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."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and animations, creating an engaging and charming visual experience.
- Combat is accessible with plenty of health items available, making it easy to recover during battles.
- The game has a lot of potential and is regularly updated, showing the developers' dedication to improving the experience.
- Players often feel lost and can get boxed in, leading to frustration and the need to reset progress.
- The game lacks sufficient explanations for mechanics and map usage, making it difficult for some players to navigate.
- As an early access title, it feels incomplete, with limited content and some gameplay elements needing polish.
- story58 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and reminiscent of classic adventure narratives, with a blend of Zelda influences and conventional questlines that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Players appreciate the pacing and the way quests impact the game world, making them feel like heroes, while the overall tone is likened to "comfort food." However, 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.”
“The story feels like comfort food, and there is a whole lot to like.”
“What makes this good is that the writer clearly knows how to plot and pace.”
“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).”
“You play the archetypal 'blank slate' character--your name is whatever you type when you create a save, you communicate through gestures only, and the extent of your backstory is you live alone in a cottage and can use a bow.”
- music34 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its upbeat and immersive qualities, with many players appreciating its nostalgic chiptune style reminiscent of 8-bit and 16-bit eras. While some tracks evoke a sense of mystique and enhance the gameplay experience, a few reviewers noted that the music may not stand out as strongly compared to iconic soundtracks from classic games like Zelda and Metroid. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though opinions on its strength vary.
“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.”
“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 would blow your mind.”
“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.”
“The only small gripe I have is with the music.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its smooth controls and nostalgic design, reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit games, particularly drawing comparisons to titles like "The Legend of Zelda" and "Metroidvania." While the platforming mechanics are mostly tight, some players experienced minor frustrations with hit detection as they adjusted to the controls. Overall, the game successfully blends adventure elements with RPG-lite mechanics, offering an engaging experience despite some concerns about the value for the length of gameplay.
“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.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 8-bit and 16-bit classics, with detailed and varied objects that evoke nostalgia for 90s gaming. While the art style and animation are highlighted as top-tier, some players express disappointment when the overall experience feels dated. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm, complementing its engaging gameplay and music.
“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.”
“[b]Graphics[/b]: every object is detailed and reasonably varied.”
“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.”
“I love the graphics style, the lore, and combat, albeit the movement is a little wonky from time to time.”
- grinding8 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 feeling that they spend excessive time backtracking for gold and optional items. The lack of fast travel and map markers exacerbates this issue, leading to a slow-paced experience with limited replay value. Overall, while the game has a cute aesthetic, the grinding mechanics detract from its enjoyment.
“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, grindy.”
“There's not much replay value other than collecting optional items, gold farming, and completing self-challenges.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a wholesome and engaging story that captivates players, providing an enjoyable emotional experience. While the combat may not be as challenging as in souls-like games, the narrative depth and colorful presentation add layers to the overall emotional impact.
“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.”
“Very enjoyable game with a wholesome, interesting story to follow.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is currently in early access, and while players may 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 there are bugs and glitches, they aren't game-breaking.”
“Expect to encounter various bugs and glitches since this is early access, but they aren't too severe.”
“As this is an early access title, you will experience some bugs and glitches, though they are manageable.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % 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.”
