What EXACTLY Makes A Plague Tale: Innocence SO Special? Analysis & Retrospective Review (2022)
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2024
- In this video game analysis & retrospective review, I discuss what makes A Plague Tale: Innocence an EXPERIENCE like no other. Sit back. Relax. And enjoy the immersion.
A Plague Tale: Innocence is a narrative-driven, action/adventure/stealth video game from Asobo Studio. It has sold well over 1 million units and has a humble, yet passionate following. But why aren't MORE people aware of A Plague Tale: Innocence?
In this analysis and retrospective review, we're going to answer this question as we explore what EXACTLY makes A Plague Tale: Innocence so special, and how it separates itself from its narrative-driven peers.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro (Context)
05:19 - Meat & Bones
18:58 - Heart & Soul
28:00 - In Closing
A Plague Tale: Innocence - Music Narration & Structure
• Music Narration & Stru...
A Plague Tale: Innocence Full Album
• A Plague Tale: Innocen...
Check out my cinematic take on the first 3 chapters of A Plague Tale: Innocence
• A Plague Tale: Innocen...
#APlagueTale #APlagueTaleInnocence #APlagueTaleRequiem
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This took me aaaaages. But I'm very happy with the turnout. I'd love to make 2 videos to follow this up...
1. A Plague Tale Cinematic Gameplay Game Movie
2. A Plague Tale Review (where I talk more about things I didn't get to. Including the game's issues)
Let me know what you guys think! And remember to share and comment! 🐀❤✌
Everything about this game felt great tbh. This game’s so underrated and might catch more attention after the sequel comes out.
I imagine more eyes on once the sequel lands. Very overlooked game.
Really enjoyed this game - surprise hit to be sure
Outstanding ❤✌
I AM RE-COMMENTING! Just finished the game!! I actually replayed the chapters for collectibles UNTIL i finally got to the final chapter (not the epilogue chapter) just to get some of my thoughts in as well....
BTW the new demo trailer for A Plague Tale Requiem just dropped weeks ago I think!! Amicia is handling a crossbow!! Can't wait to use that!
TLDR review, sorry but this game is such an experience, so here goes:
🎮Gameplay - I have to say, Amicia's sling weapon and mechanics are satisfying when finally given the tools, such as the special recipes, but sometimes my immersion breaks because there are times that the game did glitch or that I have to be at a certain range to land a shot at something/one. I get that's the limitation and is explainable that Amicia isn't within range but I feel like I swear Amicia can hit that as she keeps slinging it on, I mean that's just physics. I am grateful that the aiming icon lights up to mean I am using the right recipe to lob at something/one.
I was especially looking forward to more characters and found the teamwork between characters a nice touch to puzzles. It's too bad it wasn't implemented to most later chapters but appreciated the way Amicia is still the one to take the shots in the final boss fight. I am however iffy about the light/torches. There is that one moment in Chapter 5 where a soldier is stuck and would become overrun by rats as we keep moving forward with the torch. I had wished that there was an option to give/interact with another character to give the torches with, I mean Hugo gives the sticks to Amicia, why not let that happen with other characters? In the end, the "solution" to that moment was to simply find a sconce to put that torch down to and then Amicia will do her thing....and I'm like okay.
The stealth has got to be the most predictable and quite not-so-immersive sections in the game. There are times that I worry that the enemy would spot me as I am a feet away from them, but then other times, they get alerted even though I am sneaking away carefully. I actually became even more embolden and resorted to killing enemies if I can get away with it. The pots are great; I throw them away like trash so the AI of these enemies are sooo distracted enough that gives me ample time.
Overall the gameplay did make me realize, especially in the replay before Chapter 16, that the game is running in a scripted/expected outcome and I have to figure out which way that was going to be before proceeding. So my immersion with Plague Tale's core gameplay is looking at it as one whole puzzle-solving situation one after another. Some are a nuisance because I can't believe I had gotten away like that, but other times I just take advantage of the limits of the AI and just make Amicia and co. run like hell.
🎨🎶Music and Art - You've said it best already! The graphics/visuals may not be competing against the most reality-breaking looking games but they got the atmosphere, texture and lighting so well! It's like a dark fantasy graphic novel come to 3D!! And the music!!! The music responds to the game's context! I LOVE the storm soundtrack, where they are reaching the chateau, and they learn the rats are scared of the flash of lightning!! The score fits too well, that if you put that score in a horror movie, it would fit like a puzzle!! And the epilogue's score is a different version to the main opening soundtrack, I believe, and the changes to make it more melancholy yet so hopeful, made me feel so many emotions! The game's soundtrack is the best!
