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 decent atmospheric soundtrack that fits the mood of the game.
- The premise behind the bosses being 'damsels in distress' adds a unique twist to the gameplay.
- The skill tree offers some customization options for players to enhance their abilities.
- The game is fundamentally broken on a technical level, with numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay.
- Combat mechanics are overly simplistic and clunky, leading to a frustrating experience.
- Graphics and animations are subpar, lacking polish and creativity, which detracts from the overall experience.
- story28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story of "Beast Quest" is criticized for being formulaic and lacking depth, relying on tired fantasy tropes that fail to engage players. While it may appeal to younger audiences with its simplistic narrative, the absence of meaningful side quests and interactive elements diminishes the overall experience, leading to a sense of aimlessness and low replay value. Despite some charming moments and a potentially interesting premise, the game struggles to stand out in a crowded genre.
“The graphics, controls, writing, animations, gameplay, story, characters, puzzles, just everything is so perfect.”
“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.”
“The game's storyline is formulaic and fails to stand out in the saturated fantasy genre.”
“Its lack of depth and overall simplicity makes it great for young children (about 7-10 y/o) 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 story's lack of overall depth and use of tired fantasy tropes and clichés can definitely come across as boring and uninspired.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Beast Quest* is criticized for its shallow mechanics and numerous technical issues, including bugs and glitches, which detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate its solid features and potential for engaging gameplay, the lack of depth and poor execution prevent it from standing out in a competitive genre. Overall, the game struggles to balance accessibility for younger players with the challenge needed to engage older audiences.
“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.”
“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 lacklustre 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.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Beast Quest" are generally considered passable but lack the polish and detail expected from modern games, with some users noting specific issues like odd character designs. While some appreciate the overall aesthetic, many feel the visuals do not meet contemporary standards, making the game less competitive in its 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.”
“While Beast Quest's graphics are passable, they lack the polish and attention to detail expected in modern games.”
“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.”
“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.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
"Beast Quest" suffers from low replayability, as players find little motivation to return after finishing the main storyline due to its unremarkable graphics, simplistic gameplay mechanics, and forgettable narrative. This lack of engaging content makes it difficult for the game to distinguish itself in a crowded market.
“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.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with users reporting significant frame rate drops and stuttering when switching the language from British to American English, while performance remains stable in British English. Additionally, some players noted awkward movement mechanics and camera shifts that detract from the overall 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. 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.”
- stability2 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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a nostalgic charm reminiscent of 1980s and 1990s fantasy cartoons, complemented by a decent yet unremarkable soundtrack that effectively aligns with the game's mood.
“The game features a decent, atmospheric soundtrack that, while unremarkable, fits the mood perfectly.”
“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 fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected and uninspired.”
“Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels flat and lacks the immersive qualities that would draw players in.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music is described as a decent and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the game's mood, though it is considered unremarkable. It is noted for being pleasant and not overpowering, enhancing the overall experience without drawing too much attention.
“The music is nice and not too loud, creating a pleasant atmosphere that complements the gameplay.”
“Decent, atmospheric soundtrack that's unremarkable but at least fits the mood of the game.”
“The music is forgettable and lacks any real impact on the overall experience.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the music feels repetitive and uninspired.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is criticized for its lack of creativity, with characters often appearing as generic fantasy archetypes, which contributes to a bland and repetitive overall experience.
“The environments feel bland and repetitive, and the character designs lack creativity, often resembling generic fantasy archetypes.”
“Character progression feels shallow, with limited choices that don't impact the story or gameplay significantly.”
“The characters lack depth and backstory, making it hard to connect with them on an emotional level.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that the limited variety in moves and combos leads to repetitive and monotonous encounters, making the grinding aspect of the game feel tedious and unengaging.
“The lack of varied moves and combos quickly makes encounters feel tedious and unengaging.”
“Grinding for levels feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of the grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, as supporting characters are described as forgettable and fail to create a meaningful connection with the narrative.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % 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.”
“The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud, making every quest feel like a comedic adventure.”
“The game's quirky characters and their hilarious interactions kept me entertained and added a delightful charm to the overall experience.”
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%