Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Review

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy offers a fresh take on the Plague Tale series, shifting away from its signature rat armies to explore ancient, unexplored horrors. While the game introduces intriguing changes, such as a different protagonist and new supporting characters, it ultimately falls short of capturing the same magic as its predecessors. The shift from stealth to straight-up melee combat never quite works, as the combat itself is too bare bones to sustain a 12-hour campaign.

The game follows the familiar third-person adventure playbook, featuring puzzles, gorgeous environments, and tense stealth sections. However, the puzzles are simple and entertaining, but the stealth sections arrive later in the game. The story is one of the game's strong suits, but it still doesn't reach the same heights as the rest of the Plague Tale series. The main character, Sophia, is a flat character who doesn't have much of an arc and feels like a sidekick rather than the focus of the story.

The side characters, such as Leni and Faro, also struggle to leave a strong impression. While they are not bad, they don't fill the void left by Hugo and Amicia, the beloved protagonists of previous Plague Tale games. The ancient history unveiled through flashbacks pays off more than Sophia's personal journey, unraveling the mystery of the long-dead civilization that centers her treasure hunt.

The biggest difference between Resonance and the other Plague Tale games is the change from stealth to all-out combat. While the combat is engaging, it lacks the depth and seamless transition that would make it more enjoyable. The game's skill tree offers some modest upgrades, but they don't make combat any more entertaining. Despite these shortcomings, the game's story and puzzles are still mostly worth playing through.