Back in 1348, the world was a lot different than the one we’re living in right now. People couldn’t count on healthcare and if they wanted to survive, they just had to be lucky. To make things even worse, the Black Plague was roaming freely, killing thousands of people in its trail. This deadly virus got spread at an insane pace thanks to thousands of rats that lived in the cities. This disease marks the starting point of A Plague Tale: Innocence. A game that finds the right balance between stellar storytelling and intriguing gameplay elements.
Take care of your brother
In this game, you play as Amicia De Rune, a young woman raised in a wealthy family. At first, it seems like she couldn’t wish for a better life. It all starts with her hunting trip accompanied by her father. He learns her the ropes and shows her how to use her slingshot, a weapon that will come in handy later in the game. The mood drastically shifts when Amicia loses her dog in the forest, only the see it getting eaten by a mysterious creature seconds after she finally managed to catch up with the lost dog. The way the game shifted from a bright and colorful word to a dark and ominous world is subtly done thanks to the amazing soundtrack. It’s clear that a lot of attention went to the world creation and atmosphere in this game.
Things won’t get any better from that point. Amicia is forced to return back home only to flee from the Inquisition mere minutes later. The Knights of the Inquisition are after Amicia’s brother, Hugo De Rune. Not much is know about this little guy but his mother is very protective over him. Amicia rarely sees her own brother because he’s constantly locked in his room, hoping he’ll once be cured of a mysterious disease. Needless to say, Hugo plays a crucial role in the events of A Plague Tale but we won’t spoil those. From the point where the Inquisition attack, the life of Amicia drastically changes. From that point on, she’s alone in the world and she’ll need to protect her brother from all danger, not an easy task for a young girl.
Never safe
During your playthrough, you’ll never feel safe. Since you’re playing as vulnerable children, facing off with one of the Knights isn’t a smart idea. Therefore, you’ll mostly sneak around during your first hours of the game. Those hours are some of the most adrenaline-rushed hours I’ve ever seen in a game. I never felt safe and I was constantly on the run. A Plague Tale is master in translating this vulnerability of its main characters to the gamer. Right from the start, you’ll feel a strong connection to the young protagonists and you’ll want them to be safe. Constantly running away or sneaking around to get past the guards unseen will get your blood pumping for sure. Since the game does offer some strong game mechanics, this isn’t one of those walking simulators, your actions do matter and if you want to advance, you’ll need to clear certain sections.
As said before, the first portion of the game tends to focus on getting past the guards using stealth but things change up when the game reveals other elements. The rats play an important role as well, of course. Unlike the real Black Plague, these rats are truly vicious. They attack and group and don’t care if the human is still breathing before they launch their attack. The rats are brilliantly animated, you’ll do everything in your power to avoid them. Unlike avoiding guards, getting past the rats plays more like an interactive puzzle.
Light them up
Where you could use your slingshot to distract or even attack the Knights of the Inquisition, the rats won’t go down that easily. Their main fear is light, playing with fire will be your salvation if you want to get through a mischief. It’s here where the stealth gameplay gets traded in for puzzle solving. Most of those puzzles revolve around transporting the light across a room or field. By combining torches, fire, and other light sources in the correct way, you’ll be able to get to your goal safely. It’s not always that easy to solve and just like the rest of the game, you’re extremely vulnerable and one misstep can easily lead to a game over.
An unforgettable journey
While playing a game such as Plague Tale: Innocence, it’s not the gameplay mechanics that will leave their mark, it’s the story and general atmosphere of it all. From the moment you’ll start playing, you’ll get sucked into this new reality and you won’t be able to let it go until you finish the story a rough thirteen hours later. In those hours you felt the love, felt the friendship, felt the desperation, and even felt the vulnerability of the main characters. Playing through the eyes of children in such dark times is truly unique and something not a lot of games dare to do. Plague Tale is far from a perfect game when you merely look at the technical aspect but when you look at the world building and general atmosphere, this is a masterpiece without any doubts. From the moment you start until the moment you finish, this is one unforgettable journey.
Conclusion:
A Plague Tale: Innocence caught me off guard and might even be the biggest sleeper hit of 2019. It’s a truly unique game that combines stellar story-telling with interesting gameplay mechanics. Since you’re playing as children, you’re constantly on the look-up, only elevating the bond between the virtual characters and the gamer. Being able to guide those young protagonists through their own emotional story is a true privilege and something everybody should try. Easily one of those games you’ll simply need to play this year!
