A Plague Tale: Requiem

This quirky take on stealth action receives some light touch-ups in this gorgeously rendered sequel to the atmospheric original. A Plague Tale: Requiem looks fantastic. From dank caverns transformed into hairy rats nests to bustling city streets within classic gothic architecture to sunlit fields filled with waving grass and flowers, it's a feast for the eyes from start to finish. It also delivers a compelling narrative that digs into the minds of Amicia and Hugo, both of whom are clearly traumatized and guilt-ridden for all they've seen and done. Amicia in particular goes through a compelling transformative arc as she learns to deal with outbursts of violent rage that leave her questioning herself. Big new personalities -- like the towering and conflicted soldier Arnaud -- meanwhile, introduce even more gray morality as both the player and Amicia try to figure out if the bloodthirsty brute is trustworthy and/or worth forgiving. And the big question underlying everything is whether all the death and suffering being inflicted on innocent people could be avoided if Amicia simply allowed Hugo's sickness to overtake him, as their mother seems willing to let happen.

But what will likely determine whether players stick with the story through to the end is how and if they can warm to the game's unusual action and stealth mechanics. Stealth requires patience and the discipline not to use Amicia's arsenal of lethal tools and weapons to simply carve a path through patrolling guards. It becomes even harder to resist this temptation once you can simply command Hugo to swarm enemies with rats and Arnaud to attack and kill roaming foes. Taking the time to look for opportunities to use fire, explosions, and smoke to your advantage to lure rats and disorient foes may prove tiresome for some. And the puzzles, while not particularly long or hard, sometimes seem to lack the sort of visual cues often found in other games, assuming instead that players are able to riddle things out via the dialogue clues provided by companions. But those who take to the action and puzzles are liable to find themselves spellbound by A Plague Tale: Requiem and its bold approach to storytelling and play.