Resonance: A Plague Tale prequel trades stealth for action-adventure, review finds
TechRadar's review of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy says the prequel shifts to action-focused combat, a bold change that mostly works despite some camera issues.
According to the review, Sophia is a smuggler and skilled swordsman, making Resonance a third-person action-adventure with light RPG elements, favoring direct combat over the stealth that defined the previous entries. The reviewer describes it as recalling a streamlined, story-driven Assassin's Creed game, with stunning environments, dynamic combat, exploration, parkour, and stealth. It also borrows from other franchises, with puzzle-solving reminiscent of Lara Croft's adventures and set pieces comparable to Nathan Drake or Indiana Jones.
The review praises the combat as lightning-quick, layered, and dynamic, and notes the action is balanced with puzzles and exploration. However, it criticizes the camera for sometimes struggling to keep up during combat, and says the lighter tone and familiar action-adventure elements abandon the franchise's defining characteristics. Longtime fans craving another dark trek through the Black Death might find the new formula too safe and familiar, the reviewer adds.
The game's story remains tied to the series' overarching narrative, with Sophia's mysterious supernatural connections influencing both storytelling and gameplay. The review concludes that despite its inspirations being obvious, they are well realized and remixed into a fresh experience, allowing the franchise to reinvent itself.