General Gaming A Plague Tale: Requiem (18 October 2022) - Information Thread, update: reviews from OpenCritic posted

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

This was the absolute highlight of MS's show for me!

 

 

[XxEvil AshxX]

A lot of the reaction podcasts I watched seemed to gloss right over this one, like they never even played Innocence. Which is a shame, because that game was expertly crafted. I'm genuinely looking forward to this one.

 

Also, if you're a gaming podcaster or "influencer" then you should probably know your shit. I don't get paid for any of this yet I seem to be far more knowledgeable about most of these games than the so-called "games media."

[Dre801]

Never played the original.  Should pull it off Game Pass and check it out.

[jaethos]

I really liked the first game so I'm excited for this.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

 

[Ghost_MH]

I kind of hope they don't give Amicia too many close combat options.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

3 minutes ago, Ghost_MH said:

I kind of hope they don't give Amicia too many close combat options.

 

I tend to agree with that sentiment as well.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

 

[Phaseknox]

I can’t believe that this isn’t coming out for PS4, but it is for Switch. I’ve been noticing more newly announced games not coming to PS4, but coming to Switch. I guess just because the PS5 is out now, no one owns a PS4 anymore. 

[atom631]

I absolutely loved the first Plague Tale. It was such a unique game and Im super excited to play this one! 

[Keyser_Soze]

1 hour ago, Phaseknox said:

I can’t believe that this isn’t coming out for PS4, but it is for Switch. I’ve been noticing more newly announced games not coming to PS4, but coming to Switch. I guess just because the PS5 is out now, no one owns a PS4 anymore. 

 

As @GameDadGrant explains all the time, The Switch came out AFTER PS4 and Xbone so it is more next gen than those two.

[Phaseknox]

3 hours ago, atom631 said:

I absolutely loved the first Plague Tale. It was such a unique game and Im super excited to play this one! 

I have the first one for PS4, the console that they’re not releasing this sequel for. But they’re releasing it for Switch which is a generation behind it in terms of tech.
 

3 hours ago, Keyser_Soze said:

As @GameDadGrant explains all the time, The Switch came out AFTER PS4 and Xbone so it is more next gen than those two.

The Switch is the equivalent of a PS3/Xbox 360, it’s as next gen as my old wrinkly ass. 

[GameDadGrant]

5 hours ago, Phaseknox said:

The Switch is the equivalent of a PS3/Xbox 360, it’s as next gen as my old wrinkly ass. 

Switch is more advanced than the PS360, and far more relevant than either of those. And the PS4, arguably. 
 

Not that you are, of course.  

[Phaseknox]

On 6/11/2022 at 5:03 AM, GameDadGrant said:

Switch is more advanced than the PS360, and far more relevant than either of those. And the PS4, arguably.

Switch isn’t much more advanced than PS3/Xbox 360, and is far less advanced than PS4. Of course it’s more relevant than PS3/Xbox 360 since it’s still being supported, but so is PS4 and there’s just as many PS4s out there as there are Switches.

 

I don’t have anything against Switch and I understand why companies want to release current gen games for it if they can, because it’s all about those dollar signs. But I’m just confused as to why they no longer see dollar signs with PS4 as well, there’s still millions of them out there and PS5 has only been out about a year and a half and is scarcely available.
 

On 6/11/2022 at 5:03 AM, GameDadGrant said:

Not that you are, of course.  

True. 

[atom631]

On 6/11/2022 at 2:20 AM, Phaseknox said:

I have the first one for PS4, the console that they’re not releasing this sequel for. But they’re releasing it for Switch which is a generation behind it in terms of tech.
 

The Switch is the equivalent of a PS3/Xbox 360, it’s as next gen as my old wrinkly ass. 

I agree that sucks, but now is a great time to buy a XSX. Tons of games coming out In the next 12 months that look amazing and all playable day one on gamepass, Including Plague Tale. 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

A Plague Tale: Requiem - Exclusive Hands-On Preview - IGN

WWW.IGN.COM

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After extended hands-on time with A Plague Tale: Requiem - including a never-before-seen chapter - we’re left very impressed with the rat-filled sequel.

