Beast Quest
- March 13, 2018
- Torus Games
Although it doesn’t quite live up to its potential (likely due to a shoestring budget), fans of the books and kids will find something to enjoy in Torus Games’ adaptation of Beast Quest.
Embark on an epic action-adventure to save the Kingdom of Avantia from ruin. Overcome the dark magic that has corrupted the noble Beasts of the realm. Battle in the mythical world, tackling challenges through stunning landscapes and a plethora of side missions and objectives. Unlock new abilities and upgrades to successfully combat varied opponents. Based on the best-selling fantasy novels, Beast …
Reviews
- The game features a colorful world inspired by children's fantasy books, which may appeal to younger audiences.
- The premise of battling mythical creatures and the unique concept of bosses being 'damsels in distress' adds an interesting twist to the gameplay.
- The game offers multiple difficulty levels and a skill tree for character customization, providing some incentive for players to engage with the mechanics.
- The graphics and animations are dated and lack polish, making the game visually unappealing compared to modern standards.
- Combat mechanics are overly simplistic and repetitive, leading to a tedious gameplay experience with unresponsive controls.
- The storyline is formulaic and lacks depth, failing to create emotional investment in the characters or the game's world.
- story82 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of "Beast Quest" is criticized for being formulaic and lacking depth, failing to distinguish itself in the crowded fantasy genre. While it may appeal to younger audiences with its simplistic narrative and straightforward quests, many players find the overall execution uninspired, with repetitive side quests and a lack of engaging interactive elements. Despite its potential, the game struggles to provide a compelling experience, leaving little incentive for replayability.
“The premise behind the bosses also being your 'damsels in distress' is a great concept; you still feel like a hero on a mission to save someone or something, but it's essentially from themselves.”
“Apparently it's based on the first four books of a series meant for children, and it shows in the rather simplistic, but appealing story.”
“Its lack of depth and overall simplicity makes it great for young children (about 7-10 years old) who just like the idea of going on a fantasy adventure without having to slog their way through complex story arcs, politics, or magic systems.”
“The game's storyline is formulaic and fails to stand out in the saturated fantasy genre.”
“The lack of replay value in Beast Quest is evident as there is little incentive to revisit the game after completing the main storyline.”
“The story's lack of overall depth and use of tired fantasy tropes and clichés can definitely come across as boring and uninspired.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Beast Quest* is criticized for its shallow mechanics, lack of challenge, and numerous technical issues, which detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the colorful and varied beasts and the straightforward gameplay, many find it boring and lacking in depth, ultimately leading to a forgettable experience in a competitive genre. Despite having solid features, the game struggles to stand out due to its shortcomings in graphics, controls, and replay value.
“The graphics, controls, writing, animations, gameplay, story, characters, puzzles, just everything is so perfect.”
“[i]Beast Quest[/i] is a short high fantasy game with some very solid gameplay features, but the bugs, glitches, and numerous other technical issues really overshadow any good this title has to offer.”
“With the right hands and necessary gameplay tweaks, Torus Games could have given us something in the likes of the [i]Spyro[/i] franchise: something that is simple enough for children to enjoy but with just the right amount of challenge to entertain adults.”
“One of the most significant shortcomings of Beast Quest lies in its gameplay mechanics.”
“With its lackluster graphics, shallow gameplay mechanics, forgettable storyline, and lack of replay value, the game struggles to stand out in an already competitive genre.”
“Beast Quest is a short high fantasy game with some very solid gameplay features, but the bugs, glitches, and numerous other technical issues really overshadow any good this title has to offer.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Beast Quest" are generally considered passable but lack the polish and detail expected from modern games, often being described as dated and subpar compared to titles from previous generations. Many reviewers noted issues such as inconsistent framerates and awkward character designs, leading to an overall impression that the visuals do not meet contemporary standards. While some elements are serviceable, the graphics are a significant drawback in an already competitive genre.
“The graphics, controls, writing, animations, gameplay, story, characters, puzzles, just everything is so perfect.”
“Gonna do a stress test on my graphics card with this one.”
“The music is nice and not too loud; the graphics could be better, but are serviceable (e.g. people's eyeballs look a bit weird).”
“While Beast Quest's graphics are passable, they lack the polish and attention to detail expected in modern games.”
“If this game came out between the years 2000 and 2010 it would be acceptable, but not these days. The voice acting becomes very annoying and the graphics are not great.”
“Its graphical presentation is put to shame by many PS3 titles, and we’re absolutely baffled how the experience doesn’t even manage to run at a consistent framerate on the PS4 Pro.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably inconsistent, with users reporting significant performance issues, particularly when switching languages, which can lead to major drops in FPS and stuttering. Additionally, the overall graphics and performance are described as dated, accompanied by long loading times and poor controls, contributing to a frustrating gameplay experience.
“Changing the game's language (e.g. from British to American English) for some reason caused major drops in FPS and very noticeable stuttering.”
