For every tale of fantasy, legend and myth, there is often a kernel of truth buried somewhere at its core. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy once again takes real-world history and myths and twists them into something full of adventure. Developed by French studio Asobo, the game builds on the foundations of the previous A Plague Tale games. It mixes a historical setting with supernatural elements.
This time around, though, the story looks to push the series in a new direction while still keeping a similar vibe. This is a prequel set 15 years before the events of A Plague Tale: Requiem.
It puts you in the boots of a much younger Sophia (who fans will already know) as she is thrust into the centre of a swashbuckling adventure. It is filled with ancient mythology, deadly secrets and a mysterious connection to the Minotaur’s Island (the island of Crete).
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The tale does a solid job of making you care about the cast even if the writing is a bit hit and miss. Sophia more often than not story dumps on you as she talks while you’re moving around the world.
Rather than simply repeating the stealth-heavy formula of its predecessors, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy embraces action, exploration and puzzle-solving. It gives the series a welcome sense of evolution.
Retribution
Combat plays a larger and more important role than in past titles. As with the previous games, thinking before acting is often the key. This is especially true when enemies outnumber you.
As you blend light, heavy and parry attacks, you also have a hook and can throw objects to break enemy stances. It’s a fast, fluid and above all else fun combat system. It is always encouraging you to play around with your skills and tools.
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There is also an upgrade tree or two, though it’s a bit limited. This means you don’t get much room to change your build, let’s say, and it was the same for the arsenal of swords you’ll find. Most look different but, on a stats level, it’s all small buffs rather than epic leaps.
Looking beyond combat, the exploration on show is good but linear. Nine times out of ten, you’ll know you’re heading to a secret if you take a side path. It’s all very focused and tight, with very little bloat.
Recollection
Puzzles, however, will have you thinking more often than not. There are more than a few Uncharted vibes to them. This means the array on show is always fun to tackle and never too taxing.
In a lot of ways, the whole game has the vibe of an Uncharted title, from its puzzles to its handling of set pieces. This is more a point of praise than a negative if I am honest.
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Visually, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is striking, from the sun-kissed island you are adventuring through to the hustle and bustle of the pirate camp in the earlier game.
The voice acting is solid throughout, helping give the characters the emotional weight needed to make the story work. The soundtrack also adds an epic quality without overpowering the quieter moments.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a brave title that moves the series in a whole new direction, but it lands it perfectly, managing to blend history, adventure and human drama into something that feels different. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it delivers a solid new chapter in a much-loved series.