Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Review

I’m a massive fan of the Plague Tale franchise, but I knew the latest endeavour was going to move away from some of the tried and tested mechanics. Accordingly, I had my reservations when I tackled Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy! However, they never materialised, and I loved many aspects of this prequel.

Asobo Studio has developed this third-person action-adventure title. It is a single-player game that focuses on combat, dual timelines, and many fantastic cinematic moments. The result is a game that has a lore-filled story, exceptional puzzles, and some hard-hitting, albeit repetitive combat moments.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy and a trip into the past.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy moves away from the family bond of the brother and sister protagonists. Instead, you control Sophia, a smuggler who is drawn to a mysterious minotaur island. With otherworldly visions and greedy crewmates, this tough smuggler has an uphill battle to fulfil her potential.

The story is exceptional as it explores mythological and medieval themes. But it shies away from the plague-focused, ratty nightmare. The lack of rats may disappoint hardcore fans. However, I appreciated the change of pace and the impressive dual timeline. I don’t want to give anything away, but the 2 timelines intertwine perfectly with many secrets and twists and turns.

Stealth is no longer your concern.

I adored the slow stealth mechanics of the previous games. Yet, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy moves away from this core design choice. Instead, this portion of the franchise is more action-focused. Combat is huge, and traversal elements, fast-paced escape scenes, and the sense of doom and despair take centre stage.

Puzzles, the use of light, and teamwork are also key concerns. Many of the puzzles are great, but like the combat, there is a sense of repetition. Thankfully, they rarely go on too long, so they never outstay their welcome. The combat delivers some nice parry and dodging mechanics. Moreover, you face an array of different foes. Huge brutes, shield-laden men, and rapid knife-wielding maniacs try to take you down.

However, it is the huge, deadly boss that keeps you on your toes. Light is your friend, and avoiding its deadly gaze is a must. Hiding is not an option, so using cover, gaps, and other key areas is the only way to survive. This creature is horrific, and keeping out of its reach is never an easy task in a nice supernatural horror twist.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy looks phenomenal.

I’m not saying that Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is graphically perfect, but it looks phenomenal. There were a few minor bugs and issues, but I didn’t care. The combination of timelines, the smooth action, and the huge, overwhelming arenas were amazing. It is a visual treat that runs exceptionally well. The audio is fantastic as well. The acting is genuinely top-notch, and I loved the delivery, timing, and blend of characters. The music flits and changes for each era. Dramatic songs deliver sombre and high-energy moments. This is complemented by the brilliant, accurate, and loud sound effects.

The control system is intuitive, easy to master, and a joy to handle. The game delivers some quick time events, and the on-screen instructions and easy-to-understand inputs ensure you complete each task. Alongside this, there are some nice visual markers to help you to parry and attack your foes. If you love to find collectables and create your own character build, this has you covered. There are weapons to find, items to improve your skills and abilities, and points to improve blocking, parrying, and other core bits. Although the gameplay is relatively linear, this offers plenty of replay value and longevity.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is simply fantastic.

There is some sense of repetition, but the exceptional story, impressive cinematic, amazing dual timeline, and other core elements make this a fantastic game. Yes, the step away from stealth mechanics and the rats may upset some people, but I didn’t mind. I think it is fantastic, and I recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox Store!