A Plague Tale: Innocence Review

Few modern games use correct historical settings. Even when they do, it’s usually a heavily edited version of real-life events. A Plague Tale: Innocence is different in this respect. It is fully committed to its setting, nailing the atmosphere of 14th century France.

This is not to say that the game remains 100% accurate. The developers take artistic liberties to make sure the story works. Also, stretching reality a bit is necessary to create a gripping horror experience.

History

In A Plague Tale: Innocence, players take on the role of Amicia de Rune. She is a young girl who lives in the French village of Aquitaine with her family. Thanks to her family of noble origins and her father, her knight, Amicia has lived a peaceful life.

However, things aren’t as perfect as they first appear. The Hundred Years War means that France is undergoing a British invasion. Not only that, the country is also under the wrath of the plague.

But the worst thing in Amicia’s life is a terrible family secret. Her brother Hugo suffers from a mysterious disease, which forces his mother to keep him hidden from the rest of the village. When the Inquisition eventually finds out about Hugo, they storm the village, killing many of those they meet. Only Amicia and Hugo survive.

The rest of the story unfolds as you try to stay out of sight of virtually everyone you meet. The villagers blame you for the destruction of the city, the soldiers are deadly, and the Inquisition still wants your brother. Worse still, killer, plague-infected mice lurk around every corner, taking on supernatural power as they spread across France.

There is a lot to like about the story of A Plague Tale: Innocence. It makes you immediately invest in the lives of Amicia and Hugo. The traumatic events at the start of the game, which happened to such innocent boys, have a strong emotional impact. The questions will be on your mind right from the start. Over the course of the story’s roughly 15 hours, the answers slowly begin to unfold. A Plague Tale: Innocence also manages to keep things tense all the time, so you never feel completely comfortable.