A Plague Tale: Innocence Release Date, Gameplay, Trailers, Story, News

Updated:

22 Aug 2024

When your innocence is shattered within this unforgiving world and devoured by the darkness. What part of yourself is left beyond the fragments?

A Plague Tale: Innocence tells the grim story of two siblings fighting together for survival in the darkest hours of History. This new video game from Asobo Studio, lead designer of the game, sends you on an emotional journey through the 14th century France. The gameplay combines adventure, action, and stealth; supported by a compelling story. Follow the young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, who face the brutality of a ravaged world as they discover their purpose to expose a dark secret. On the run from the Inquisition's soldiers, surrounded by unstoppable swarms of rats incarnating the Black Death, Amicia and Hugo will learn how to protect and trust each other as they struggle for their lives against all odds.

With the story being based on the black death, which was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of millions of people. I can see why rats from the trailer would be portrayed as being this overwhelming force that is causing destruction everywhere the hordes of them traveled. Rats for decades have been associated with and accused of being one of the major facts that helped spread the Black Death. With their depiction within “A Plague Tale: Innocence,” it creates a storyline that creates possible curiosity in gamers and makes us intrigued in how something so devastating from the past can be turned into such a powerful story with such interesting characters.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Story

“A Plague Tale: Innocence” is a 3rd person action-adventure game set in the 14th century (1349) France, a dark time for protagonists Amicia and her little brother Hugo. They lost their parents to the ruthless inquisition, forcing them to survive on their own in a world where danger is present around every corner. War and disease ravaged the country to the point where turmoil is the norm. The dead are quickly outnumbering the living and many people only wait in suspense wondering when will death come knocking at their door to claim their lives. To top it off, five-year-old Hugo is suffering from a strange illness, and ravenous rodents are spreading throughout the country, eager to devour anything that’s in their way, even human flesh.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Developer

“A Plague Tale: Innocence” is game developed by Asobo Studio, published by Focus Home Interactive and designed by Kevin Choteau. Asobo Studio, a French video game development company based in Bordeaux, France, tries to establish a new reputation for itself, while also paying tribute to its home. A home that at one point had a brush with the Black Death. Kevin Choteau explains he wanted to make a game that compelling to the masses. With his inspiration from game titles such as, “The Last of Us,” he understood how important great gameplay can be when the characters can be memorable. And he did that by creating an emotional character focused game where their thoughts, feelings, and actions are in a way relatable to us gamers.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Gameplay

One thing is very clear, Amicia cannot rush head first into battle! She must think and choose the option that is less risky for herself and her brother. The lack of brute force to overcome enemies is reflected in the character model and forces players to be careful and crafty with the resources they have. The game has a blend of adventure and stealth gameplay, deeply embedded in the use of environmental puzzles to progress throughout the game. The only “weapon” seen used in the gameplay is a sling that is used to interact with things you can't reach or, less pleasantly, knock lanterns from the hands of human adversaries to expose them to the rats while you venture down the now available path away from the carnage.

Struggle through a brutal and ruthless world where death saturates the landscape.

Taking care of your little brother during a bloodthirsty rat plague forces you to make difficult decisions to survive. The story is filled with realism and makes you sit back and think what if you and your loved one were in that similar situation? Would you proceed with love and care or head first and risk a costly mistake that ends in death? As Amicia’s brother progresses through the game he learns from every single encounter with the nightmarish manifestations of rodents. If you’re careful and technical, you can use your greatest adversaries to your advantage.

How far are you willing to go through the unknown to protect a loved one? Would you even risk your own life?

Your one defense against these creatures is fire, by carrying a torch the hordes of rats will keep their distance, but you’ll need to be careful to never stray too far from that light or the flood of vermin will be quick to strike. Yikes! One instrument that players should become familiar with is the sling that Amicia is equipped with. It enables her to fling flaming coals at nearby torches or lanterns, creating a path of safety for them to follow. The sling is also used cleverly in puzzles, allowing you to shoot at nearby objects like the lock of a gate. However, players must be on the lookout for materials throughout the game, as you’ll need to craft more ammunition for your weapon in order to progress.

A Plague Tale: Innocence Trailer

“When survival is all you know. Will the darkness dim your light?”

Regarding the mechanics surrounding gameplay, as mentioned before, they are essentially based around managing light sources and staying out of the darkness and therefore harm's way. To get through anywhere a light source will always be your best friend. Just like the torch presented in the trailer, it's the only thing that keeps you and the rats separated. Just like I presented within the gameplay section you must light torches, campfires, and any of the flammable objects that might be scattered around the vicinity. The light of the flames scares away the nearby rats and therefore opens a path. You'll still have to be very cautious, as the rodents will feast on your flesh if you venture into the darkness, and therein lies the challenge offered by the game.

Another element that is offered in the game is storytelling like no other. Think of the message the trailer gives us as these two characters are surrounded by death and rats. Who wouldn’t have empathy for them? Just imagine if you were in that position with your sibling? Would you be able to keep a calm head or panic for their sake? So many questions can be asked that sets up for a world that sends shivers down your spine being in that environment. A Plague Tale is about family, and how those relationships are tested in times of great distress.

A Plague Tale: Innocence News

If you're curious like I am and would like to stay updated on the progress of the game I would highly recommend checking out the Focus Home Interactive forums. It's a valuable source in the unveiling of more details and information about the making of A Plague Tale: Innocence. Also, their social media sites also keep fans updated on the progress of the game.

Website: Aplaguetale

Twitter: Twitter.com/Aplaguetale

Facebook: Facebook.com/APlagueTale/

Forum: Roots of Innocence- A Tale As Old As The Hills

A Plague Tale: Innocence Release Date

There's no exact release date specified for the game just yet, but we do know that A Plague Tale: Innocence will be released for PS4, Xbox One and PC in 2019.

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