A Plague Tale: Innocence – A unique and wonderful game | Review

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a perfect game for you. It is an action-adventure game created by Asobo Studio and distributed by Focus Home Interactive. This title is a new addition to the list of games from these companies and can now be played on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One since May 14, 2019.

Image: Disclosure/Focus Home Interactive

The game starts serenely, without giving any clues as to what is to come. You take control of Amicia, the daughter of Robert of Rune and Beatrice of Rune, and Hugo, her younger brother, heirs to the Kingdom of Rune. During a walk with her father, Amicia finds herself separated from him in the forest, where she witnesses a horde of rats advancing towards her. Confused and scared, she decides to return to the castle, but ends up meeting soldiers from another kingdom and a somewhat peculiar knight – in fact, members of the Inquisition. Witnessing the death of their parents at the hands of the Inquisition leads Amicia and Hugo to a desperate flight for their lives.

Image: Disclosure/Focus Home Interactive

Amicia follows the destiny indicated by her parents, taking her brother along, in the quest to understand the tumultuous events of this bizarre world, full of rats and dominated by the Inquisition. Even without fully understanding the situation, she faces soldiers and faces a rat infestation on her way.

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In short, A Plague Tale: Innocence presents an intense narrative set in one of the darkest moments in human history. The story takes place in the 14th century, during the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death, which decimated a large part of the European population.

Amicia and Hugo are the central protagonists of this story. Amicia, in her role as big sister, takes on the responsibility of protecting her innocent and fragile little brother, Hugo, as they embark on this great journey together. She does everything she can to make sure Hugo isn't left behind, and this is evident throughout the game. At various times, Amicia helps Hugo overcome obstacles, either by helping him climb or passing through together hand in hand. The game manages to convey the characters' feelings and afflictions in an engaging way, making players feel immersed in the story and share Hugo's fear and anguish.

Image: Disclosure/Focus Home Interactive

The gameplay of A Plague Tale: Innocence is excellent, offering a light and accessible experience. However, it is important to mention that the game lacks a menu for choosing artifacts, which can be considered a disadvantage. Overall, the gameplay is fluid and contributes to the game's dynamism. The aiming system is quite common and offers assistance in some situations.

An important element to highlight is the need to play a large part of the game with an emphasis on stealth, as this is essential to advance the story. Many players may wonder how enemies are defeated in the game, and the answer is that fire is a crucial tool. Fire can drive away rats, allowing the player to infiltrate among them to achieve their goals. A character with skills in this aspect plays an important role in the protagonists' journey. As for the characters' movement, it is light, although occasionally it can seem a little stiff, reminiscent, at times, of the movement seen in Heavy Rain.

A Plague Tale: Innocence features remarkable graphics, which can vary significantly in quality depending on the scenes. However, overall, the game has a stunning visual appearance, packed with stunning visual effects that make it difficult to look away during gameplay. Details are meticulously crafted, and the game features an exceptional lighting system along with high-quality animations. The game's graphical quality is consistent both during the day and at night, offering a sensational visual experience. However, it is important to note that in some parts of the game there may be some variations in graphical quality.

Image: Disclosure/Focus Home Interactive

The soundtrack and sound effects in A Plague Tale: Innocence are truly exceptional. Each environment you explore in the game is accompanied by high-quality sound effects that add to the immersion of the experience. As you progress through the story, you will encounter a variety of different scenarios, which keeps the game interesting as it offers a variety of unique challenges and experiences. The soundtrack, in turn, is notable for its calm and beauty, adding depth to the scenes and encouraging the player's attention. The game benefits from a rich sound atmosphere, which contributes significantly to the overall experience.

To conclude, I highly recommend this game to all gaming enthusiasts looking for an immersive experience with high-quality storytelling, solid gameplay, and stunning visuals. A Plague Tale: Innocence exceeded my expectations, and I consider it one of the best games of 2019. If you're looking for a game that makes you feel immersed in the story and gameplay, this is definitely an exceptional choice.

Analyzed on PlayStation 4

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