 

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Outside of combat, the thing that struck me the most was how much more colour and life there is in the world, especially when compared to the largely grey and brown Innocence. The original was already graphically impressive, but Requiem looks downright gorgeous at times. The weather effects in particular are striking, with dark clouds rolling in and waves of light crashing against trees. This sequel is set in an area of France where you get to see glimpses of civilisation before the plague has had its full impact. One of the locations I saw allowed me to wander bustling streets full of all the welcome (and some unwelcome) sounds and sights of a butcher's district, while more genuinely pleasant surroundings included rolling fields and a jovial campsite. While I can only presume that this ultimately won’t be a happy-go-lucky story of two siblings taking in all the beauty the south of France has to offer, it’s very welcome to not constantly feel like you’re in the gutter this time around.

 

 

 

[atom631]

Cant wait! 

[johnny]

FYI playing the first one in french is the way to go 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

On 6/14/2022 at 5:01 PM, johnny said:

FYI playing the first one in french is the way to go 

 

It ABSOLUTELY is!

 

Playing with the French voice over REALLY adds significantly to the atmosphere/immersion!

[Phaseknox]

On 6/14/2022 at 2:01 PM, johnny said:

FYI playing the first one in french is the way to go 

1 hour ago, Commissar SFLUFAN said:

It ABSOLUTELY is!

 

Playing with the French voice over REALLY adds significantly to the atmosphere/immersion!

Good to know, I’ll definitely play it with the French voice over when I play it. Thanks.

[Brian]

 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

 

[Ghost_MH]

How am I supposed to play this in the 10 days before Bayonetta 3? I've got nothing lined up for September. Guys couldn't throw me a bone here.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

New hands-on previews:

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem has dialled up the rat horror, but shows restraint in its approach to violence

WWW.ROCKPAPERSHOTGUN.COM

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We go hands on with a chunky preview build of A Plague Tale: Requiem, the upcoming sequel to Asobo's action stealth adventure, A Plague Tale: Innocence.

 

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Alas, when I pick up their journey in chapter six of Asobo's upcoming sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Amicia is having a particularly terrible time of it. Not only is she suffering from an open head wound, leaving her unsteady on her feet, but rumours are flying in the nearby pilgrim camp about something bad having gone down in the last city they passed through. Exactly what is hard to say with five chapters' worth of context missing from my preview build, but the pack of guards who are hot on the siblings' trail quickly make it plain: several men died back in that city, and they're pointing the finger squarely at Amicia's knife, slingshot and crossbow.

 

As you might expect from a sequel, Amicia has a lot more tools at her disposal than she did fighting the Inquisition back in her Innocence days. In addition to the two new weapons she's packing alongside her trusty slingshot, she's picked up a deeper knowledge of what she can do with them, such as stabbing enemies in the back if she can get close enough, and countering grabs and lunges with space-creating punches. She'd probably make a fine apprentice to someone like Eivor or Corvo with the right kind of training, but thankfully there's still a lingering roughness to the way she carries herself (to say nothing of poor little Hugo still stuck on her arm) that make these newfound takedowns feel like a last resort.

 

Rather, stealth is still very much the name of the game in A Plague Tale: Requiem, but the frequency of shiny things to ding noisily with your slingshot has been significantly dialled back - at least based on what I saw during my two-and-a-half-hour demo. They've been replaced by slow and steady creeps through long patches of grass, crouching behind waist-high barriers, and wriggling beneath carts and rock crevices to slip through patrol patterns undetected. All fairly standard stuff by and large, but the way they're presented feels a lot more natural, like you're actively picking your route through these guarded danger zones as opposed to following a trail of glittering doodads.

 

 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem - Improving All The Right Ways - The Final Preview - IGN

WWW.IGN.COM

 

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My preview took me through Chapter 6, which showcased Amicia’s newfound viciousness, and Hugo’s rat empowerment ratcheted up to 11. Hugo can now see through walls and control rats on a whim, but if he gets too carried away, a flood of the vermin will put him and his sister at risk. As we’ve already previewed this section, I’ll just briefly say that I am very impressed with the advancement of visuals as Amicia and Hugo look more realistic than ever before. Their battle scars are on display with details clearly emphasized by marks left, or infections spreading on the surface of their skin. Everything looks clearer than the previous game and it truly seems like the team is pushing the Unreal Engine to make this world pop in all the right ways.

 

In addition, the somewhat open areas of combat do an amazing job of showing you that the team is not afraid of expanding the map a lot more than before. But don’t expect an open world just yet, or at least not in Chapters 6 or 7, which is what I played. Instead, the areas you’ll be covering will be a lot more open and tricky to stealth your way through. I found myself just barely escaping many of the stealth/combat sequences – and I liked that. It gives a good balance of vulnerability for these two characters while also showcasing their new abilities, should you choose to go the violent route.

