Developer: Asobo Studio
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Release Date: 18th October 2022
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch & Steam
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
Back in 2019, I was completely taken aback by what Asobo Studio delivered with A Plague Tale: Innocence. We live in a world now where so many games feel the need to try and deliver a large and expansive world to explore. But instead, Innocence delivered a gripping narrative stealth game that was tense and full of heart throughout. I was ecstatic when the sequel was announced, but could the team strike gold twice? The answer is an emphatic yes.
Requiem picks up six months after Innocence ended, with Hugo’s illness rearing its ugly head once again. You get a flavour of the relative peace that the remaining de Rune family have enjoyed over the last few months, but as tends to be the case in this unforgiving world, the danger is never far away. The decision is made to take Hugo to see a shadowy organisation of alchemists to try and rid the Macula once and for all.
Something that Asobo Studio continues to do well in Requiem is pepper moments of hope in amongst the despair. The opening few hours have some really nice moments, showcasing what life could be like for Amicia and young Hugo. These moments are even more powerful when interspersed with the grim reality of the world and the hulking presence of the guards who hunt you.
The story takes some unexpected turns throughout the 20+ hour journey that will no doubt gel with some gamers more than others, but it is the bond between Amicia and Hugo throughout that knits everything together. Hugo’s dreams are pulling him towards an island where he believes a cure lies. Amicia’s inner turmoil is also a standout aspect of the story. The events of the first game and the family’s continued struggles weigh heavily on her, and it manifests in different, and often violent ways.
The superb visuals go a long way in setting the tone as well. The previous game looked good, but Requiem takes full advantage of deciding to stick with the current-gen consoles only. Every scene conveys the sheer poverty that people are living through in this rat-infested depiction of France. The detail in the world is incredible, with the game often funnelling you through narrow passageways that are expertly crafted to focus on the cruelty of the world.
I am happy to report that the exceptional graphics and stunning attention to detail in the world are flanked by a great photo mode. The game only came out today as of this writing and already online I am starting to see some phenomenal visual photography. In 2022, if you have something with your art style, a robust photo mode is essential and so it is great to see the team clearly focus on getting this right.
The gameplay is a natural evolution of what we experienced in Innocence. Using stealth whenever possible is highly encouraged, but you can tackle some scenarios head-on when the situation calls for it. Rats and humans are both out to get you, and so I often found that pitting them against each other made the most sense. The rats still require darkness and so manipulating light sources is one of the most effective offensive manoeuvres. Extinguishing the guard’s lanterns allows the rats to swarm, leaving only skeletal remains.
However, you can’t just go around putting the lights out like there’s a 14th-century energy crisis. Darkness is just as dangerous for you and your associates, so this results in you both requiring the light to avoid the rats and trying not to draw too much attention to yourself. It is a delicate balance and one that sometimes results in trial and error, but the checkpoint system is very generous which manages to negate a lot of potential frustration.
The game runs at 30fps on all consoles, with a 1440p resolution on both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. On the Series S that lowers to 1080p. While 60fps is obviously the desired performance, most of the gameplay in Requiem is slower-paced and measured. This masks the fewer frames and results in it being less of an issue. Unfortunately though, there are times when we see that frame rate drop. Specifically late on when the number of vermin increases dramatically. Hopefully this can be addressed in a patch, as on the odd occasion it can drop into the teens.
The achievement list will look familiar to fans of the first game, tasking you with completing the game (on any difficulty), finding all collectables and upgrades, along with the odd miscellaneous objective. It is worth noting that knives are used to both open chests and kill enemies, but they are one-use only and instantly break if used on an enemy – so if you care about getting that 1000G avoid using the knives in combat. You won’t be able to max out all skills in one run, so expect to play a fair chunk of the games NG+ to finish off what you are missing.
VALUE: While this is a fairly linear narrative-driven game, it provides a lengthy 20+ hour journey that has so many memorable moments. Ignoring the fact that the game is currently on Xbox Game Pass and so should automatically be tried out by anyone with the service, the £49.99 price tag is a good one and represents good value for money.
Overall, A Plague Tale: Requiem is an excellent follow-up to one of the surprise hits of 2019. It builds on the foundations of the first game and uses the investment you have in the characters to craft another gripping narrative. The beautifully gruesome world is a technical marvel, but one that at times can be let down by an inconsistent frame rate. Aside from that though, this is one of the best single-player experiences of 2022.
-Mark 🦉