💝Story and characters: I think this is the main hook for the game, essentially, and the writers and voice acting got me hooked even as the credits rolled. The performance is top-notch, with such a believable and sympathetic lead, Amicia's bright and determined personality reeled me in further to the situations she and others would be in. Though with Hugo who is understandably voiced by a child is going to sometimes not give enough bite to very intense moments but like we're not gonna make the kid uncomfortable just to perform :( they have made a very believable cast of characters who respond honestly and distinctively given their backgrounds and the contexts of the situations.
The side characters are also so fleshed out and some of them dying had me actually feeling from sympathetic, angry to saddened. I think we all felt for Lion and Rodric, with the former being a dog character and is literally around for five minutes only, and the latter is a personal fave of mine......Their dialogue to one another is so well-written; their time together as daughter to her parents, and with friends really shows and gives a bit of respite and even a boost of morale as they react how they feel they deserve to do and take something after everything has fallen apart.
The Boss characters, though only 3, are given their individuality very well. From the 1st Boss' sad, mourning but enraged Villager, to Lord Nicholas who oozes a commanding and dreadful visage and voice, and up to the power-hungry old man Vitalis himself. His voice actor is just perfect!, I like the way he says "Amicia De RUne" when she finally meets Vitalis.
The enemy guards are also given distinct personalities, from superstitious, to being creeps in the dungeon and even thinking about a party at the end of the plague; this gives us an idea of what their thinking and what their conditions are as vanguards of the Inquisition who had seen and had actually perpetuated some of the Rat Plagues. I definitely remember one of them was trying to steal teeth from a corpse....
And of course, the story itself! I admit I thought A Plague Tale would cover a historical fiction of the Black Plague's events because I keep guessing Hugo's illness. That's how invested I was! But I was gradually beginning to realize that's not the case and became shocked at the revelation of what the Prima Macula even is! The fantasy elements, although literally surrounding them (because rats obviously...) because I still suspect that the Rats are also infected supernaturally, doesn't take away the main themes of family and the persistence of innocence for both Hugo and Amicia, who may act grown-up as the story keeps going but she recognizes that maintaining hope and even being playful for her little brother keeps their bond stronger.
An apocalyptic theme also resonates among the characters and setting, with not only a plague but the Hundred Years' War adding more weight and dread to a very bleak atmosphere and story, not to mention the oppressive feeling of the religious culture that permeates every place and every person in the story. This juxtaposes the moments of respite and even happiness the siblings and friends do, showing a dichotomy of the bleak, infesting darkness and the insistence of hope, being a light that has to defend itself against all odds. And that truly resonates with me, just fantastic on telling a story of survival and hope, and a sibling relationship that has me hoping nothing bad happens to them in the sequel!!!
thank you so much for making it this far...😶🌫
Wow, Trippy! A great read, this.
Fist of all, I'm happy you got to play APTI and that you really enjoyed it! It really is an experience you find find anywhere else in gaming.
There's A LOT I could have gone in to in the video, but your comment filled in a lot of those gaps. Like the soldier NPC's and their personalities/dialogue. I thought it was all great! They sounded interesting to the point where I didn't want to miss what they were saying. I listened to every single conversation. And from the sounds of it, so did you.
Rodric was one of my favourites, too. He's like the big brother of the group. And it's certainly useful having a burly guy who's not afraid to get dirty.
(poor bastard)
The smashing of the teeth in CH5 was great lol. But very grim and visceral.
One thing I thought the game could have improved on was having slightly more visceral/disturbing moments. There were certain points where, when the De Rune estate is ransacked for example, I thought some of the guards were going to do more to the housemaids than kill them... if you know what I mean. But admittedly, just the idea or insinuation of such a horrible act was enough. But I just feel there could have been a little more loss and desperation in the game. But what's there is perfectly sufficient.
I wish I had more time to go through your other points, Trippy, but I REALLY appreciate you spending all that time on your great review! I made sure to sit down with a cup of coffee when I read it :D
Requiem should be released in the next few months (just by some calculations and educated guesses), and I look forward to chatting with you about it!
I'm really happy you enjoyed the game!
@@EggOnBeansOnToast Ohh man, can't wait for the sequel and if you ever are going review Innocence further!! See you there!!