 

 

 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem Feels Very Familiar - GameSpot

WWW.GAMESPOT.COM

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A Plague Tale: Requiem's story and characters have a lot of potential, but the gameplay feels a bit lacking.

 

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I’m a little worried about A Plague Tale: Requiem's stealth, but its narrative and characterization still have lots of potential.

 

I loved A Plague Tale: Innocence. Despite its straightforward moment-to-moment gameplay, it ended up being one of my favorite games of 2019 thanks to the fantastic art direction, wonderful performances, and gripping story. While I am very curious to see where the story goes in Requiem, the gameplay--faults and all--feels a little too familiar. Most of these issues were easy to overlook back in 2019 when it seemed like Asobo Studio was punching well above its weight. Now, however, these same issues are harder to forgive.

 

 

 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem ups the stakes of its indie darling predecessor

WWW.POLYGON.COM

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With a sidekick that makes escort missions actually fun

 

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As the sequel to the indie darling A Plague Tale: Innocence, A Plague Tale: Requiem is ready to make the next chapter a family affair. The headstrong Amicia is once again set on protecting her brother Hugo from a church that would seek to use his ability to control swarms of vicious rats for its own personal gain. But while players primarily controlled Amicia in the first outing (sneaking around and slinging rocks to solve puzzles), her younger brother takes a much more active role in the sequel.

 

My brief time with A Plague Tale: Requiem was spent in two mid-game chapters, consisting of set-pieces in cavernous tunnels filled with rats, a series of derelict ships, and an open desert-like area covered in patrolling guards. Requiem soon transitioned into close-quarters stealth sequences that developer Asobo Studio crafted so intricately in the first game. In this case, they unfold in a series of structures used to dye fabrics. I crafted various alchemical substances to light fires, create distractions, and even take down a surly armored foe by hitting him in the back with explosive-laden rocks and bolts. All of this is in keeping with the tense, stealth-based strengths of Innocence, sure — but this time around, stealth has become even more important, with an even thinner margin of error.

 

Much of this difficulty stems from Hugo’s more active role, which, while it offers new abilities to experiment with, adds another level of vulnerability to the duo. Hugo can more precisely command swarms of rats to make quick work of any enemy soldier — well-armored or not — that crosses their path. And unlike the first game, there is a greater sense of control over the horde — you can dive into first person mode and directly steer where the rats go and whom they consume. But while the more refined control of the horde may sound overpowered at first glance, there’s a catch: If Hugo uses his rat-command powers for too long, the swarm will go into a frenzy, resulting in an immediate game over.

 

 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem preview

WWW.EUROGAMER.NET

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A Plague Tale: Requiem may be stunning, but it can be really frustrating too

 

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I'd forgotten how stressful A Plague Tale can be. These kids really don't get a break do they? It's probably not right to even call them kids any more either - I'm not sure how old Amicia is now, in Requiem, the sequel, but she's a young woman in attitude alone. She's been through some stuff, they both have - Amicia and her younger brother Hugo - and they've been shaped by it. And whereas they largely ran from trouble in Innocence, and all of their abilities were based around escaping, more or less, now they've got some fight in them. They're killers, and that changes things a bit, but I'll come to that.

 

The stress: it's a good and bad thing. Part of it is absolutely intended, I believe. Developer Asobo wants us to feel the relentlessness of the challenge Amicia and Hugo face in staying alive. They're still mercilessly hunted by a shady organisation with a never ending supply of soldiers, and they're still very much at danger from the plague ravaging the land: The Black Death and the hordes of rats that carry it.

 

Their existence is one escape from death after another. My goodness, by the end of the few chapters of Requiem I play, Amicia is a walking wreck, carrying a concussion that's made her collapse more than once. But she slogs on because she has to - I really like Amicia (both the character and the way she's acted and brought to life); I'm less keen on Hugo. The point is, they don't get a moment to relax so nor should you. And that's fine, but when the game is frustrating to play, problems arise.

 

 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem preview — A dark, grisly world that expands on its predecessor | Windows Central

WWW.WINDOWSCENTRAL.COM

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Amicia and Hugo are back, and while the danger remains high, these two are turning into hardened survivors.

 

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I recently got the chance to play through chapters 6 and 7 of A Plague Tale: Requiem, getting a closer look at some of the ways that Asobo Studio is building on its prior success, expanding the scope while also keeping things from getting too unwieldy. There's more work to be done, but based on what I've played, this could easily be one of the best games to play in the back half of the year.

