The fan-favorite giant block of soy is back. Here is how Capcom’s strangest hero made his way into the latest survival horror masterpiece.
Who is Tofu? (Image: ABWaves Game)
Just when players thought they had survived the worst horrors of Wrenwood, a familiar, rectangular face has appeared. Capcom has officially confirmed that Tofu, the surreal secret character first introduced in 1998, is an unlockable protagonist in the “Mercenaries: United” mode of Resident Evil 9: Requiem.
For those new to the franchise, Tofu originated as a collision detection tool during the development of the original Resident Evil 2. The developers found the giant white block so amusing that they turned it into a hidden character.
In Resident Evil 9: Requiem, Tofu retains his classic look, a large, sentient block of bean curd wearing a S.T.A.R.S. beret and his signature high-pitched Japanese voice lines.
How to unlock tofu in Requiem
Unlocking this legendary character requires more than just luck. According to the latest guides, players must:
Complete the Main Story: Finish the “Requiem” campaign on any difficulty.
S-Rank “The Mercenaries”: Achieve an S-Rank or higher on the “Wrenwood Village” map using Leon S. Kennedy.
The Knife Challenge: Tofu is traditionally a “knife-only” character. To unlock him, you must defeat at least 30 enemies in a single Mercenaries run using only melee attacks.
Gameplay: high risk, high reward
Playing as Tofu is the ultimate challenge for Resident Evil veterans. His gameplay mechanics in Requiem include:
The Combat Knife: Tofu starts with a specialized “Hardened Knife” that never breaks but has a very short reach.
Herb Collection: Unlike Leon or Grace, Tofu changes color as he takes damage, turning from white to a deep pink/red when his health is critical.
Passive Bonus: While he lacks firearms, Tofu has a much higher movement speed and a unique “slippery” dodge mechanic that allows him to slide past lunging enemies.
A cult icon
Tofu’s inclusion is a testament to Capcom’s love for its community and its own weird history. “We know the fans expect a certain level of dread from Resident Evil,” a Capcom producer joked, “but sometimes you just need to run through a nightmare as a piece of food to break the tension.”
