A new trailer for A Plague Tale: Innocence has dropped, this time detailing what horrors await you in the game and how you can overcome them.
It was only this Monday when Asobo Studio and Focus Home Interactive released eight minutes of gameplay for A Plague Tale: Innocence, which shows footage of what things will actually look like in game. I found the video to be incredibly interesting, and after giving it some thought, I've decided that the closest games I can compare A Plague Tale: Innocence to is both Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider series as well as Naughty Dogs’ The Last of Us. A Plague Tale: Innocence is set in a plague-torn France during the Hundred Years’ War and the early onset the Black Plague, which means that you will encounter hundreds of thousands of rats. The gameplay footage did show, however, that you can traverse the darkness with the help of fire, which seem to repel the vermin away. Still, you have to always be vigilant, as the tyrannical Inquisition is out to get you.
This newest trailer focuses on a general overview of the game, including its characters, the setting, the story and some gameplay elements. The trailer begins with a voiceover detailing some backstory for the two main characters, Amicia and Hugo:
Amicia de Rune and her young brother Hugo set out on a poetic and harrowing journey deep into the dark heart of the plague-ridden, war-torn Kingdom of France. Following an unspeakable tragedy, the siblings are forced to abandon their home, pursued by the relentless Inquisition and endless swarms of ravenous rats. Thrust into a brutal new reality, they will confront dangers no child should ever face. Meanwhile, Hugo is afflicted by a mysterious sickness, driving Amicia to hunt for a cure. She must do whatever it takes to protect her little brother and survive in this harsh and hostile world.
The overview also details that while Amicia is still just a child, she can be formidable in situations that don't include direct conflict. It then shows some very creative kills using the slingshot, which seems to be Amicia’s main weapon; the slingshot can be used to knock out some enemies cold, or destroy their light source so the rats can eat them alive. There are also neat environmental kills as well.
Likewise, Hugo acts as your partner for parts of the game, meaning he can be used in certain situations where two people are required. This is somewhat similar to games with escort mechanics such as the recent God of War and the much older Resident Evil 4. It’s a good game design that rarely gets a lot of love, and if Asobo manages to get Hugo’s AI working well, we could be looking at the markings of an exceptional game.
The overview also emphasizes the balance between light and dark; stick to the light too much and you might get discovered by the Inquisition, slink to the shadows too deep and you just might end up as rat food. The trailer also teased the different characters Amicia and Hugo will meet on their journey. If the duo are to survive this journey, they will need all the help they can get.
A Plague Tale: Innocence is set to be released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on May 14. Stay tuned for my review of the game after the embargo lifts.