 

 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem will be a viable alternative to The Last of Us | GamesRadar+

WWW.GAMESRADAR.COM

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Asobo has gone above and beyond with A Plague Tale: Requiem

 

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A Plague Tale: Requiem makes one hell of a first impression. We're yet to really see the true potential of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and it's difficult to know what chaos the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought on development pipelines – beyond the countless video game delays we've seen in the past two years. That's why it's worth paying attention when something new is able to stop you dead in your tracks. A Plague Tale: Requiem looks stunning. From its sprawling wildflower meadows to its densely populated forests to its intricately detailed ruins – developer Asobo Studio is set to once again deliver a world that you'll be excited to spend time exploring. If you can stomach the sight of the rats, that is. 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem's audio and visual design belies its humble AA origins. Asobo isn't working with the sort of budget or personnel that the Naughty Dogs of this world might be – you have to imagine that The Last of Us: Part 1 had a larger-scale production than this upcoming stealthy adventure game – but still this studio continues to deliver viable alternatives. And there are parallels, outside of the awe-inspiring presentation. 

 

 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

 

 

 

[johnny]

i need it!! 

[best3444]

Loved the first one and this seems to just build on that. I'm looking forward to this.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

A Plague Tale: Requiem Preview – Hello dark rats, my old friends

WWW.THESIXTHAXIS.COM

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We go hands on with A Plague Tale Requiem, rejoining Amicia and Hugo as they fight to survive a desperate journey through Southern France.

 

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It’s safe to say that A Plague Tale: Innocence was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2019. Coming from then relatively unknown studio Asobo, who’d spent the previous 15 years largely working on licensed games, ports and as a support studio, this (alongside Microsoft Flight Simulator) was their chance to step into the spotlight. They absolutely exceeded expectations with a compelling journey that featured real peril and creepy rat swarms as Amicia and her younger brother Hugo fled from the Inquisition.

 

The section we played came roughly 3 or 4 hours into the game, opening during a lull from the pair’s seemingly endless flight. They now have a more direct purpose of trying to head further south through France and to try and find an island with two peaks. It’s a location that presents itself as a vision to Hugo, who proceeds to go all Close Encounters and make his island out of mashed potato… wait, I mean mud.

 

 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

 

[stepee]

I’m on the second to last chapter of the first one so I’ll be ready for this! The first one is quite good but I hope this one doesn’t start out with you falling down a well and forgetting all your abilities or something. The first one really picked up as you got more ways of interacting and being on the offensive rather than just throwing rocks and sneaking.

[best3444]

1 hour ago, stepee said:

I’m on the second to last chapter of the first one so I’ll be ready for this! The first one is quite good but I hope this one doesn’t start out with you falling down a well and forgetting all your abilities or something. The first one really picked up as you got more ways of interacting and being on the offensive rather than just throwing rocks and sneaking.

 

I really enjoyed the first one and part 2 looks more open and bigger in scale. I don't expect a masterpiece but the visuals and story will be awesome I'm sure. I look forward to it.

[eventide11]

So the whole thing is an escort quest.. 

[Ghost_MH]

55 minutes ago, eventide11 said:

So the whole thing is an escort quest.. 

 

Yes, sort of, but not really. Also, your brother isn't a moron. Well, he does make some dumb decisions in the story, but he's not dumb as far a being an escort target goes. He goes where you tell him to. Otherwise, he's holding your hand. This isn't an escort mission where the target is running off into gunfire or wandering around while you run off ahead of them to clear the path.

 

I despise escort missions.

 

I loved the first game.

[stepee]

33 minutes ago, Ghost_MH said:

 

Yes, sort of, but not really. Also, your brother isn't a moron. Well, he does make some dumb decisions in the story, but he's not dumb as far a being an escort target goes. He goes where you tell him to. Otherwise, he's holding your hand. This isn't an escort mission where the target is running off into gunfire or wandering around while you run off ahead of them to clear the path.

 

I despise escort missions.

 

I loved the first game.

 

Yeah, it’s an escort mission only in the same way God of War 2018 is.

[eventide11]

I'll be honest I didn't really care for the addition of a 'helper' in GoW either. Son or not. Diminished my enjoyment of the game by trying to humanize Kratos past what I had already accepted about him. A man like that with a past like his.. I don't need helpy escort mission boy thrown in the mix to take the gameplay to the next level.