunt way to communicate that shift.
The problem is that it creates uncertainty about whether beloved characters are even in the game, or if they are, whether they’ll feel like themselves.
The Bottom Line
The “no melee attacks” revelation tells us something important: RE9 is being designed around Grace’s perspective and limitations.
Whether Leon (or other legacy characters) appears as a playable character is still unclear, but if he does, he won’t be doing spinning kicks and suplexes. His combat will be grounded, tactical, and focused on firearms and positioning.
Is that a problem? Not necessarily. RE2 Remake’s Leon didn’t have melee attacks either, and that game was excellent.
But it does raise questions:
- If Leon is playable, how much of the game is his? A few sections? Half the game? Equal to Grace?
- Will his lack of melee feel natural to his character, or will it feel like an arbitrary restriction?
- How will his “innovations” and experience differentiate him from Grace?
Until we see the explanatory video Nakanishi mentioned, we won’t know for sure what “no melee attacks” really means for Leon’s role in the game.
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