A Plague Tale: Innocence | PS4 Review

May 21, 2019 Zack Parkerson

One thing I’m always lamenting in modern times is the loss of linear games. There’s a power to them that most publishers seem to have forgotten. 2019, however, has granted a few impressive games that don’t forget it’s okay to deliver a concise experience. Focus Home Interactive and developer Asobo Studio adds a game to that roster with A Plague Tale: Innocence.

You wouldn’t be able to tell from the developers’ past work of family friendly titles, but A Plague Tale is a bleak world. It’s set in the mid 14th century as the titular plague breaks out. Though obviously inspired by the Black Plague of history, this outbreak is more akin to a rat apocalypse. If that sounds silly in theory, it’s anything but in practice. The stakes are made clear right away, and this is no world to let anyone rest on their laurels.

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked

Amicia is quickly put into a position to be on the run from The Inquisition. The organization is after her little brother Hugo, who is sick with a terrible disease. There aren’t a great deal of surprises in the narrative that unfold thereafter, but you’re sold thanks to the characters and their performances. Coupled with the fact that it’s established early on that there are real stakes here, and because you’ll grow to care for the characters, it matters when they’re put into dangerous situations.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a stealth game first and foremost. Amicia’s only line of defense is her sling that she carries, and the many ammunitions it can use. A teenaged girl with a sling is hardly a fair fight against knights in armor, so she uses her wits first. The game is strictly linear, and because of that the stealth plays out more like a puzzle game.

Apart from a few more open areas in the middle of the game, there’s usually one optimal solution to an area. That may sound restrictive at first, and I suppose it is, but it makes you feel craftier than your enemies. Tricking your foes into areas and unleashing a swarm of rats upon them is a sick pleasure that never gets old. It demonstrates a cunning to Amicia, and actually helps to illustrate the subplot of her coming to grips with the horrors she needs to commit to survive.

It’s Only for the Divine

The several types of ammunition mentioned earlier is part of what keeps A Plague Tale so fresh throughout its 12-15 hours. Just when you’ve mastered the “ignifer” that allows you to light torches, the game will introduce the ability to put out any torches. The constant introduction of new mechanics ensures you’ll never be bored. The well-paced story beats and set piece moments will also make it difficult to stop playing.

There is of course the requisite upgrades and crafting of any video game of the modern era. I never really felt any more empowered by an upgrade, and questioned their inclusion at all. Same with the superfluous crafting system. I understand the intent of making it feel like Amicia and Hugo are barely able to get by in this apocalyptic world. But because of the linear nature of the game, anytime you need a specific ammo there will always be the materials nearby to craft it. The whole affair comes across like busywork, since it only ever takes seconds to craft something and I never once ran out of anything in the entire game.

A Reality with No Escape

One of the standouts in A Plague Tale was its atmosphere. The aesthetic of the game is one of uncomfortability. Rats, bodies, and religious iconography litter the game world. The soundtrack is backed by an eerie sensibility that reminds you this isn’t a world you want to be a part of. It’s a haunting setting, and the classy presentation sold me on it completely.

There are few joys better in video games than when a studio comes along and surprises you. I would not have expected a compelling game this soundly made out of a company with the catalog of Asobo Studio. I do wish there were more twists in the plot of A Plague Tale: Innocence, but nonetheless I was left wanting to see more of these characters and this world. Here’s to hoping this won’t be the last we see of this unique rat infested setting.

This review is based on a PS4 review copy of A Plague Tale: Innocence provided by Evolve PR for coverage purposes and is also available on Xbox One and Windows PC.