Well… They did it again. Asobo and Focus Entertainment told another tragically beautiful story set within the universe of A Plague Tale. After the end of Requiem, like many, I was haunted by it. So when it was announced that there was a third instalment, I was beyond excited, as I was beyond excited when Asobo and Focus sent over a copy to review! This is Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy.
Resonance is a prequel set fifteen years before the events of the first two games in the series and follows Sophia, a smuggler who was introduced in Requiem, where she is retelling her haunting past. Plagued by visions since she was a child of a Greek Island, and nightmarish visions of a large bull, Sophia is now forced to travel to the mysterious island while being pursued by the Venetian Army. Sophia, through her visions, soon discovers that there is something terribly wrong with the island.
Now, onto the game itself! The controls for Resonance are easy to learn and can be mastered quickly, allowing you to get right into the story and game immediately.
The graphics and art of the game are amazing! A side note: Asobo chose to use their in-house game engine to create the game, refusing to use generative AI to make the game. The world the story takes place in goes from bright and vibrant to gloomy and foreboding, keeping with the tone of the game’s series.
The sound design, soundtrack, and voice acting are of Hollywood-grade quality (back when Hollywood was good). Our leading lady, Anna Demetriou, who voices Sophia, delivers an outstanding performance, and the rest of the voice cast deliver believable lines soaked with emotion. Olivier Deriviere returns to compose the game’s soundtrack, which, again, he hits out of the park by using authentic instruments, including a carnyx!
Gameplay-wise, fans of the first two games will notice right away that the stealth mechanic is gone and has been replaced by intense action. Sophia will have to block and parry enemy attacks (depending on the game’s difficulty you pick), and weaken enemies’ stances before finishing them off. I know I just made it sound like a Souls-like game, but it’s not. There are a lot of environmental puzzles you’ll have to figure out to help Sophia proceed deeper into the island.
Just like in the previous titles, if you explore your surroundings, you’ll find some hidden goodies that will give Sophia an edge over her enemies, along with finding new swords that have their own stats. Sophia will also find Resonances that act as skill points to help give her new fighting abilities and skills.
Overall, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, just like the previous titles, haunts you long after you finish playing. You’re dragged right into the story as soon as it starts, not wanting to put the controller down. I know many people are probably put off by the lack of rats in this game, but trust me, if you play it, the story and game will win you over. I just wish we had more time with certain characters and had them more involved in the story, just like in the previous titles. Other than that. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a 10/10 from me!
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy comes out August 27th, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
