The Fabled Woods – Review

Our Rating: 7/10

The Fabled Woods is set in a dense and isolated forest, which provides the ideal setting for a dark and mysterious atmosphere. We’re still learning about the story’s main character and the events that surround him. This is repeated in each chapter, with a new character and a new story to go along with it. The game is able to pass the tales to those who accompany it in a cadenced manner this way.

The stories told, on the other hand, lack depth and breadth. To put it another way, each one appears to be rushed and lacking in detail. Furthermore, there is no clear connection, if any, between them all. It’s also unclear what the story’s goal is, as well as the mystery that surrounds it. The superficial approach will undoubtedly eliminate all of the plot’s potential.

The journey between worlds that the player must undertake is also worth mentioning. It’s a character’s dream, but it could be told in a non-dreamy manner. Finally, the scenarios contain a number of documents. Important documents that support the narratives. It’s a welcome addition to the game’s mysteries, even if it’s not enough.

Seeing through other eyes

First and foremost, as a walking simulator should be, the game’s approach is straightforward. You can walk around and click on objects here, as well as use the “remember” feature. We can see past events when this ability is activated. An animal’s trail, for example, that passed through the area some time ago.

Additionally, when this ability is activated, the player’s vision turns completely red, in true Predator fashion. However, there is one aspect of the “remember” mode that is extremely unsettling. It is not possible to deactivate it once it has been activated.

After 10 seconds of being enabled, the reddish vision will fade away. We also can’t use it for more than 10 seconds. These restrictions are inconvenient and unnecessarily constrain the player. Even more so, so that the ability can be turned off after a period of rest.

A not so smooth walk

The Fabled Woods would invest heavily in the character’s gait if it were a walking simulator. However, this is not the case. We experience an odd heaviness while walking. The character has the appearance of a square block that rises abruptly on top of objects as it passes by.

We also feel a sense of hardness when activating movement commands. At the same time, the character accelerates from a standing position to full speed. This isn’t an issue in many other games, but it’s not appropriate in The Fabled Woods. Finally, the action is triggered by a simple click. The player will be required to act in just a few moments.

Opening doors and collecting items are the only things you can do. One of the game’s most appealing features is this simple mechanic. There’s no need to complicate the player’s life because the emphasis is on telling the story. And the developer has unquestionably struck gold.

Eye-popping visuals

There’s no denying that the Fabled Woods is breathtakingly beautiful. The game’s textures aren’t very high-resolution, and the beautification effects aren’t overly complex. The graphics style and RayTracing, on the other hand, are very appealing. RayTracing distinguishes itself by allowing for water reflections and light effects.

Even without the effects, the look is still quite nice. The scenarios contain enough elements for a big-budget game. The dense forest, which prevents light from entering, creates a claustrophobic atmosphere.

Audio and soundtrack

In general, the sound effects appear to have been taken from a sound effects library. It quickly loses its identity and leaves the game. The acting of voices, on the other hand, deserves special attention. Actors have the ability to elicit emotion from the audience, thereby attracting their attention. When it comes to the soundtrack, it does its job admirably. Soft, melancholy tones contribute to the game’s darker atmosphere, but nothing particularly noteworthy.

Bugs…

Something that will nag you throughout the game is the presence of bugs. Textures were the most common bug in my game. When the “remember” mode is turned on, the scene’s highlights have a much lighter tone than the rest of the scene. These highlights, on the other hand, were blinking nonstop throughout the game.

This is a problem because the texture blinks do not have a precise frequency. This flaw, on the other hand, makes it difficult for the player to visualize the scene’s highlight. The player character colliding with objects is another very annoying bug. The player can pass through the objects at times, but he or she is stuck between them. As a result, the player frequently has difficulty walking through the scenarios. It hurt a lot when I got stuck in small irregularities on the floor.

Final Thoughts

The Fabled Woods falls short of expectations. Whether it’s for a short story or a game with a limited number of options. Unfortunately, the concepts are poorly executed, and the game is far too short. The game’s visual mechanics certainly obstruct it a lot. The inability to turn the skill off and on after such a long time is a frustrating limitation.

You can tell it’s rushed because the game takes 30 minutes from start to finish. It doesn’t add up, despite the fact that there are two endings to the game. The stunning landscapes, combined with the art style and light and shadow effects, are insufficient to justify the investment. The Fabled Woods drew inspiration from walking simulators but couldn’t figure out how to put it to good use. Finally, even genre fans will have a difficult time recommending this game.