Six hours in, I'm hooked. No idea what's coming. The shift from grim darkness to lush Mediterranean island feels like a breath of fresh air, and Sophia's character development, particularly in her interactions with new companion Leni, is already showing signs of being more nuanced than expected, possibly even surpassing the emotional depth of its predecessors in some ways, which is a bold move for Asobo Studio, given the fanbase's attachment to the original narrative.
Quick Facts — Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
| Developer | Asobo Studio |
|---|---|
| Platform(s) | PS5, PC |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Puzzle |
It's dark. You'll see that in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy. The setting is old. They've used Asobo Studio for this. It looks great. The world design is detailed, richly researched, a key part of what makes the game tick, with the studio's penchant for it showing in every scene. But the story's focus on action and puzzles, with some witty banter between Sophia and Leni, feels off at times, it's just not the real feel you'd expect from the Plague Tale universe, especially with cosmic horrors around, it's a bit of a mismatch, you'll notice it. The game's dynamic, with Sophia and Leni, is not bad, but it lacks the emotional depth of Amicia and Hugo's story, it's more like Uncharted or Indiana Jones, with a dash of Jungle Run for good measure, which is worth mentioning, but it's just not the same.
New Characters, New Mechanics, A New Style
She's quick. Sophia is more aggressive. It's a fun combat system. You'll spend hours mastering it. The parry system is decent, for instance, in a mini-boss fight against a large Inquisition member, it's a small learning curve, so be prepared to die a few times, and that's what makes it enjoyable, even if it's not a genre-changer, the combat still serves the narrative well, with a weighty feel to it, that's key to the experience of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy.
You'll notice the puzzles. They feel off. It's not that they're bad, it's just that redirecting light beams or matching symbols, despite looking great, didn't really grab me. The real feel of puzzle-solving was missing. In Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, we've got a beautifully designed notebook from Sophia, which is worth mentioning - it's a sketchpad for tracking progress and hints, offering a more honest way to deal with the game. Leni is key in these sections, like with the pressure plates, and her involvement adds a nice layer of companionship, making it feel more like a crossover between exploration and puzzle-solving.
A Stunning World
You'll get the real feel of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy right away. It's pretty. The setting is in a Greek Heroic Age. They've done a great job with level design, for sure. With a solid photo mode, you'll want to capture it all - it's a shame screenshots were not possible during the preview. We've seen some impressive stuff, like descending into a ruined temple with a towering Greek warrior statue. The crossover of Greek mythology and gameplay is worth mentioning. A time warp sequence was key, it's one of those moments you'll remember. It's in these moments that Asobo Studio's honesty about their vision shines through, making Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy a change of pace for the series.
You'll notice it's linear. The action is there. Puzzles and combat are key. They get you through set pieces, it's true. If the visuals are on point, this can work. The real feel is missing, though. It's a change of pace for Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy. Compared to the others, it lacks emotional weight. They've tried to make it more action-oriented, which is worth mentioning. A small fight between Sophia and Leni, for instance, didn't have much impact. We've seen this before, but with more time to build up, it's more effective. In this preview, it fell flat, showing the challenge of building character investment in a shorter game with lots of action.
Criticisms and the Path Forward
It's different. You'll notice that right away. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy takes a shot at being a visually stunning, action-packed spin-off. The puzzles are okay, for now. They've got potential, especially with Sophia's notebook - that's a nice touch. We've seen this series tackle tough subjects before, it's a key part of its appeal. The real question is how this prequel fits into the bigger picture, particularly with that cliffhanger from Requiem still looming. It's a change of pace, and you'll appreciate the crossover in style, even if it's missing the real feel that fans love.
The Bad Gamer Take
Asobo Studio will shift the tone of the Plague Tale series to a more action-oriented approach because the introduction of new characters like Sophia and Leni allows for a fresh perspective. This change in tone will likely appeal to fans of the Uncharted series, given the similarities in gameplay and banter between characters. WATCH Asobo Studio's handling of the Plague Tale universe's darker elements, such as cosmic horrors, to see how they balance action and horror.
It's fast now. You'll notice the change. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is the action-packed cousin of Requiem, with a pace that's key to drawing in new players. We've seen this shift before, it's for a different crowd. The real feel of the game is unusual, with 2024's Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy potentially bringing honesty to the series by trying something new, you'll have to wait and see if it works for Amicia and Hugo's story.
Resonance Breaks the Amicia Mold
- Set 15 years before A Plague Tale: Requiem, focusing on Sophia's origins.
- Features a new combat system and puzzle-solving, with an action-focused narrative.
- Visually stunning, leveraging the underutilized Greek Heroic Age setting.
- Lacks the emotional weight of its predecessors, with puzzles feeling functional.
