A Plague Tale: Requiem Preview – Rat At It Again

It is difficult to make a sequel for a videogame, particularly if it was successful commercially. What made the game so popular? What new features will the sequel require to be worth the additional price? What should be kept the same? What can you do to make it new and keep the original identity?

These are questions that developers must ask while creating games. The road to publishing a project is full of pitfalls, and it’s easy to lose the path. 

Asobo Studios, the creator of the Plague Tale series, seems to be navigating these challenges effectively, smartly building atop the foundation laid by A Plague Tale: Innocence and sticking to what we want more of – another riveting story. There are some gameplay updates, most notably in combat features. But I still loved the original game for Amicia’s journey to protect her younger brother Hugo. And that’s precisely where A Plague Tale: Requiem begins.

Following the events of Innocence, the siblings once again find themselves on the run, but this time, they’re searching for refuge on a mysterious island off France’s coast. 

The demo starts in the first chapter, A Burden of Blood. The rat plague has disappeared, but Hugo’s affliction, which I won’t detail due to spoilers, is causing him to experience seizures. Lucas (a young, alchemy-savvy character, is required to gather Nightshade for his convulsions.

There’s an herbalist outside the town’s walls, but the pair must quickly cut through the Butcher’s District to meet him. Upon arrival, the district’s populace is under attack from an unlikely source. Rather than protecting the city, Amicia and Lucas surprisingly discover soldiers – the very ones meant to protect the town – killing the townsfolks in the streets. It is strictly forbidden to allow anyone in or out.

But Hugo needs medicine quickly. 

You might be surprised to learn that rats soon invade the area, creating an environment conducive for clever logic puzzles as well as stealthy moments. A Plague Tale, Requiem has many of the same puzzles as the original game. You must avoid rats using torchlight. Everything serves the bigger narrative. When I fail a challenge, I feel like I’m letting down the characters on screen. I’m heavily invested in Amicia and Hugo’s lives and want them to find happiness.

But I’m not naive – I know whatever lies ahead for these characters is indeed grim, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store when Requiem releases on October 18.