Children aren’t usually at the center of concern in videogames. They’re usually annoyingly brattish NPCs who look and sound goofy and they can be petty little thieves too. Not so in Asobo Studio and Focus Home Interactive’s latest effort, as children are the main narrative focus in this horrifically bleak and dreary adventure title that makes some bold moves in an attempt to stand out in a sea of story-driven games. Does A Plague Tale: Innocence bravely step into the limelight or does it get devoured by plague-ridden rats?
Set during the Hundred Years War, the story directs its attention to a maturing girl named Amicia De Rune, who is charged with caring and looking after her younger brother Hugo who’s inflicted with an illness that’s kept him isolated with their mother Beatrice since birth. Whilst out walking and training how to use a slingshot with her father in the forests of Aquitaine, the family dog goes missing and a mysterious blight gives rise to all hell breaking loose as soon thereafter Inquisition soldiers lead by the intimidatingly armoured Lord Nicholas, turn up to wreak havoc, murder daddy dearest and terrorizing the village folk as they search for Hugo, and it’s not long before Amicia first meets her little brother and the two evacuate to safer pastures.
The story does a fantastic job of drawing you in, starting with bright and colourful Autumn day, then goading you in with its niceties before BAM! You’re smacked over the bonce with an underbelly of disturbing imagery, furious panic and slaughtered loved ones. The journey of Amicia and Hugo will sink its gnashers into you as you witness the pure naïve sweetness of the five year-old little boy, and the growing confidence and awareness of her big sister as she fearlessly protects him from evil. Witnessing little Hugo getting side-tracked by an apple in a seemingly deserted village reveals how entrenched the world is in a ghastly twisted and smoggy evil-yet Hugo’s flights of fancy and delicate nature takes some of the sting away from the hardships for a fleeting second. The story does lose steam later on and by the end turns into something resembling Harry Potter, but the intrigue developed throughout the game ensures the story stays afloat and is overall a very impressive showing.
Set during the Hundred Years War, the story directs its attention to a maturing girl named Amicia De Rune, who is charged with caring and looking after her younger brother Hugo who’s inflicted with an illness that’s kept him isolated with their mother Beatrice since birth. Whilst out walking and training how to use a slingshot with her father in the forests of Aquitaine, the family dog goes missing and a mysterious blight gives rise to all hell breaking loose as soon thereafter Inquisition soldiers lead by the intimidatingly armoured Lord Nicholas, turn up to wreak havoc, murder daddy dearest and terrorizing the village folk as they search for Hugo, and it’s not long before Amicia first meets her little brother and the two evacuate to safer pastures.
The story does a fantastic job of drawing you in, starting with bright and colourful Autumn day, then goading you in with its niceties before BAM! You’re smacked over the bonce with an underbelly of disturbing imagery, furious panic and slaughtered loved ones. The journey of Amicia and Hugo will sink its gnashers into you as you witness the pure naïve sweetness of the five year-old little boy, and the growing confidence and awareness of her big sister as she fearlessly protects him from evil. Witnessing little Hugo getting side-tracked by an apple in a seemingly deserted village reveals how entrenched the world is in a ghastly twisted and smoggy evil-yet Hugo’s flights of fancy and delicate nature takes some of the sting away from the hardships for a fleeting second. The story does lose steam later on and by the end turns into something resembling Harry Potter, but the intrigue developed throughout the game ensures the story stays afloat and is overall a very impressive showing.
Seeing as Amicia and Hugo are minors, you won’t be brandishing heavy weaponry and actively taking the fight to Inquisition scum. Instead it’s imperative to resort to stealthy tactics by finding cover, hiding in tall grasses and using your barebones arsenal to distract guards or knocking them unconscious-or finding large pots to smash and create temporary distractions that will allow you to slip by undetected. Amicia does possess a sling she can use to her advantage to perform the latter, and rocks are in abundance as you survey your surroundings-all you then need to do is swing the sling around like you would a lock in a sock-then unleash to make guards go night night. Performing these actions feels weighty and satisfying although the targeting is keen on getting you aim for the head like the guards were the undead, but the payoff from getting back at the Inquisition is very much worth the effort.
Rats will be another source of threat Amicia and Hugo will need to contend with to survive. Diseased vermin scuttling about is no good for traipsing, so it’s up to a flaming torch and the illumination of light to guide the two children through darkness safely or else risk being devoured and ravaged. Along the way Amicia will need to light braziers and haystacks to ensure safe passage and later on in the game she’ll gain access to various modifiers known for her slingshot courtesy of Lucas including Ignifer-that will instantly reignite dying embers.
There’s also a handy but relatively non-essential upgrade system predicated on enhancing survival tools such as Attirail which will ensure you’re even quieter in stealth sections-considering A Plague Tale is primarily stealth-oriented- this will prove very useful. Levelling up your pouch is another useful upgrade to have in your back pocket literally as adversarial numbers and challenge escalates towards the end of the game.
