Developer: Asobo Studio
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Rrp: £34.99 (Gog.com, Humblebundle, Steam and Epic)
Released: 14th May 2019
Available on: Gog.com, Humblebundle, Steam and Epic
Played Using: An Xbox One Control Pad
Approximate game length: 12 Hours
Before I start this review I want to issue a bit of a warning, this game features the death of a dog in the very early stages. I know that to some that makes this game a total no go, so I thought I’d mention it right at the top of the review.
The game is set 14th century (specifically starting in 1348) France during the Hundred Years War and also coincides with when the Black Death was running rampant. You play as a young noble girl named Amicia as she desperately tries to save herself and her younger brother Hugo from the clutches of the French Inquisition.
For the most part this is a game about stealth, you’re two young kids after all, you don’t stand a chance against a sword wielding adult. That isn’t to say there’s no combat, there is but it’s more tactical, needing you to pick your targets carefully as the slingshot you use takes time to wind up.
Generally your sling will be used to create diversions or light fires from a distance.
You can upgrade your sling at workstations using materials you can find. Such as leather, fabric, sulphur, and tools. I have to say though that I don’t know what the tools these people in 14th century France were made of but apparently they break after being used a single time.
There are certain items, specifically ammo and throwables that you can craft away from a workbench, and believe me you’ll need to craft quite a lot as the game goes on.
Amicia and Hugo have a complicated relationship. Amicia doesn’t really know her brother Hugo because he was always locked in his room due to being sickly. He also monopolised their mothers time as she worked tirelessly to care for Hugo as well as desperately trying to cure him. As you can imagine this has made Amicia and Hugo’s relationship rather strained which only gets exacerbated by the events of the game and Hugo being a very needy child.
That isn’t to say that Hugo is annoying, he’s just young and takes a while to comprehend what’s going on. In fact he can be, and regularly is, quite sweet. For example if you find one of the many collectible flowers that are in the game he will take the time to put one of its blooms in your hair with a small explanation. These flowers hold no real benefit in game, nor change any outcome but they do reveal a little insight into Hugo’s and Amicia’s relationship.
You and Hugo can seperate but if you leave him alone too long he’ll start to panic and attract attention. In honesty, I played through the game and I never found this particular mechanic to be an issue myself.
Hugo isn’t without his uses, there are quite a number of times throughout the game he’ll be need to perform tasks that you cannot.
Now one of the things I haven’t spoken on is the rats. I think its safe to call them the primary antagonist of the game, even if canonically you’re running from the Inquisition rather than the rats. This game has managed to get even someone like me, who absolutely adores rats (and used to keep quite a few as pets) to recoil at them. They flow over one another like water and feel nigh unstoppable. These rats will be the reason why you end up sacrificing so much and of course have played a large role in making the world the way it is.
Thankfully you can fend them off with light which opens the door to many a puzzle in this game.
I have to admit I really enjoyed my time playing this game. It’s certainly not a happy one, in fact, heart wrenching I think is a much better term. All that being said though I certainly look forward to the sequel, it’ll be interesting to see where they go with it.
If this appeals to you perhaps try;
Styx: Master of Shadows
Styx: Shards of Darkness
