Never work with children or animals, the old showbiz adage goes. And while the sentiment doesn't usually stretch to games, it's a brave developer who would place an impulsive five year old at the centre of a harrowing action adventure, or try to construct logical systems atop a horde of ravenous rats. Yet Asobo Studio managed exactly that with A Plague Tale: Innocence, and its bold sequel raises the stakes with an even defter touch.
Despite the unorthodox casting of its beasts and youngsters, largely worked within boundaries set by bigger names, most notably , by contrast, feels like a spread of the wings, buoyed by its predecessor's success to forge an unmistakable identity. In terms of production values among comparable titles, it still bows before Sony heavyweights such as and , but little else. And most importantly it grows outward from the elements that shined in the original – the palpable texture of its medieval setting, the pathos in its character relationships, and the persistent is often more compelling and relatable than its celebrated peers.
