GAMERS DECIDE - A Plague Tale: Innocence

Is A Plague Tale: Innocence Good?

Nickolas W. — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:27:28 +0000

Is A Plague Tale: Innocence Good?

When I first played A Plague Tale: Innocence, it was a standalone game that promised more. This is no longer the case with the release of Requiem, but I will still be judging this game on its own merits. And those establish it as a fairly impressive stealth action game with a grim but engaging world. It's not the best of its own kind, but it's not terrible either and does set up Requiem, which I will definitely be covering later. Just make sure you have rat repellant.

10. Graphics

Welcome to France, here be rats

Innocence is a pretty good-looking game for its time, especially considering it didn’t have the budget of a full AAA game. So all things considered, it looks as good as you could hope for, which is alright on weaker hardware and decently impressive on the more powerful ones. The stark realism in its visuals is pretty standard and does little to help or hinder it here.

9. Music/Sound Effects

So quality you can hear the rats

The music here isn’t a standout soundtrack, but it still fits the world very well. It's ominous when it needs to be, and dials back in quieter moments. It does its job well and is nice for the time, but not too memorable. It could be good background music though, and I know I can always use more of that.

A Plague Tale: Innocence OST - Inquisition

A Plague Tale: Innocence OST - Beyond the Horizon

8. Puzzles

Yay, crafting, what fun

As is the norm with many action-adventure games, Innocence has its fair share of puzzles. Many of these revolve around using your sling or just being crafty with elements of the environment. And for the most part, they’re fine, not the game’s highlight but hardly ever downright awful.

Sort of a part of this is the crafting system, which of course has to be here. I’ve never been the biggest fan of crafting in games in general, but it fits here well enough. You can use items you pick up to upgrade your sling, storage, and a few other things. It's… fine. Yeah, just fine is about right.

7. Stealth

Hope you like stealth

Innocence has combat, if you call barely getting a hit in before you’re easily killed combat. Yeah, you’re supposed to play as stealthily as possible, and there are plenty of options here to make that easier.

Your arsenal of slingable items includes ever-present rocks and craftables (giving it an actual purpose) such as fire. These allow you to approach stealth in a few ways (sometimes limited by certain encounters). You can sneak past guards, distracting them as needed. Or you can use your rocks to hit guards in the head, instantly killing them. And of course, more options arise when you come across the rats…..

6. The Grim World

Hello friend, we are your friendly neighborhood rat swarms

There are so many rats in this game. Rats doing horrifying things you would not expect to see. And it's a very engaging world because of it.

The world of A Plague Tale is largely historical aside from one change: the Black Death took the form of hordes of rats who seem to share a mind. People can still get sick and die like a normal disease, but they also have to contend with countless rats who can and will eat them alive.

And this all leads to so, so much blood and bones dotting the landscape. The once vibrant French countryside is a cesspool of death, and it's oddly fascinating. This is definitely not a good world to live in, but it's undoubtedly an interesting one to explore.

5. Fun Factor

You’ll definitely be having more fun than these characters

Having said all that, plus some things yet to discuss, Innocence is a pretty enjoyable game. If you’re good at stealth. If you’re not you may have a rough time here.

But it is well built, and that leads to a largely pleasant experience. It is at times somber, joyous, and in-between. A delicate emotional balance that even has moments of humor, this game and its world are not the conventional idea of fun at all, but despite this can be a good time. Especially with how satisfying its core gameplay can be at times.

4. Replayability

Round 2 in the plague?

If you have the stomach for it, there is a handy option to return to previous sections of the game. This could be for experiencing it anew or picking up something you missed, among other things. And it can definitely be satisfying to breeze through these areas on a return trip, as with any game where this is an option.

3. Difficulty

Yay, more crafting…. yeah this one’s tricky

As a stealth game at its core, your experience here will vary wildly depending on your skill at stealthing. Early on it's not too difficult, but later in the game, you will easily be overwhelmed if you make a mistake.

