A Plague Tale: Requiem ups the stakes of its indie darling predecessor

This is the sequel to “Indie Darling” The Plague Tale of Innocence, A Plague Tale: RequiemThe next chapter will be a family affair. Amicia, the strong and determined Amicia has set out to defend Hugo from any church who would use Hugo’s ability to keep swarms under control for their own benefit. Players controlled Amicia the first time, but her brother Hugo takes an active part in this sequel.

This is my brief experience with A Plague Tale: RequiemIt was divided into two chapters that were played in the middle of the game. These included set pieces in tunnels full of rats and a number of derelict vessels, as well as an area open to deserts covered with patrolling guards. Requiem Soon, they transitioned to close-quarters stealth scenes that Asobo Studio created so beautifully in its first game. They unfolded in a variety of structures that can be used to dye fabric. I created alchemical materials to create flames, distract, and take out a formidable armored opponent by using explosive-laden stones and bolts. These actions are in harmony with the stealthy, intense strengths of Innocence, sure — but this time around, stealth has become even more important, with an even thinner margin of error.

Image: Asobo Studio/Focus Entertainment

Much of this difficulty stems from Hugo’s more active role, which, while it offers new abilities to experiment with, adds another level of vulnerability to the duo. Hugo can more precisely command swarms of rats to make quick work of any enemy soldier — well-armored or not — that crosses their path. And unlike the first game, there is a greater sense of control over the horde — you can dive into first person mode and directly steer where the rats go and whom they consume. But while the more refined control of the horde may sound overpowered at first glance, there’s a catch: If Hugo uses his rat-command powers for too long, the swarm will go into a frenzy, resulting in an immediate game over.

Hugo also has the option to use the swarm in order to detect soldiers along the path ahead. This ability is somewhat like echolocation. This is great in tight spaces where there are enemies everywhere. Hugo can be both your most powerful asset as well as your biggest liability. He’s not astrusive as Ashley Graham in Resident Evil 4, since he can’t be killed or abducted by enemies, and he’s not as mechanically inconsequential as Elizabeth in BioShock Infinite — he’s somewhere in between.

Hugo and Amicia’s bond is, naturally, a story-telling conceit. Hugo wasn’t really taxed because controlling the Rat Horde was such a hard trade-off. Amicia’s constant warnings reinforced this decision tenfold, and the worry in her voice reflected the tension in my chest. These times felt urgent and personal, which added to Amicia’s bond with her brother. There’s a sense of real concern here, which made Hugo more than just an escort character with powers to make my journey easier.

Image: Asobo Studio/Focus Entertainment

The dialogue between them is charming and, when Arnaud, the knight with a grizzled face, joins the group, Hugo eases tensions between Arnaud and Amicia, who are both guarded and cautious. Hugo does much more than provide the means for the players. He adds humor to quieter times between horrifying set pieces. Generally speaking, Hugo still fills out the role of the “escort character,” but his earnestness and interactions with his sister, along with his sense of whimsy toward the world around him, help to elevate him as a narrative linchpin. Even if the dialogue is sometimes a little clunky, Amicia and Hugo’s relationship (and their desperate attempt to cure Hugo of his connection to the swarm) makes for an endearing throughline.

It is at the most, an asset that makes Hugo worthwhile, regardless of the risks inherent in his powers. With how closely he’s linked to both the mechanical narrative and the actual script, Hugo feels like he’s been designed with intention, as opposed to characters that have filled the role of the “sidekick” as an afterthought. It’ll be interesting to see if the game will be able to stick the landing when it’s release don Oct. 18, potentially further cementing and strengthening the bond between sister and brother that made the narrative beats of The Plague Tale of InnocenceIt is truly a remarkable thing to be able to do.