A Plague Tale: Requiem

[Hewson]

Well, I finished it. It was a slog. It's way too long, with a few incredibly frustrating moments, poor mechanics and a real commitment to forcing you to walk slowly. But I do feel bizarrely fond of it because it looks lovely, it's a rare backdrop and I do really like the characters.  I really, really hope for their next game (hopefully not a sequel to this) they manage to come up with another distinctive setting but focus less on the story they want to tell and more on the mechanics.

[MattyP]

38 minutes ago, Hewson said:

Well, I finished it. It was a slog. It's way too long, with a few incredibly frustrating moments, poor mechanics and a real commitment to forcing you to walk slowly. But I do feel bizarrely fond of it because it looks lovely, it's a rare backdrop and I do really like the characters.  I really, really hope for their next game (hopefully not a sequel to this) they manage to come up with another distinctive setting but focus less on the story they want to tell and more on the mechanics.

Just looked at the number of chapters in this... currently on the third one seems I've barely scraped the surface. Hopefully it picks up a bit... I'm already finding creeping around guards all the time a bit... well.... tedious. Now rats and guards. Hopefully the story will carry me through, and the game gets a bit more diverse.

[MattyP]

20 minutes ago, DualSense said:

The sneaking is the core but there’s a bit more combat and exploration in later levels.

Great I'll keep playing. Enjoying the exploration and progressing the story not so much the combat bits. I know you can almost avoid combat mostly anyway. Just finding the almost insta-death elements tiring at times especially if you just set a foot near the rats...

[Benny]

I seem to have reached a point where I'm completely unable to progress due to having no pots at the start of chapter 11. It's infuriating. A lot of this game feels badly playtested, if at all.

[Benny]

Oh, worked it out. Dur.

 

Still annoying.

[MattyP]

1 hour ago, Benny said:

I seem to have reached a point where I'm completely unable to progress due to having no pots at the start of chapter 11. It's infuriating. A lot of this game feels badly playtested, if at all.

Had that a few times but usually if you explore around a bit you find some... Recently moved through the butcher's quarter... Ick.... 

 

Think this is probably why I find it a captivating environment it's like experiencing history.

 

Thinking about that it's probably why I enjoyed the Uncharted games so much the environments with historical artifacts etc are great in those too. 

 

Still can't believe this got released onto GamePass fantastic addition and kudos for securing it on day one.

[Benny]

Just finished the game. Nice of Crichstand to have posted images earlier which turned out to be massive spoilers for

 

Spoiler

the ending.

 

There's no reason he'd have posted it without knowing exactly what it was, and was clearly trolling up the thread.

 

I'd have been extremely pissed off if I had known what it was before now.

 

[Benny]

As for general thoughts on the game: I quite liked it. I think it's definitely a weaker game than its predecessor, despite being at least twice at long. 

 

There's some really lovely bits, and I liked the story and characters. There's also a massive helping of jank and bugs. The worst was being put into a cut scene where I had to use my sling as the only control option, but it wouldn't let me target what I was supposed to to progress the scene, requiring a restart. Or another example being my AI companion straight up vanishing so I couldn't open a door. The game is somewhat littered with bugs like that unfortunately.

 

But overall, for the sum total of Game Pass free, it was a nice one and done experience.

 

There was a scene near the end which was actually one of the most striking and haunting images I've seen in a game, so it certainly had the capacity to shock and wow me several times.

 

But definitely glad it's done now.

[CrichStand]

1 hour ago, Benny said:

Just finished the game. Nice of Crichstand to have posted images earlier which turned out to be massive spoilers for

 

  Reveal hidden contents

the ending.

 

There's no reason he'd have posted it without knowing exactly what it was, and was clearly trolling up the thread.

 

I'd have been extremely pissed off if I had seen it before now.

 

You what youth?!?!! I posted one picture days ago, which you saw at the time and didn’t complain about it being a spoiler. Makes sense!
 