Thankfully crafting items can make this easier. Through this you can access more items to readily eliminate guards, making the ordeal a bit easier. But don’t count on this to always work, sometimes you will need to act on your feet. It never gets too difficult from my experience, but you have been warned.

2. Characters

War-tattered faces of medieval France

Central to the entirety of A Plague Tale are the siblings Amicia and Hugo. Amicia is the player character throughout all of this, and she is by and large a likable protagonist.

In the age of main characters being unstoppable beasts who can seemingly shrug off anything, Amicia is strikingly human. She struggles against people stronger than her, has to use her smarts to defeat them, and is wracked with guilt when she takes her first life. All to save her brother.

Hugo is one of the most likable child characters I’ve ever encountered in a game. And this is largely because, despite all the death around him, Hugo (mostly) remains a bright spot of positivity. Combine that with his extremely rootable relationship with his sister and you have an immensely likable duo of protagonists.

There’s other people here of course, like the child alchemist Lucas who helps out the siblings. But for the most part, none of them stand out to the degree of Amicia and Hugo, and that’s fine. This is their story, after all, the legacy of the De Rune family.

1. Story

Amicia and Hugo enjoying a rare moment of peace

I’ve already covered the major beats of the story for the most part, with one major exception: Hugo is sick. This is the driving force of the journey for the two, as they try to find a cure for his disease, which just keeps getting worse.

Meanwhile, the game’s opposing forces are obsessed with capturing the siblings, especially after the rest of their family is dealt with. I won’t get into more detail as the narrative is the game’s best feature, but I can safely say it is good and only gets better in the sequel.

Which sums up A Plague Tale: Innocence pretty well. A solid but not amazing game that sets up its sequel and leaves you wanting more. Definitely a required play if you want to play Requiem, and I’ll end this by saying I am very glad I played Requiem.

Score: 8

Top 10 New Fantasy Games 2019 That Will Blow You Away!

CjMoose16 — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 07:16:04 +0000

There are several video game genres we love playing such as horror, sci-fi, RPG, racing. But none have been such a hit in the year of 2019 like the fantasy genre!

We have all had our fair share of cutting orcs apart, gutting demons, exploring new regions of danger, and even upgrading some sweet weaponry.

Within this list, we are going to talk about the top 10 new and upcoming fantasy games that will make you want to strap on some leather boots, sharpen a sword, and go kill monsters!

10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Gameplay

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a fantasy RPG created by the makers of smashing titles such as Bloodborne and Dark Souls. The game takes place in late 1500s Japan, where monsters and evil samurai run free.

After being disgraced and disfigured, you must travel through a dark and twisted land, and attempt to survive the nightmares that await you. Along the way, you must protect a young lord who belongs to an ancient bloodline of royalty. Will you survive the journey?

Engage in high over-the-top action. Witness a beautiful, yet terrifying story as it unfolds before your eyes! Travel across haunted Japan as you try to regain your honor.

Take part in an amazing and exhilarating combat experience!

Will you survive the dangers in store for you as your trek your way across Japan?

9. Skull & Bones

Skull & Bones Gameplay

Skull & Bones is an online multiplayer built around the age of piracy on the high seas. Players will be able to have an RPG like experience, in which they are able to upgrade their characters and ships.

Players must climb the ladder of success in order to go from being underdogs, to become pirate kings and queens! As you sail the seven seas, take part in PvPvE combat like never before!

Test your skills as a scurvy dog against enemy pirate factions and rival players. Plunder those you meet on the ocean, and upgrade your arsenal with sweet loot! Go solo and be the lone wolf, or join a pack and dominate the Indian Ocean!

Build up your arsenal as you try to survive the high seas!

Join a pirate faction or take on the tempest as a lone wolf!

8. The Sinking City

The Sinking City Gameplay Trailer

The Sinking City is an adventure and investigation game inspired by the legendary mythos of the Lovecraftian universe. You are a private investigator, trying to solve a case while also fighting an uphill battle against your own insanity.

