Before the rats
The original Plague Tale games didn’t really set my world on fire. I can recognize they were excellent games, but the core game play just never got me into the world. After finishing Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, I want to give them another chance. The story of this world is so intriguing, and the team has crafted an entirely different experience for the third game in the series that really kept me engaged. While this is not like the other two titles in the series, the connection is there, and this has revitalized my interest in it.
Resonance takes place 15 years before the events of the first game, and before you ask, yes, it does tie into the events of those games. Players take on the role of Sophia, and right from the start the intrigue is there. The game kicks off with her as a child who clearly has a special gift, and of course people are trying to exploit it. She is rescued by her father and taken back to her home. Sadly, things take a turn for the worse and eventually she ends up following in his footsteps to try and figure out the secrets behind this island she has had visions of her entire life.
MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
I don’t want to go too much more into the story, as it is presented so well that it kept me wondering how things would play out. The performances are stellar, and the characters in this game are fantastic. It combines a lot of other stories into the mix, and feels familiar, but also something of its own. I was really invested from start to finish, and that is why I kind of want to revisit the other two games to see how things continue on.
The original games were almost 100% stealth endeavors, while Resonance uses a lot more variety. There are parts of the game that are focused heavily on puzzle-solving, while others are action, and closer to the end it becomes a stealth/horror title. It really makes the rounds when it comes to its game play. Combat itself is fast and focused on dodges and parries. There are not a ton of different enemy types, which works here because combat is not the main focus. There are massive sections I would play that had zero combat.
The puzzles in this game are fun. They remind me of something you would see in games like Tomb Raider or Uncharted, where you need to solve light puzzles or figure out which path to take along a set of symbols. I got stuck a few times, but just exploring would usually reveal the solution. Sophia also has a book she carries with her that has hints, and she will add items as she discovers things in the world. It is really well done, and players are usually travelling with a second character, who you can ask for hints at times.
The horror section was fine most of the time, but there were parts of it that drove me nuts. There is a monster chasing you, and if it catches you, it is game over. These sections are purposely intense, and as I mentioned they work most of the time. There are some sections though where the game does a poor job of telling you what you should do, or where to go. It is trial and error over and over, and some of the rules don’t seem to apply to certain sections. There was one towards the end of the game that nearly had me quit, but I walked away and completed it on my first attempt the next day. Still, it can be infuriating at the time.
The pacing is what makes this all work though. Everything the game does from exploring, combat, chase sequences, and puzzle solving is sprinkled perfectly throughout the game. Nothing ever overstays its welcome, and I was always thinking about coming back to the game. I played it almost exclusively for the two weeks leading up to its release, and I could not wait for the next chapter. This game will certainly make it into my game of the year list; it is that good.
Visually the game can be absolutely gorgeous. I spent the bulk of my time in performance mode, which definitely tones down some detail, but there are sequences I literally stopped just to take in. The world is well-designed and there are some set pieces that are absolutely jaw dropping. The framerate held up for the most part, but I did notice a few drops here and there while I was playing. It never hindered my game play though. The quality mode is gorgeous, but the combat just does not work for me at 30fps. It feels clunky.
The audio is outstanding. The voice work is incredible, and the soundtrack was really engaging and high-quality. I really loved the melodies that played, and the vocal tracks really fit the atmosphere of the game. The characters are not only voiced well, but their lines are also fantastic. I felt connected to Sophia and Leni from the outset, and the supporting cast is amazing, even with some of their limited screen time. The presentation of this game is simply incredible from top to bottom.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is an incredible game from a clearly talented studio. While I did not get into the previous two games in the series, I always recognized their quality. This one though, really connected with me, and I loved it from start to finish. Yes, there are a few sections that frustrated me, but it never kept me from coming back. From start to finish, this game is a masterpiece and now I might need to revisit the other two games to connect the story.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