It contains the back of a main character’s head  some grass and some rocks, which showed blurry textures......which is why I posted it. Its one of the first images that comes up when you search Plague Tale Requiem on Bing and is taken from a game review. What’s supposed to be a “massive spoiler” about that? No problem deleting it or hiding it if it is in some way a spoiler for people (can’t see how though). Feel free to apologise for acting like a proper dick about it! 👍🏻
 

Edit - Hidden it just in case. Apologies to anyone if it did reveal anything, no idea how it could have though. 

[Stanley]

7 hours ago, CrichStand said:

You what youth

This is so cringy. Not the first time you have used that expression either. 

[CrichStand]

2 hours ago, Stanley said:

This is so cringy. Not the first time you have used that expression either. 

Not the first time you’ve been a rate mardy arse either! 😂

 

I’m from and grew up in the Derbyshire Peak District duck and also spent a lot of time in Sheffield. Nice to see you think it’s ok to go around judging people on how they speak, because of where they’re from. Well classy! 👍🏻

[Stanley]

So let me get this straight, you talk down to @Benny by calling them ‘youth’ and somehow I’m insulting you by pulling you up on it 

[MattyP]

I'd see being called "youth" a complement...  

 

They do talk funny in that part of the world tho'. Found being called "ma duck" odd...  I work with a bunch of people from South Yorkshire and the accent does take a bit of getting used to at times. Nowt to get offended at tho'. 

 

(by the way I'm up North but a bit further up in Gods Own County...  ) 

[Stanley]

I’m from Liverpool and if you called someone ‘youth’ around here you’d get smacked squarely in the jaw, then again call someone ‘knobhead’ and it’s a term of endearment 

[CrichStand]

7 minutes ago, Stanley said:

So let me get this straight, you talk down to @Benny by calling them ‘youth’ and somehow I’m insulting you by pulling you up on it 

So let me get this straight......dude accuses me of doing something I haven’t done. Posts about it in public trying to get people to judge me and have a go at me for something I didn’t do. Doesn’t  bother to apologise for openly acting like a dick towards me. Now you’re jumping in and acting like a dick towards me too. Some people! 😂

 

Youth is a term of endearment. It’s the same as saying mate.  For example - “Alrate youth! How ya doing”? You’re from Liverpool? If so, I’m calling bullshit, ‘cause most folk I know from Liverpool say “Alright lad or alright la’” which is basically the same as saying youth. Definite mardy arse! 😁

[Stanley]

Yeah I’m from Liverpool, and yes people do greet each other that way. Never heard the term ‘youth’ before. Tbh though, I don’t think you intended in a friendly manner. Context is everything. 

[Big_H]

Youth is totally acceptable round here. It's just like saying 'mate' or whatever. The 'h' is mostly silent though, I find. Yoot!

[CrichStand]

4 minutes ago, Stanley said:

Yeah I’m from Liverpool, and yes people do greet each other that way. Never heard the term ‘youth’ before. Tbh though, I don’t think you intended in a friendly manner. Context is everything. 

So, ya know what lad means and that it’s a term of endearment. And ya know what youth means which is the same as lad. Definitely got your context pal! Si thi!!! 🤣

[Benny]

Just for clarity: the image in question was not one of the first results on Bing: If you search the game's name you'd really have to hunt through lots of pictures to find it. And it's not used for a review, but rather a walkthrough of the game which is quite clear from the source site when clicking on the image. It's difficult to pick by accident, but I'm not going to argue whether there was malicious intent because I can't be arsed.

 

People are playing the game at the moment so if you have no interest in it or are not playing it just put pics in spoilers (as has been done), which is what I did with my screens.

[CrichStand]

1 minute ago, Benny said:

Just for clarity: the image in question was not one of the first results on Bing: If you search the game's name you'd really have to hunt through lots of pictures to find it. And it's not used for a review, but rather a walkthrough of the game which is quite clear from the source site when clicking on the image.

 

People are playing the game at the moment so if you have no interest in it or are not playing it just put pics in spoilers, which is what I did with my screens. I'm not going to argue whether there was malicious intent because I can't be arsed.