In a city half-submerged by water and insanity, you must discover what is possessing the city and its inhabitants. Will you survive, or will your mind break at the unfathomable madness that creeps through the streets?

Explore a vast, new world filled with madness and dark secrets. Experience amazing replay value given to you by the amazing open investigation system built into the game! Discover a huge arsenal of weapons and abilities that will aid you in your battle against the madness.

Will you survive the madness that has taken over this city?

Traverse a city half-submerged in water and insanity.

7. The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds Gameplay Trailer

The Outer Worlds is a single-player first-person-shooter RPG set in a sci-fi universe. You are an explorer trying to discover treasures and riches that lie in the vast reaches of the galaxy, while also trying to avoid multiple enemies such as space pirates, enemy factions, and bizarre creatures!

You are lost in transit when a colonist ship leaves for the far edges of the galaxy. When you awaken 10 years later, you must investigate a dark conspiracy of threat against a very powerful colony. Along the way you will have the option to betray or join several different factions.

Discover a beautiful story-driven RPG first-person-shooter! Characters are now influenced by a new game mechanic called flaws, in which the game tracks your experience and challenges you on your weak spots. Explore a vast galaxy and ally yourself with a variety of amazing characters!

Explore the far reaches of the galaxy!

Join or betray multiple factions on your journey!

6. Kingdom Hearts III

Kingdom Hearts III Gameplay

Kingdom Hearts is the third installment of the beloved RPG series. The franchise mixes the creative ingenuity of the makers of Final Fantasy and Disney! The game is a family-friendly RPG style of the usually brutal hack’n’slash genre.

A more mature Sora is sent on an adventure with King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy that takes them throughout the journeys and stories of popular Disney movies such as Toy Story, Tangled, TRON: Legacy, and more! They must stop the tyrant known as Master Xehanort before he is able to complete his diabolical plan to “restore balance”.

Explore the childhood nostalgia of your favorite Disney movies! Upgrade your keyblade arsenal with new weapons and abilities! Ally yourself with characters both new and old as you dive into a beautiful new story!

Discover a world filled with your favorite Disney characters!

Ally yourself with characters both new and old in this beautiful, story-driven RPG!

5. A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Innocence Gameplay Trailer

A Plague Tale: Innocence is an action-adventure game that follows the events of the Black Plague in the Kingdom of France. Follow the story of young Amicia as she attempts to protect her little brother Hugo during the darkest hours in the history of mankind.

The Black Plague ravages France in the year 1349. The Inquisition searches for a small boy who could be the source of a cure for the disease. Join Amicia as she defends her brother, Hugo, from perils all around and searches for a cure to the darkness that surrounds them.

Discover a beautiful story built within a miraculous RPG. Find new and incredible ways to use alchemy to your advantage as you try to escape the horrors that surround you. Use the light and the dark to your advantage as you try to protect yourself and others during the darkest hours of history.

Will you survive the most disastrous plague ever recorded in human history?

Make your way through disease-ridden France in this beautiful, yet sorrowful journey!

4. God Eater 3

God Eater 3 Gameplay

God Eater 3 is the newest installment in the action-packed RPG series! Discover new locations, ally yourself with characters new and old, explore brand new God Arcs, and battle new and more dangerous foes!

Gather your own team of God Eaters in this post-apocalypse and take on god-like beasts that are ravaging the world! Defeat brand new villains and monsters before time runs out for the world.

Build up your arsenal with exciting new weapons! Discover new god-like abilities that will aid you on your quest while also allowing you to kick some serious butt! Face new threats and dangers that will try to prevent you from saving the world.

Build up your arsenal with exciting new weapons and abilities!

Rise above a world full of desolation and turmoil.

3. Biomutant

Biomutant Gameplay

Biomutant is an open-world, action-packed RPG mixed with a Kung-Fu fable feel. The game is added with a mixed-martial arts combat arts system that makes it even more unique than other open-world RPGs!

As a plague runs through a mystical land, threatening to destroy what is called the “Tree-of-Life”, several Tribes stand divided and confused as to what their future might hold. You must be the hero that takes a stand for the side of life, and rescue the Tree.

