Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy review

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy review - the third entry in the series offers a new protagonist and a fresh take on stealth and combat.

The reviewer notes that the game feels "spiritually double-A," a compliment that highlights its polished design despite Asobo’s smaller budget compared to Sony or Microsoft studios. The studio’s limited resources are said to allow it to keep creative choices that larger teams might cut.

A single button, R3, is the game’s all-purpose key. It opens doors, squeezes through gaps, investigates trinkets, inserts spherical keys, and even lets the player pick up and throw a dropped knife at an advancing enemy. The reviewer finds this design quirky but fitting.

The narrative follows Sophia, a plunderer with a troubled past. As a child, she was experimented on by nuns before being rescued by her father, who leads a gang of ruffians. The first chapter serves as a tutorial as Sophia meets her companions, including Leni, and learns that her father has moved on to a new chapter. When her right-hand man Faro is attacked, Sophia and Leni flee to a Minoan island, pursued by a mysterious figure named Viper.

Combat shifts toward swordplay. The reviewer compares the new fights to Sucker Punch’s Ghost duology and notes a parry mechanic that rewards precise timing. Resonance points, earned from encounters or found on the map, can be spent on specialisms. Players can choose to upgrade Sophia’s dodge into a double dodge or, for those who excel at parrying, a shorter window that delivers a stronger stun.

The skill tree is intentionally shallow, offering a handful of meaningful upgrades that can be respeced at any time. The reviewer chose a double-dodge upgrade that grants temporary invincibility, but also mentions the riskier option that adds bonus damage during a spin attack.

A boho-style perk system adds visual flair. Arm bands, beads, and bangles appear throughout the world and can increase the chance of dodging an arrow or surviving a fatal blow. The reviewer notes that these items are physically present on Sophia, even during intense sequences.

Exploration feels more like old-school Tomb Raider than the rebooted version. There is no map, and the hint system requires holding a button for a gentle nudge in the right direction. The reviewer describes the middle act as a place where players can get lost or stumped, adding to the sense of discovery.

The puzzles draw inspiration from Minoan light-reflecting mechanics. They are described as enjoyable, though the reviewer would question the Steam blurb’s claim that they are "ingenious." The payoff is always worth the effort, with dormant mechanisms that rumble to life when the player intervenes.

Sophia’s notebook is a recurring feature. She scribbles environmental clues, a touch the reviewer suspects may have been lifted from the Uncharted series. The notebook allows players to guide Sophia’s hand across sketches and tap them for hints.

Dialogue between Sophia and Leni is highlighted by the reviewer, who finds the banter between the two bandits oddly endearing. The actors Anna Demetriou and Lisa Delamar are noted for their relaxed delivery, which sometimes feels too polished for the rough characters.

As the game progresses, the reviewer observes that Sophia’s visions from childhood become more intense. The final scene ends with Sophia descending deeper into the ruins, the visions she had as a kid becoming more potent.