Yes it was one of the first image results on Bing. It was in a PushSquare review as far as I can remember. I have spoilered it now just in case, because I’m not a dick and obviously don’t want to spoil the game for anyone, just as I wouldn’t want anyone to spoil a game for me. The image doesn’t spoil anything though.
 

Either way you could have just brought it to my attention or asked me to spoiler it and I’d have been more than happy to do so. 

[Stanley]

11 minutes ago, CrichStand said:

So, ya know what lad means and that it’s a term of endearment. And ya know what youth means which is the same as lad. Definitely got your context pal! Si thi!!! 🤣

Sometimes it’s not what you’re saying but how you’re saying it. 

[Stanley]

I have to be honest I think this is fantastic. I had intended to get through it more quickly but other stuff got in the way and I’m currently up to chapter 8. 
 

I just love how it subverts expectations of what it is, whether that be a stealth game, an action game, a puzzler, something in between. I’ve just recently met a new character and have new abilities which are quite empowering. There are all kinds of ways now to dispatch enemies, or ignore them. 
 

It is just really different both in tone and how it plays to pretty much anything else. 
 

Those graphics though, boy oh boy. I think I’ve finally found the game that beats the scene in Uncharted 4 where Nate wakes up on the beach. It is quite simply astonishing to look at and experience. 
 

The sound is exceptional too especially if you are using surround sound or similar headphones, and the score is really sombre and fits the game perfectly. 
 

I think ultimately I just like this type of format. Linear narrative games that throw new ideas in the mix every now and then and are just easy to get through and play, no section ever outstays its welcome. I don’t have to wander for miles on end or level up for 50 hours to get anywhere. Yeah there’s a bit of crafting and stuff but it’s neither here nor there really, it just exists and gets ignored by me most of the time. 
 

there is jank, and bugs, and at times some bits can be infuriating as you repeat the same rote combat bits over and over, but none of that has dulled my enjoyment. It’s a worthy sequel and whilst I also liked the first game this is much better IMO. 

[Stanley]

Episode IX. Spoiler contains location and story aspects, and I mention characters that aren’t present at the start of the game. 
 

Spoiler

Getting strong Midsommar vibes, all dressed up in a delicious medieval setting. Absolutely stunning. Also enjoying where the story seems to be inevitably heading with Hugo being the child of embers. But the locations in this chapter on the island are just out of this world, I don’t think I’ve seen anything more impressive in a game. 
 

I love Arnaud too, very Matt Berry with his observations and delivery. I hope he rejoins us shortly! 

 

[MattyP]

Still plodding through this. Got to the end of chapter 3. Really a bit wearing guards attacking not sure why games still put these things in just find them a bit tedious TBH. Guess it's just to pad things out and extend play time? In fact for me they could take most of the combat out and I'd still enjoy it. Bits like this that drop an otherwise enjoyable game and story back to a game really.

 

Might just drop the difficulty level down to super easy and enjoy the story....

 

[Stanley]

I wouldn’t do that, it takes a little while but it will click, at least it has with me, and the options for stealth and combat really open up as the story progresses. 

[SteveH]

Loved it all apart from that bit near the end...beach and smoke...ugh!

[womblingfree]

Been trying to get literally any achievement in this for ages. On Chapter III now and nothing.

 

I thought you got achievements for completing  the chapters?

[Stanley]

8 minutes ago, womblingfree said:

Been trying to get literally any achievement in this for ages. On Chapter III now and nothing.

 

I thought you got achievements for completing  the chapters?

Yes you should, something wrong there, at least on the normal setting anyway. 

[womblingfree]

1 minute ago, Stanley said:

Yes you should, something wrong there, at least on the normal setting anyway. 

Yes, I’m on normal. Weird.

[Stanley]

It’s bug ridden this game, just came across another game breaking one in Chapter X, needed a pot and couldn’t continue without one. Watched a YouTube video and sure enough in their play through a pot spawns right where you need it, but not for me. Had to reload an earlier section to acquire some.