Discover a new and amazing take on 3rd Person point-of-view gameplay and combat! Engage in a combat system so unique, that it mixes shooting, hand-to-hand combat, and swordplay! Evolve your character and change your abilities by genetically modifying your DNA!

Discover a new and remarkable world!

Engage in brutal 3rd person combat like never before!

2. Greedfall

Greedfall Gameplay Trailer

Greedfall is new open-world, exploration RPG, in which you are an explorer traveling to a strange land in search of riches and a reputation. The game is filled with beautiful and fun side quests that link together to create a magical story!

As an explorer, you are traveling to a new land that holds plentiful riches and resources. The land, however, is home to inhabitants that seem to be infused with the magic of the land, and will stop at nothing to keep unwanted trespassers away.

Travel through this amazing new world gaining experience through a variety of means such as deception, combat, stealth, and more! Upgrade your character with multiple weapons and abilities that will be found on your journey! Dive into a world filled with secrets and ancient magic.

Discover a world filled with ancient secrets and powerful magic!

Explore a vast new world, and gain experience in exciting new ways!

1. Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 Gameplay

Devil May Cry 5 is the newest installment in the highly popular hack’n’slash saga! Achieve your fill of adrenaline tenfold in this high-impact, high-octane, over-the-top, demon killing masterpiece!

The demon threat is back in town as Hell attempts to take over the world again. As the invasion begins, a young demon-hunter by the name of Nero must try to save the world alongside his allies Dante and Nico, while also suffering from the loss of his arm by a demon general. Will you survive the onslaught?

Destroy the demonic invaders with a new arsenal of wicked weaponry and crazy abilities! Experience beautiful and amazing gameplay graphics! Enjoy amazing combat in this high-impact installment of the series that the hack’n’slash genre is so beloved for!

Upgrade your arsenal with some new and wicked weaponry!

Bask in the glory of the greatest return of the beloved Demon Hunter, Dante!

A Plague Tale: Innocence Release Date, Gameplay, Trailers, Story, News

xmorris91 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:15:38 +0000

When your innocence is shattered within this unforgiving world and devoured by the darkness. What part of yourself is left beyond the fragments?

A Plague Tale: Innocence tells the grim story of two siblings fighting together for survival in the darkest hours of History. This new video game from Asobo Studio, lead designer of the game, sends you on an emotional journey through the 14th century France. The gameplay combines adventure, action, and stealth; supported by a compelling story. Follow the young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, who face the brutality of a ravaged world as they discover their purpose to expose a dark secret. On the run from the Inquisition's soldiers, surrounded by unstoppable swarms of rats incarnating the Black Death, Amicia and Hugo will learn how to protect and trust each other as they struggle for their lives against all odds.

With the story being based on the black death, which was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of millions of people. I can see why rats from the trailer would be portrayed as being this overwhelming force that is causing destruction everywhere the hordes of them traveled. Rats for decades have been associated with and accused of being one of the major facts that helped spread the Black Death. With their depiction within “A Plague Tale: Innocence,” it creates a storyline that creates possible curiosity in gamers and makes us intrigued in how something so devastating from the past can be turned into such a powerful story with such interesting characters.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Story

“A Plague Tale: Innocence” is a 3rd person action-adventure game set in the 14th century (1349) France, a dark time for protagonists Amicia and her little brother Hugo. They lost their parents to the ruthless inquisition, forcing them to survive on their own in a world where danger is present around every corner. War and disease ravaged the country to the point where turmoil is the norm. The dead are quickly outnumbering the living and many people only wait in suspense wondering when will death come knocking at their door to claim their lives. To top it off, five-year-old Hugo is suffering from a strange illness, and ravenous rodents are spreading throughout the country, eager to devour anything that’s in their way, even human flesh.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Developer

