A Plague Tale: Innocence Review

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

That isn’t to say that the game sticks with being 100% accurate. The developers take artistic liberties to make sure the story works. Moreover, stretching reality somewhat is necessary to make an enthralling horror experience.

Story

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

However, things are not as perfect as they first appear. The Hundred Years’ War means that France is suffering from an English invasion. Not only that but the country is also under the wrath of the plague.

But the worst thing going on in Amicia’s life is a terrible family secret. Her brother Hugo is suffering from a mysterious disease, forcing his mother to keep him hidden away from the rest of the village. When the Inquisition eventually finds out about Hugo, they storm the village, killing many of those who they come across. Only Amicia and Hugo survive.

The rest of the story unfolds as you try to stay out of sight of practically everyone you come across. Villagers blame you for the town’s destruction, soldiers are deadly, and the Inquisition still wants your brother. Worse still, murderous, plague-infected rats lurk around every corner, taking on a supernatural power as they spread across France.

There is plenty to like about A Plague Tale: Innocence’s story. It instantly gets you invested in the lives of both Amicia and Hugo. The traumatic events at the start of the game, happening to such innocent youngsters, pack a strong emotional punch. Questions will swirl around your head right from the get-go. Over the 15 or so hours of the story, answers slowly begin to unfold. A Plague Tale: Innocence also manages to keep things tense throughout, so you never feel completely comfortable.