Seamlessly blending history and fiction, Asobo Studio's A Plague Tale: Innocence reimagines the Black Plague in a story about unshakable familial bonds. Embarking on an unforgettable journey, players must wade through muddy streets, blood-soaked battlefields, and terrifyingly claustrophobic spaces as they navigate through the plague-ridden countryside of 14th century France. Taking control of Amicia, the eldest child of a noble family, players must escape hordes of ravenous rats carrying "the Bite," and the Inquisition who are relentlessly hunting down her younger brother, Hugo.
Along the way, Amicia will grow more adept and confident in defending herself and Hugo from those that would harm them. But Amicia is still a child, and it's up to players to upgrade their available equipment and to gather invaluable materials for crafting to give the de Rune siblings a fighting chance of survival.
Gathering Resources
Players can gather many types of resources throughout the world of A Plague Tale: Innocence. All of these are used for crafting and upgrading. It is advised that players spend time exploring areas to collect resources wherever possible. For example, different types of ammunition that later become available to Amicia, as well as upgrades for her sling, rely on using the same materials, or have a higher cost of resources. Because of this, players will need to be selective when choosing upgrades and skills to unlock.
In certain places, players will be able to find stashes of resources in the form of Alchemist Carts hidden throughout the game. Inside these caches, Amicia will have free rein to loot as much as her inventory allows.
Types of Upgrades
Although it is possible to gather materials for crafting in the early stages of the game, crafting and upgrading are not available until the player has progressed to the mid-point of the second chapter, "The Strangers."
Upon meeting Clervie, players will gain access to their first workbench, where Amicia's sling and equipment can be upgraded. Upgrades include increasing Amicia's ammunition capacity, reducing the time taken to load the sling, and even allowing players to take two shots without pausing. Upgrades not only require gathered materials, but the use of tools. Tools are a rare resource that can only be found in select areas.
The second and third Attirail skills allow Amicia to complete upgrades without the need of a workbench, as well as disregarding tool kits when completing upgrades. However, players that diligently scavenge and spend time exploring off the beaten path will be rewarded with an abundance of materials, and should expect to find multiple workbenches along their way. These upgrades, for some players, are more of a convenience than a necessity.
Alchemy
In the fourth chapter, "The Apprentice," Amicia and Hugo meet Lucas, the titular apprentice to an accomplished doctor and alchemist. Lucas' knowledge and insight of alchemy will prove immediately useful to the player, as he teaches Amicia to use something other than rocks as ammunition for her sling.
As the player learns more alchemy recipes, Amicia's ammunition wheel will expand to reflect her new abilities. Players will gain access to four types of alchemical projectiles and two mixtures that can be used to give an edge in battle and solve puzzles. Each ammunition type comes with different advantages, but they also have their own resource cost that players should be mindful of when planning their next steps.
Players must scavenge projectiles such as rocks and pots while exploring, but alchemical ammunition can be crafted. As long as players have the necessary resources, ammunition can be crafted by either visiting a workbench, or while on the go within the weapon wheel.
Types of Alchemical Ammunition
Ignifer
- Unlocked in Chapter 4
- Ingredients: 1 Rock, 1 Sulphur, 1 Alcohol
- This flammable mixture can be used to light torches and braziers to create safe passage through infested areas.
Somnum
- Unlocked in Chapter 5
- Ingredients: 3 Sulphur, 4 Saltpeter, 4 Alcohol, 1 Fabric
- This high-material-cost powder can silently dispatch enemies, either from stealth or to save Amicia from capture. Carry capacity is limited to 1, but can be changed into a projectile after unlocking the third Containers upgrade.
Devorantis
- Unlocked in Chapter 7
- Ingredients: 1 Rock, 2 Saltpeter, 1 Alcohol
- This projectile can corrode metal. Try using it to target an enemy's helmet, forcing them to remove it and leaving them open to a follow-up attack.
Luminosa
- Unlocked in Chapter 7
- Ingredients: 3 Sulphur, 4 Saltpeter, 4 Alcohol, 1 Leather
- This projectile creates a temporary light, which destroys rats caught in its blast radius and can be used to escape them when caught. Its carry capacity is limited to 1.
Odoris
- Unlocked in Chapter 9
- Ingredients: 1 Rock, 1 Sulphur, 1 Episanguis
- This projectile draws rats to its location when thrown.
Exstinguis
- Unlocked in Chapter 10
- Ingredients: 1 Rock, 1 Saltpeter, 1 Episanguis
- This ammo extinguishes fires, including torches used by enemies, which can expose them to the rats.
A Plague Tale: Innocence is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.