A Plague Tale: Requiem

"This world hurts, and it keeps hurting. And you want to hurt it back. But it's a fight you can't win, Amicia."

A Plague Tale: Requiem is the sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence and was published on October 18th 2022 by Focus Home Interactive. Asobo Studios once again created a stunning masterpiece for Xbox, PC and Playstation. As an Action-Adventure singeplayer, it brings Stealth and Combat to another level.

The sequel continues the breathtaking story of Amicia and her little brother Hugo, the carrier of the Macula. Still living in the 14th century, the siblings not only deal with the consequences of the Black Death but also bring their journey onto another path. Looking for traces from ancestors, Amicia and Hugo encounter many dangers yet also find new companions.

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First of all, I'd like to say that I am a huge fan of either Innocence and Requiem. The Plague Tale Series is incredibly well written as well as transposed. Asobo Studios manages to not only portray a wonderful relationship between Amicia and Hugo but also entices the player to feel for the characters and the horrors of the Black Death.

Especially in the sequel, the emotions are more vocalised and therefore immeditaly catch the player. There is not much room for interpretation, because the characters define their emotions, making it more relatable. Besides, the sentimental journey and touching encounters with the ancestors really ignite strong feelings in the player which might end in tears. Even the heartwarming relationship between the 6-year-old Hugo and his elder sister Amicia does not leave anyone untouched. The love between the siblings sparks in the sequel and is beautifully portrayed by the French developer.

Furthermore, I'd like to talk in depth about Requiem's characters.

Amicia and Hugo, the protagonists of the series, are both extremely likeable characters. At all times, the player feels connected to them and understands every emotion and action. It never occurs that the behavior of each character seems dramatic or even exgaggerated. The player especially bonds with Amicia and feels the responsibility of being the protector and its importance. In addition, Hugo's behavior might feel unexpected at times, mainly because he is a 6-year-old and so his anger may feel like a typical tantrum. Nonetheless, the player will understand Hugo's mind and why he feels so much anger inside him.

On the other hand, there is also nothing bad to say about our beloved friend Lucas. The lovely alchemist is a great addition to the family De Rune where he feels at home. I find it absolutely heartwarming how much he cares about our protagonists that he would go through fire for them. Personally, Lucas is my favorite, just because of how loving and caring he is. I am sure, Hugo values him as a big brother as well.

During the sequel, the player meets two new companions. But I will leave it to you to find out who they are and if they are a great addition to our "team".

While talking about specific aspects of the game itself, I find it important to also emphasize the great work Asobo Studios has done. Throughout the series, Asobo Studios used true historic elements and created a well written story. Obviously, the Black Death in the 14th century is a known historic fact. However, in the sequel, Asobo Studios utilizes the Justinian Plague of 541 to create ancestors to our Carrier and its protector. Personally, I wasn't aware that there was a plague 700 years prior to the Black Death and so I thought, Asobo Studios made it up for the purpose of the story. Later then, I found out that it actually occured in 541, which means the French developer really has done their part of research. It is extremely impressive that they took the time to create this fictional story based on true events which, in the end, makes it more believable and more enioyable. Besides, it is always a bonus to actually learn something during gaming.

To briefly conclude my review, this game has brought me happy as well as sad tears. I'm truly amazed at how wonderfully written Requiem really is. From the beginning until the end, Asobo Studios truly captures you and sets off all kinds of emotions. It has been 2 weeks since I've finished the game and I can tell you that it didn't leave me yet. It truly touched my heart and created a strong impact. No other game ever made me feel like this. For anyone who wants to find out how the story of our little Hugo continues, it is truly a heartfelt recommendation.

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