Complications regarding the rats will ratchet up (ha!) as you progress. They start off as bundling insignificances in caves but eventually their manifestations and infestations evolve including sinkholes that burst out of the ground with the infectious critters and sections where you will have to follow carts and help other characters by ensuring their safe paths through rat infestations. Yes by the end of the game you will likely grow sick of the rats and perhaps more flexibility regarding types of enemy you encounter would’ve helped flesh the game out more, but these sections are still pleasing thanks to their puzzle-like nature.
Similarly to the deftness in the way the story is handled, gameplay in A Plague Tale always makes you feel vulnerable because children are vulnerable, and it’s impressive how less is more in this regard-by reducing the weapons at your disposal- A Plague Tale is able to deliver a stealth experience that’s straightforward but exacting and wholly in-tune with the characters piloting this perilous journey.
A Plague Tale is a short narrative adventure clocking in at around eight or so hours but you are encouraged to collect flowers and curiosities throughout which might be appealing to you if you want to take up what the game has to offer, but A Plague Tale isn’t about length it’s about what you experience during that length and in that regard A Plague Tale is undeniably brilliant.
Rats will be another source of threat Amicia and Hugo will need to contend with to survive. Diseased vermin scuttling about is no good for traipsing, so it’s up to a flaming torch and the illumination of light to guide the two children through darkness safely or else risk being devoured and ravaged. Along the way Amicia will need to light braziers and haystacks to ensure safe passage and later on in the game she’ll gain access to various modifiers known for her slingshot courtesy of Lucas including Ignifer-that will instantly reignite dying embers.
There’s also a handy but relatively non-essential upgrade system predicated on enhancing survival tools such as Attirail which will ensure you’re even quieter in stealth sections-considering A Plague Tale is primarily stealth-oriented- this will prove very useful. Levelling up your pouch is another useful upgrade to have in your back pocket literally as adversarial numbers and challenge escalates towards the end of the game.
Complications regarding the rats will ratchet up (ha!) as you progress. They start off as bundling insignificances in caves but eventually their manifestations and infestations evolve including sinkholes that burst out of the ground with the infectious critters and sections where you will have to follow carts and help other characters by ensuring their safe paths through rat infestations. Yes by the end of the game you will likely grow sick of the rats and perhaps more flexibility regarding types of enemy you encounter would’ve helped flesh the game out more, but these sections are still pleasing thanks to their puzzle-like nature.
Similarly to the deftness in the way the story is handled, gameplay in A Plague Tale always makes you feel vulnerable because children are vulnerable, and it’s impressive how less is more in this regard-by reducing the weapons at your disposal- A Plague Tale is able to deliver a stealth experience that’s straightforward but exacting and wholly in-tune with the characters piloting this perilous journey.
A Plague Tale is a short narrative adventure clocking in at around eight or so hours but you are encouraged to collect flowers and curiosities throughout which might be appealing to you if you want to take up what the game has to offer, but A Plague Tale isn’t about length it’s about what you experience during that length and in that regard A Plague Tale is undeniably brilliant.
A Plague Tale may not look too inviting with its bulging character models but some of the artistry on display here is jaw-dropping. Without sullying the game’s story, there is a part of the game where you will bear witness to an eye-widening expanse of grimness that’s utterly arresting to behold. The beauty inherent in the ruins and fields you sneak through can’t be understated either, it’s a meticulously on-point adventure that shows you some truly harrowing sights but invites optimism through its sunnier and more palatial surroundings mirroring the hope of the youngsters you get to know throughout the game.
The soundtrack is grounded in the time period and accentuates the dangers and the sense of invading imperialism. Sombre strings echo the pervading feeling of encroaching malice. Composer Oliver Deriviere does a splendid job of capturing a rural flavouring with the darkness of the Medieval undercurrent. Voice work is handled gracefully as well with the children in particular sounding convincingly like children and the twisted evilness of the villainous characters are well realised through their sinister vocal cords.
For a game with such modesty, A Plague Tale: Innocence is a standout narrative adventure with insatiable storytelling, fantastic and relatable child protagonists, a wonderful score and a spectacularly grim sense of urgency-A Plague Tale will definitely leave an impression on you. The story does waver from its strong beginnings with too much emphasis on empowerment come the games end and the rats become tiresome to contend with time and again, but the negatives don’t do much to chomp away at what is one of the most enjoyable if short-lived stealth and survival-steered adventures you’re likely to come across at any time.
STORY: 9/10
GAMEPLAY: 8/10
PRESENTATION: 8/10
LIFESPAN: 7/10
SCORE: 8/10
An unforgettable and grim trudge through the murky waters of the Hundred Years War seen through the eyes of two children who need to grow up fast to turn back the dangers they face. A mostly-excellent story, soundtrack and presentation deliver the goods but those rats and the overreliance on empowerment towards the end do stymie the game's momentum a tad. Rats the way aha-aha I like it.