Those who have played A Plague Tale: Innocence will know that both Hugo and Amicia are deeply tied to the rat plague that follows in their wake. Hugo’s blood carries the Prima Macula - an ancient evil that manifests itself in specific noble bloodlines throughout time. The extent of the evil is unknown, but one certain thing is that Hugo can control swarms. By the end of the first game, Hugo has come to grips with his powers and, together with Amicia, defeated Vitalis Benevent - a corrupt and evil Grand Inquisitor who sought to use Hugo’s powers to rule France. With Vitalis done for and Hugo now seemingly in control of his powers, A Plague Tale: Requiem is the perfect opportunity to show just what the young boy can do. Spoilers for A Plague Tale: Innocence ahead.

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The Groundwork for Hugo Is Already Set

The final act of A Plague Tale: Innocence shows potential gameplay options when controlling both Amicia and Hugo together. Using Amicia’s vast arsenal of throwables to create openings for Hugo’s rats, players can plow through hordes of enemies that once seemed incredibly strong. This back-and-forth between feeling vulnerable and strong creates an experience that feels wholly earned by the end.

Unfortunately, this dynamic might not work as well at the start of A Plague Tale: Requiem. Considering Hugo’s capacity to eliminate enemies easily with Imperium (the power to control rats), players may feel too strong from the get-go. This isn’t what playing A Plague Tale: Requiem should feel like. A Plague Tale: Innocence got its tone right by making players feel like the whole world is against them. Players had to use cunning and wit to overcome obstacles instead of brute force. Once the option to eliminate enemies more easily presented itself, players were able to enjoy the catharsis because of their prior struggles.

Controlling Rats Can Be a Versatile Power

Since A Plague Tale: Requiem takes place six months after the first game, Asobo Studio could give Hugo different rat-based powers that show his growth. The Plague Tale franchise is primarily centered around action-adventure and stealth-based mechanics. Since stealth is where the rats seem to be lacking, it seems like a perfect opportunity to give them more sneaky abilities. Giving Hugo the ability to control a single rat for reconnaissance purposes would allow him and Amicia to sneak past enemies more easily. The rats can go through holes, vents, and other tight spaces that the two wouldn’t normally be able to get through. With enough experience, Hugo might also be able to command the rats to do more specific actions like opening doors that are locked from the other side.

In terms of combat, Hugo could combine the rats with Amicia’s alchemical throwables. Amicia could stick her special ammunition on rats (such as the enemy-eliminating Somnum) to create makeshift remote bombs. Once enemies have been knocked out, Hugo can command the rats to devour their bodies, leaving nothing for surviving enemies to find. It is a bit macabre, but the tactics seem to fit well within A Plague Tale: Requiem’s grim world.

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Hugo Should Have More Playable Sections

While it is most likely that A Plague Tale: Requiem will have players control Amicia for the majority, it would be a disservice to the first game to not have any playable Hugo sections. Hugo serves as the deuteragonist of the franchise, and his growing powers mean his role can only get bigger with each title. Having Hugo periodically go on adventures of his own will not only give players more chances to use his powers, but to also see his growth as a character. One of Hugo’s biggest character arcs in A Plague Tale: Innocence happens without Amicia, as he willingly gives himself over to the Inquisition to save his mother. A Plague Tale: Requiem should capitalize on sections like this and give the two characters time apart. Doing so will give players more chances to see the world from both Amicia and Hugo’s eyes, as well as strengthen the bond the two have with each other.

A Plague Tale: Requiem has a lot to live up to, but it also has a lot of room to improve. Striking the balance between gameplay and story is essential, and doing so with two characters at the center of the franchise may not be easy. Asobo Studio has already given players a lengthy amount of time with Amicia, so it would be in its best interest to give Hugo just as much time in the spotlight. This will allow players to feel a deeper connection to the character, instead of just seeing him as an NPC that needs to be protected.

A Plague Tale: Requiem releases on October 18, 2022 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.

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