'Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy' (hereinafter 'Resonance') is the third installment in Asobo Studio's 'A Plague Tale' adventure game series. Set 15 years before the events of the previous title, 'Requiem,' this game follows the story of 'Sophia,' the smuggler captain who assisted the siblings Amicia and Hugo.

While it is the latest entry in the series, it takes place in the furthest past. Set in an era before the massive swarms of rats that would eventually engulf Europe, the game explores ancient secrets tied to the origins of an unknown catastrophe and the 'Macula.'

In this preview build, I was able to experience parts of Chapters 5 and 6. The gameplay focused on Sophia and her friend Lenny arriving at Minotaur Island and exploring to unlock the gates of a sealed ruin.

Sophia, the Captain from 'Requiem,' Takes the Lead

The protagonist is a young Sophia in her early 20s. The story focuses on the adventures of her youth, long before she became the seasoned captain seen in 'Requiem.' According to the lore, Sophia was abandoned at a monastery by her mother's family as a child, later escaping to join the smuggling crew led by her father. After countless adventures, she grew into a skilled smuggler and warrior, yet questions about her birth and past remained unanswered.

Sophia eventually sets out on a journey to find the truth. Upon arriving at 'Minotaur Island'—a mysterious place that had called to her since childhood—she experiences an inexplicable resonance connected to her own being and begins to track down its secrets.

The most immediate change is the atmosphere. While the first two games emphasized a gloomy tone reminiscent of the medieval Black Death era, 'Resonance' feels more like an exploration adventure, defined by the blue Mediterranean waters and brilliant sunlight.

Minotaur Island, the game's setting, symbolizes this shift. Those familiar with Greek mythology will likely think of the Minoan civilization, the legend of the Minotaur, the Labyrinth of Daedalus, and the hero Theseus. 'Resonance' actively utilizes these mythic motifs to unfold the story of Sophia resonating with an ancient presence sleeping deep within the island. There is no need to worry about swarms of rats filling the screen here.

Of course, the biggest systemic change is that 'Resonance' is the first in the 'A Plague Tale' series to feature full-fledged 'action.' In the first game, Amicia mostly used a torch to drive away rats or a catapult to distract enemies; 'Requiem' added weapons like a crossbow, but remained fundamentally focused on stealth and adventure.

Sophia, by contrast, is a warrior from the start. She fights with a dagger in her left hand and a sword in her right, utilizing a system akin to traditional action games, complete with parrying, dodging, counter-attacks, and finishers.

'A Plague Tale' Returns as a Full-Fledged Action Adventure

The core of combat in 'Resonance' is Parrying. A single block is not enough to create an opening; you must succeed in consecutive parries to break the enemy's stance, allowing you to land a powerful attack. Enemy attacks are categorized into standard attacks, heavy attacks (yellow), and unblockable attacks (red). Successfully countering the yellow attacks creates a significant opening.

The demo frequently featured situations where I had to face multiple soldiers at once. While each enemy attack is threatening, the game features a mechanic where a portion of health is restored upon each elimination, keeping the difficulty from feeling overwhelming.

True to her background as a smuggler, a grappling hook is used as a vital piece of equipment. It serves as an exploration tool for climbing cliffs or navigating paths, and as a weapon in combat to pull enemies closer. Archers, who are quite dangerous from a distance, can be neutralized by pulling them in at the start of a fight.

A progression system was also visible. Sophia can equip small accessories to her face, arms, and other areas, each providing passive skill bonuses. This structure provides minor combat benefits and encourages players to actively search for chests during exploration.

Occasionally, you can acquire resources called 'Resonance Points' from chests, which can be used to unlock special skills. In the demo, I saw passive skills such as one that increases defense for a certain duration after an elimination.

Ancient Ruin Puzzles Solved with the Power of a Notebook

Puzzle elements have been enhanced to better fit the 'ancient ruin' exploration theme. Minotaur Island is a place of dreams and hopes for smugglers, and one must use a special key called the 'Minoan Sphere' to enter the island's interior. With Sophia exploring the island using her father's research notes, the story feels quite 'Lara Croft'-esque.

The Minoan Sphere acts as an all-in-one device for solving various puzzles encountered on the island. It can refract light, or be used to shine three colors of light split by a prism onto crystals of the same color. It also reveals paths that only appear when illuminated by the sphere, or activates ancient machinery when inserted into specific slots, offering endless utility.

The notebook left behind by Sophia's father also plays a crucial role. Chapter 5, the demo section, was structured around solving several smaller puzzles to complete one large one, and the data in the notebook provided the necessary clues.

That covers the differences between the 'A Plague Tale' series and 'Resonance' that I felt during the Chapter 5 demo. Overall, it is brighter, more action-oriented, and feels more like an ancient ruin exploration game than a medieval survival game. It makes one wonder how, 15 years later, massive swarms of rats would end up consuming all of Europe.

However, upon reaching 'Chapter 6'—where all forms of capture were prohibited—I immediately felt that this game was indeed a part of 'A Plague Tale.'

This game is definitely 'A Plague Tale'

After falling into the underground of Minotaur Island due to an incident, Sophia is confronted by a bizarre, unrecognizable 'something.' It is a grotesque monster that detects living creatures by inhaling particles floating in the air, then swiftly tracks and devours them.

In this chapter, combat disappears, and the gameplay shifts to running away from this monster. Interestingly, the nature of the blue light source that appeared throughout Chapter 5 is revealed here. When Sophia moves in dark spaces, blue traces are left on her body and along her path; these are the very 'particles' the monster tracks.

These particles are not generated when walking, crouching, or jumping. Since the monster follows only these traces, you can evade pursuit by jumping between ledges or adjusting your movement style.

Fortunately, the monster cannot enter areas illuminated by light. Using light sources to create safe zones and navigating while avoiding the monster's gaze brought back the tension characteristic of 'A Plague Tale,' where one had to flee from swarms of rats.

What is the true identity of this bizarre entity sleeping deep within the island? What relationship does it have with the Macula that brings about the Black Death catastrophe 15 years later? Furthermore, how are Sophia and Minotaur Island connected.

'Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy' will be officially released on August 28 and will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.