Amazing game and an amazing video essay! Such a shame a lot of people don't about this game exists. They're missing out!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the video. It's a wonderful game 😊
I appreciate that a real strong female character. She’s only 15 so she’s not even fully grown and she’s not going to have a chance against the men in the game so she uses range and tactics to her advantage. You only one quick save my life move. Love that
I'm playing through this game currently. And I was NOT expecting it to hit this hard! I knew it would be good. But damn. I'm absolutely blown away. And that's after just finishing The Last of Us Remastered. Great review man. This is more than just a "game review." It's a breakdown of a masterpiece. A Plague Tale is truly an exceptional art piece in the media space. And I am STOKED for Requiem as i hear that one only took everything up several notches.
Aw, dude, I'm glad you're enjoying it. It's in a league of its own. This is a game that sticks with you. Glad you're happy with this video 😁
Mannn I miss this game world. Beat requiem weeks ago and still don’t feel ready to move on
I hear a sequel to Requiem is in the works...
Looking forward to your analysis of "Requiem", because the second part has a lot to offer and an ending that comes with a punch that will stay with you for a while.
Thanks TheTuubster. I'll hopefully get to it some point in 2023 🤞✌️
The part about soundtrack is SO TRUE.
I love red dead’s 2 soundtrack so much, Woody Jackson is a brilliant composer.
But Olivier Deriviere just hits different…. The soundtrack for Innocence was brilliantly…. But what he did with music for Requiem…… that is a whole. Another. Thing. Mind blowing, brilliant, outstanding…
I loved his score for GreedFall too. He just knows how to set an atmosphere in the games he is composing for.
Why doesn't he get more veiws this was so well made. Keep up the good work
Thank you Braden Bagby. It's comments like yours that help keep me going 😊
On a side note: EuroGamer released an article describing, how this game was almost failing during production, and after a devastating score the devs literally stopped and reworked and refined much of the game.
I read this, myself. If I'd of known about that I would have included it in the video, briefly. Nothing but respect to Asobo for getting past the obstacles they faced, and making a far better product as a result.
Very well said. I've also found myself listening to the soundtrack on loop (alongside Outer Wilds). It is truly an underrated game. It's sequel is the #1 reason I bought a Series X.
I would be very interested in seeing your more critical review of the game
Hey nice one bud.
I also hope they address certain issues in Requiem. I also thought that some of the characters like Beatrice could have shown... more emotion, shall we say. Amongst other things.
Really appreciate you giving this a watch 😁❤🙏
@@EggOnBeansOnToast I appreciate you giving mine a watch too. You've got a new subscriber
0:47 HERESY
🤷♂️
Subbed, amazing video essay and analysis sir, I'm playing the game as we speak, it's quite an experience. 🤯😃
Thank you. It means a great deal that you enjoyed the video. The game is something else!
@@EggOnBeansOnToast So much depth and emotion put into every frame of it, love narrative driven game's. 💯🙂
I wish these games got more attention... its not fair
Ackyduck! 😁
YES!! ❤
Loved the shit out of this game. Need to play the sequel. Good video
Same, dude. Thank you for watching. Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Nice subjective review - congrats. I like you praised the art direction of the whole thing - this is many times ignored in reviews. It is not easy to put all these things together to play as a game, story or movie - even if you have really outstanding pieces, on a table. There is something special inside that game, sth new that was just discovered by Asobo - this is why it is not perfect (no standards and practices). Asobo just used their creativity and they definitely deserve all the praise.
Yes, Asobo did an amazing job. The game has issues but the overall experience is something unique.
Thank you for watching. I really appreciate your time 🙏
Loved most of this video. Both plague tale games are absolutely amazing. Including the old and tired "the best games ever made aren't good actually" bits just wasn't needed.
Thanks for your comment, and glad you enjoyed most of it.
Regarding your last comment, it was. This is a video detailing my personal experience with said games, and how APT compared to these titles. Not everyone likes the same games, right? Even the most popular ones.
I may be watching this but I'm muting it because I am not going to be spoiled. I just got this game and plan to play this to the last drop! I had been curious about it but planned to watch a Playthrough instead. But here it is, I am going to play it!! Thank you for the recommendation!!
First of all, thank you for clicking and watching!
I remember us chatting about this, briefly. I think you've done the best thing in investing your own time to play it yourself. I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it. And, if I may make a suggestion... Wear headphones/earphones!
I'd like you to revisit this video once you play the game with all sound on. It may help confirm some of the psychological aspects in the game... As well as giving your thoughts on the game of course ☺
How is it? Lookin at the title thinkimg about buying lol
@@Gaming-gabba it's good! You do have to take in mind the game can get scripted. It expects some outcomes from the player especially in stealth, but other than those hitches the game is a great experience.
@@lesteryaytrippy7282 nicee gonna start it today just put it to download haha