“A Plague Tale: Innocence” is game developed by Asobo Studio, published by Focus Home Interactive and designed by Kevin Choteau. Asobo Studio, a French video game development company based in Bordeaux, France, tries to establish a new reputation for itself, while also paying tribute to its home. A home that at one point had a brush with the Black Death. Kevin Choteau explains he wanted to make a game that compelling to the masses. With his inspiration from game titles such as, “The Last of Us,” he understood how important great gameplay can be when the characters can be memorable. And he did that by creating an emotional character focused game where their thoughts, feelings, and actions are in a way relatable to us gamers.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Gameplay

One thing is very clear, Amicia cannot rush head first into battle! She must think and choose the option that is less risky for herself and her brother. The lack of brute force to overcome enemies is reflected in the character model and forces players to be careful and crafty with the resources they have. The game has a blend of adventure and stealth gameplay, deeply embedded in the use of environmental puzzles to progress throughout the game. The only “weapon” seen used in the gameplay is a sling that is used to interact with things you can't reach or, less pleasantly, knock lanterns from the hands of human adversaries to expose them to the rats while you venture down the now available path away from the carnage.

Struggle through a brutal and ruthless world where death saturates the landscape.

Taking care of your little brother during a bloodthirsty rat plague forces you to make difficult decisions to survive. The story is filled with realism and makes you sit back and think what if you and your loved one were in that similar situation? Would you proceed with love and care or head first and risk a costly mistake that ends in death? As Amicia’s brother progresses through the game he learns from every single encounter with the nightmarish manifestations of rodents. If you’re careful and technical, you can use your greatest adversaries to your advantage.

How far are you willing to go through the unknown to protect a loved one? Would you even risk your own life?

Your one defense against these creatures is fire, by carrying a torch the hordes of rats will keep their distance, but you’ll need to be careful to never stray too far from that light or the flood of vermin will be quick to strike. Yikes! One instrument that players should become familiar with is the sling that Amicia is equipped with. It enables her to fling flaming coals at nearby torches or lanterns, creating a path of safety for them to follow. The sling is also used cleverly in puzzles, allowing you to shoot at nearby objects like the lock of a gate. However, players must be on the lookout for materials throughout the game, as you’ll need to craft more ammunition for your weapon in order to progress.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Trailer

“When survival is all you know. Will the darkness dim your light?”

Regarding the mechanics surrounding gameplay, as mentioned before, they are essentially based around managing light sources and staying out of the darkness and therefore harm's way. To get through anywhere a light source will always be your best friend. Just like the torch presented in the trailer, it's the only thing that keeps you and the rats separated. Just like I presented within the gameplay section you must light torches, campfires, and any of the flammable objects that might be scattered around the vicinity. The light of the flames scares away the nearby rats and therefore opens a path. You'll still have to be very cautious, as the rodents will feast on your flesh if you venture into the darkness, and therein lies the challenge offered by the game.

Another element that is offered in the game is storytelling like no other. Think of the message the trailer gives us as these two characters are surrounded by death and rats. Who wouldn’t have empathy for them? Just imagine if you were in that position with your sibling? Would you be able to keep a calm head or panic for their sake? So many questions can be asked that sets up for a world that sends shivers down your spine being in that environment. A Plague Tale is about family, and how those relationships are tested in times of great distress.

A Plague Tale: Innocence News

If you're curious like I am and would like to stay updated on the progress of the game I would highly recommend checking out the Focus Home Interactive forums. It's a valuable source in the unveiling of more details and information about the making of A Plague Tale: Innocence. Also, their social media sites also keep fans updated on the progress of the game.

Website: Aplaguetale

Twitter: Twitter.com/Aplaguetale

Facebook: Facebook.com/APlagueTale/

Forum: Roots of Innocence- A Tale As Old As The Hills

A Plague Tale: Innocence Release Date

There's no exact release date specified for the game just yet, but we do know that A Plague Tale: Innocence will be released for PS4, Xbox One and PC in 2019.

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A thrilling story where the life that you once knew is crumbling around you. Will you be able to pick up the pieces to survive while protecting a loved one?

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