A Plague Tale: Requiem Devs on Moral Boundaries and Traumas
The plot of A Plague Tale: Requiem will force Amicia and Hugo to deal with great challenges and use new abilities that will put their morals and psyches to the test.
Caution: this news may contain spoilers concerning A Plague Tale: Innocence and A Plague Tale: Requiem.
- According to A Plague Tale: Requiem producer Sébastien Renard, the game's protagonist will have a greater impact on the plot than in the first part;
- Amicia and Hugo will receive new abilities that will make it easier for them to deal with enemies, however, this will affect their morals and even lead to traumatic experiences.
Sébastien Renard - one of the creators of A Plague Tale: Requiem - told the official PlayStation blog how the main characters have changed since the events of the first part. The developer, focused on both the moral and emotional side of the new chapter in the lives of the de Rune siblings.
- The first part of the A Plague Tale series, as its title suggested, was about the innocence of the main characters. It focused on building relations between the teenage Amicia and her 5-year-old brother Hugo. Both were trying to find their way in a world consumed by an epidemic of the Black Death, while constantly evading the Inquisition.
- According to Sébastien Renard, they were passive participants of the events, they did not drive them, although in the end their role turned out to be crucial. In A Plague Tale: Requiem this is about to change. Amicia and Hugo will follow their own path this time - trying to find the island connected to the boy's destiny. In the process, they will overcome a series of adversities that will put their bond to the test once again.
The protagonists' external and internal conflicts
In the second part of the series young Hugo will gain greater awareness of his own abilities and his power will enable him to influence hordes of rats in different ways. With their help, he can not only kill enemies, but also detect them during stages that require stealth. However, he can still lose control of the rodents, exposing himself to danger.
Amicia, on the other hand, who has so far shied away from combat, will gain a number of options for eliminating enemies. The slingshot will come into play again, with melee weapons and a crossbow also making an appearance. While this will enable her to better defend her brother, she'll also have to deal with the traumatic emotions caused by her own actions. Fortunately, the siblings can count on the help of new, more experienced characters who take on the role of their mentors.
The new approach to gameplay is perfectly illustrated by the new footage, made available by the creators on Thursday (see below). The video shows Amicia eliminating enemies using both stealth (such as setting fire to an oil slick or the grass they're standing in) and more direct methods (switching from stealth to firing a crossbow at the next enemy).
Provence, an illusion of paradise
Renard also devoted attention to a new region of France, to which we will travel together with the main characters. According to the producer, Provence will initially seem like a wonderful place with beautiful landscapes.
However, this soon turns out to be an illusion, and the brutal medieval reality will catch up with the de Rune siblings with redoubled force. Soldiers, hired thugs and even the villagers they meet will stand in their way. There are also the aforementioned rats, which will be both a support and danger for the protagonists.
A Plague Tale: Requiem will debut on October 18, 2022 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X and Switch. The game will simultaneously made available in the Game Pass subscription.
