Faeland
- December 5, 2023
- Talegames
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Faeland is a single-player, 2-hour Role Playing Game with great music, where you play as skilled hunter Sam. After his home is raided, Sam embarks on a journey through forests, caves, dungeons, and castles, acquiring new abilities to access hidden secrets. As Sam travels, his choices in weapons and interactions impact his combat and relationships, while he remains unaware of a greater threat looming ahead."
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and animations, creating an immersive and charming visual experience.
- Combat is accessible and forgiving, with plenty of health items available, making it enjoyable for players of all skill levels.
- The game has a lot of potential and is regularly updated, showing the developers' dedication and passion for the project.
- The game can be confusing and players may find themselves lost or boxed in, leading to frustrating resets.
- Some mechanics, like the lack of a difficulty option and the loss of items upon death, can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- As an early access title, the game feels incomplete, with limited content and some areas not yet available for exploration.
- story29 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and reminiscent of classic adventure titles, with a blend of Zelda and Metroidvania influences. Players appreciate the conventional yet enjoyable questlines that allow for meaningful world changes, creating a sense of heroism. While the narrative is considered wholesome and well-paced, some users express frustration with the limitations of the early access version, which restricts further progression in the story.
“The story and dialogue are interesting, and I really want to continue it.”
“I like how quests change something in the world, so you feel like a hero in the land instead of business as usual.”
“Nothing feels too sudden or unimportant, and there is enough lore to enhance the story if you want to read it, but you don't miss out or feel forced to read it if you don't want to.”
“The gameplay, music, art style, and story (so far) really took me back to 8-bit/16-bit days of gaming.”
“I played for about 110 minutes and the game wouldn't go any further into the story.”
“I know it's 'early access' but I don't like that I can't finish the story campaign (if I'm wrong please correct me, but it seemed like I couldn't go any further in my playthrough).”
- music17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its upbeat and immersive qualities, with many reviewers noting its nostalgic chiptune style reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit games. While some consider it a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, a few critiques suggest it may not reach the heights of iconic soundtracks from the genre. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“Fantastic game, fun gameplay and smooth controls, good music and great level design.”
“The music is top notch, really gave me a sense of mystique and wonder in most areas (some tracks are still floating about in my head).”
“The music is suitably rich and orchestral, lifting the whole game to another level.”
“The only small gripe I have is with the music.”
“Regarding the music, I hate to say it's the 'weakest' part of the game, but I will say it's the least strong...if that makes sense.”
“My opinion on the music is only a byproduct of its place in a genre populated by some of the best video game soundtracks of all time, like the aforementioned Zelda, Metroid, and Castlevania games.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its smooth controls and nostalgic design, reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda and King's Quest, blending modern mechanics with retro aesthetics. While the platforming is tight, some players noted occasional cheap hits as they adjusted to the mechanics. Overall, the game successfully combines adventure elements with light RPG mechanics, offering an engaging experience despite some minor flaws.
“The gameplay is smooth, and the controls are responsive.”
“Fantastic game, fun gameplay and smooth controls, good music and great level design.”
“The gameplay, music, art style, and story (so far) really took me back to 8-bit/16-bit days of gaming.”
“Twenty bucks for 2 hours of gameplay?”
“It's more for theme and narrative than mechanics.”
“Platforming feels pretty tight, though not quite perfect, since I took plenty of cheap-feeling hits early on while I got used to the mechanics.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 8-bit and 16-bit classics, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning art style and detailed animations. While some players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and overall design, a few express disappointment in certain dated elements and suggest improvements in level design. Overall, the graphics effectively evoke a sense of nostalgia while complementing the gameplay experience.
“Lovely graphics, level design could be improved a bit.”
“Playing this game takes me back to the good old days of 90's era games, with amazing chiptune music and 16-bit graphics that simply blow your mind.”
“The stunning art style is what hits you first.”
“I dig the retro aesthetic, but I find it very disappointing when it feels like a dated project to play.”
“The art style and animation brings me back to the 90s, with the King's Quest series, while the gameplay is a mix between Metroidvania and A Link to the Past.”
“Every object is detailed and reasonably varied.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often involving excessive backtracking for gold and optional items. The lack of fast travel and map markers exacerbates the slow pace, leading to frustration and diminishing replay value. Overall, while the game has a cute aesthetic, the grinding mechanics detract from the overall experience.
“I feel like I'm spending most of my time grinding or backtracking to get gold when I thought this was supposed to help.”
“Cute, but slow; so slow and grindy.”
“There's not much replay value other than collecting optional items, gold farming, and completing self-challenges.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a wholesome and engaging story that adds emotional depth, contrasting with its challenging gameplay that, while not as punishing as souls-like titles, still offers significant difficulty. Players appreciate the balance between its colorful presentation and the underlying challenges, making for an enjoyable emotional experience.
“Very enjoyable game with good but not great real-time combat and a wholesome, interesting story to follow.”
“It's not as tough as a souls-like, but don't let the wholesome and colorful appearance deceive you into thinking this is a walk in the park.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is currently in early access, and while players encounter some bugs and glitches, they are generally not severe and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
“The game is still in early access, and while I expected some bugs and glitches, the frequency of crashes is quite frustrating.”
“I appreciate that it's early access, but the stability issues make it hard to enjoy the game as intended.”
“There are definitely some bugs and glitches, and while I understand it's early access, the game feels unstable at times.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, primarily revolving around collecting optional items, gold farming, and undertaking self-imposed challenges.
“There's not much replay value other than collecting optional items, gold farming, and completing self-challenges.”
