Narrative: 3 Mechanics: 5 Visuals/Art Style: 5 Audio/Soundtrack: 5 Replayability: 4 Performance: 5 Overall: 27/30 This game is incredible. If you are a fan of the "Metroidvania" 2D style of games, then don't think, just buy. The game follows Miriam, an orphan who was taken in by a group of Alchemists doing experiments with magi-crystals and infusing them with humans. The experiments led to her becoming the host of the "Alchemist's Curse" which put her in a coma like state for 10 years. Upon waking up with amnesia, she found the people turning into monsters caused by the "Bloodstained Ritual" and it's up to her to save the day. The art and characters looked hand drawn. The environments are detailed without seeming too busy. The soundtrack is on par with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The game has a lot of replayability. Upon beating the game on Normal; Hard and Nightmare mode are unlocked. You can also continue your journey in NG+ mode. Lastly, similar to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, there are a few secret characters to play as by entering in specific names for save files. I did not have any performance issues while playing this masterpiece.
Narrative: 4 Mechanics: 4 Visuals/Art Style: 5 Audio/Soundtrack: 4 Replayability: 1 Performance: 5 Overall: 23/30 In the sea of post-apocalyptic games, A Plague Tale: Innocence stands above the rest as one of the best in the genre. Taking place in 14th century France during the Hundred Years War, you play as Amicia de Rune trying to save her brother Hugo from an unknown disease that is slowly taking over his body. It is up to Amicia to find a cure while protecting her brother from the rat plague that has overtaken the land and the Inquisition which is in pursuit. A Plague Tale: Innocence takes place during a time in history when religion and science clashed head to head. While there are some cliches in the narrative such as religious fanatics versus heretical alchemists; the writing, voice acting, and mystery of the impending rat plague keep the player engaged for the entire ten hour ride. The game relies heavily on stealth and puzzle solving, which is perfect considering that both Amicia and Hugo are just children. not trained killing machines. The gravity of Amicia's first kill to protect her brother can be felt, as well as the gradual loss of innocence that both siblings go through while trying to survive. A Plague Tale: Innocence is visually breathtaking, and the audio is held to the same level of excellence. Surprisingly enough, these visuals did not come at the cost of performance and the game runs smoothly. The only negative I have is that it ended too soon at around ten hours. I think fifteen to twenty hours would have felt more reasonable for a $40 price tag without overstaying its welcome. Overall, A Plague Tale: Innocence is a must play game for fans of story driven narratives. Just don't expect much reason to play the game a second time as there are no difficulty settings, new game plus features, or various endings.
