By Dexerto | Created at 2026-08-26 17:06:01 | Updated at 2026-09-19 00:00:29
3 weeks ago
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy completely turns the franchise’s original style on its head, acting more like the action-packed Uncharted than its predecessors, and it’s the best decision the series could have made.
Most of the time, Plague Tale games are focused on helplessness and stealth. They’re grim adventures that focus on two young children attempting to survive in 14th-century France, while being hunted by soldiers and a sea of deadly disease-ridden rats to uncover a cure.
Resonance also has a similar story, in which another child is suffering from an ailment that needs a cure, but that’s where the resemblance stops. Instead of a helpless kid, you play as an adult who has the combat skills to destroy most things in her way.
It’s a world away from Innocence and Requiem, but Resonance proves that a new direction is exactly what the series needs.
Screenshots
What is Resonance: A Plague Tale about?
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy tells the story of Sophia, a young girl who’s been subjected to some rather odd experiments in a convent. After being broken out by her father, he sets off on a series of adventures to help find a cure and alleviate the disturbing visions that plague his daughter.
All signs point to a rather mysterious island that’s been appearing in Sophia’s visions, which Alec visits and promptly disappears. What follows is Sophia’s journey through the island, uncovering the source of her visions, dealing with betrayal, misplaced trust, heartbreak, and, of course, given it’s a Plague Tale game, extremely disturbing monsters.
An inspired new direction
In a first for the series, instead of a helpless child sneaking or running away in a dark and deadly region, we have a fully competent fighter who’s able to jump, climb, fight, and hold her own against most challenges she encounters. What we end up with is a unique turn for the franchise, bringing a visually beautiful adventure that feels heavily inspired by Uncharted.
The most notable change is its exploration. Sure, the previous games did let you explore a little, but they didn’t have you uncovering different bonuses for your character or alternative weapons.
Asobo StudioFrom an hour in, you’re left to explore this stunning island like well… an explorer, and the more you wander, the more you uncover, which in turn helps you solve puzzles and get the drop on an upcoming challenge.
This new level of adventure serves to make you feel more like Nathan Drake than a helpless child and is a wonderful addition, especially given how beautiful the landscapes look.
Alongside the exploration is the dramatic change in combat. Instead of hitting from a distance and hoping they don’t come after you, you’re actively encouraged to parry, block, dodge, and lay into any human enemy you come across. Because of this, you feel more powerful and in control, which in turn helps Resonance draw more focus to the mental and emotional struggles of Sophia. While the new action combat isn’t typical of the series, it’s the best part of the game and helps make it stand out from its predecessors.
Horror done right
That’s not to say everything is completely different in Resonance, as it leans heavily into horror and tension just as much as it does action and adventure. While you can kill your human foes with relative ease, there are still powerful opponents beyond Sophia’s capabilities, so hiding and praying you don’t get caught is equally as important.
In fact, some moments were so tense that my heart would literally end up in my mouth as I found myself sprinting away from terrifying eldritch horrors, while attempting not to provoke what I can only explain as petrified zombie weeping angel-style nightmares.
Asobo StudioYou’re still made to feel at risk in Resonance, with poor Sophia constantly out of her depth thanks to the truly horrifying threats that plague the island. But this is only made so much more immersive by a human protagonist.
Now that sounds odd, but how many times have we seen a character who watches someone they love die and then cries about it for 30-seconds before continuing as if nothing happened? Well, that’s not Sophia. If I had a dollar for every time this poor girl has a breakdown midway through an adventure… well, I’d probably save it for any future Plague Tale games.
Verdict
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is an inspired title that takes the strongest aspects of its predecessors and combines them into an epic Uncharted-style adventure that blends horror, action, thrills, and touchingly heartbreaking moments.
It’s still a Plague Tale game at its very core, but Resonance doesn’t shy away from forging its own path by taking the series in a fresh new direction.