“With British English it ran fine, maybe even a bit too fast since the movement can be a bit awkward and for some reason, the camera shifts whenever you move instead of being static and letting you move it with the mouse only, but switching to American English caused major stuttering.”
“Awfully dated graphics and rubbish performance, boring quests and battling, achingly long loading times, meaningless character progression, some of the worst jumping controls in years.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
"Beast Quest" suffers from a significant lack of replayability, as players find little motivation to return after finishing the main storyline. The game's unremarkable graphics, simplistic gameplay mechanics, and forgettable narrative contribute to its inability to engage players for multiple playthroughs.
“The replay value is incredible, with so much content to explore each time you play.”
“Every playthrough feels fresh and engaging, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes.”
“The game offers a wealth of content that encourages you to come back for more, making each session unique.”
“The lack of replay value in Beast Quest is evident as there is little incentive to revisit the game after completing the main storyline.”
“With its lackluster graphics, shallow gameplay mechanics, forgettable storyline, and lack of replay value, the game struggles to stand out in an already competitive genre.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as a decent and atmospheric soundtrack that, while unremarkable, effectively complements the game's mood. It is generally pleasant and not overpowering, with some users appreciating its classic RPG elements despite other gameplay shortcomings.
“The music is nice and not too loud, the graphics could be better, but are serviceable.”
“A weak plot, poor dialogue, and badly implemented controls are somehow buoyed up by an enjoyable classic RPG soundtrack.”
“+ a good classic soundtrack.”
“Decent, atmospheric soundtrack that's unremarkable but at least fits the mood of the game.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of *Beast Quest* is significantly hampered by numerous bugs, glitches, and technical issues, which overshadow its solid gameplay features. Reviewers suggest that a thorough quality assurance process was needed to address these problems and improve the overall experience.
“Beast Quest is a short high fantasy game with some very solid gameplay features, but the bugs, glitches, and numerous other technical issues really overshadow any good this title has to offer.”
“It definitely does feel like Torus Games had their heart in the right place with this one, but they really needed to go through a proper QA team to smooth out the controls and to patch up any glitches and bugs.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by the nostalgic cheesiness of 1980s and 1990s fantasy cartoons, creating a humorous and whimsical vibe. The soundtrack, while not particularly remarkable, effectively complements the overall mood, enhancing the immersive experience.
“The humor and overall atmosphere of the game hark back to the cheesiness of 1980s and 1990s fantasy cartoons that I used to watch as a child.”
“The game features a decent, atmospheric soundtrack that, while unremarkable, fits the mood perfectly.”
- character development3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of creativity, with characters often resembling generic fantasy archetypes and suffering from a suffocatingly linear narrative. The overall experience is further diminished by oversimplified combat mechanics and environmental issues, leading to a sense of blandness and repetitiveness.
“The environments feel bland and repetitive, and the character designs lack creativity, often resembling generic fantasy archetypes.”
“[suffocatingly linear narrative, oversimplified and unbalanced combat, awkward (and occasionally deadly) terrain bugs, uninspired character designs]”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging due to a lack of varied moves and combos, which leads to repetitive encounters. Additionally, the linear and confusing level design, combined with bland visuals, further exacerbates the feeling of monotony in combat.
“The lack of varied moves and combos quickly makes encounters feel tedious and unengaging.”
“With incredibly linear and sometimes confusing levels, painfully tedious combat, and bland, dated-looking visual design, Beast Quest is a crushing disappointment when you consider the rich source of inspiration that the famous book series supplies.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is hindered by forgettable supporting characters, which fail to provide meaningful connections or depth to the narrative.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is reminiscent of the cheesy charm found in 1980s and 1990s fantasy cartoons, evoking a nostalgic atmosphere that resonates with players who grew up during that era.
“The humor and overall atmosphere of the game hark back to the cheesiness of 1980s and 1990s fantasy cartoons that I used to watch as a child.”
Critic Reviews
Beast Quest Review
Although it doesn’t quite live up to its potential (likely due to a shoestring budget), fans of the books and kids will find something to enjoy in Torus Games’ adaptation of Beast Quest.
50%Beast Quest
Beast Quest has so much potential, but it let's itself down at all but one element. It's mediocre at best! A weak plot, poor dialogue, and badly implemented controls are somehow buoyed up by an enjoyable classic RPG sound track. There are much better examples of the genre for you to spend both your money and time on. + A good classic sound track. - Dated graphics. - A badly written script. - Terrible acting. - Clunky controls. - Boring gameplay. (Reviewed on the Xbox Series X. Also available on PC, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.)
30%Beast Quest Review
With incredibly linear and sometimes confusing levels, painfully tedious combat and bland, dated-looking visual design, Beast Quest is a crushing disappointment when you consider the rich source of inspiration that the famous book series supplies. Speaking of the books, this game was only ever going to appeal to those who have love for the kingdom of Avantia, and it's a real shame that after such a long wait for a video game adaptation of the series, those same dedicated fans have to endure this unflattering and lifeless adaptation. Put aside your affection for Adam Blade's novels and just play one of the many other amazing RPGs on Switch instead.
30%