Faeland

About

Faeland is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Talegames and was released on December 5, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+24

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 163 reviews

story17 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and a charming retro aesthetic, creating an immersive atmosphere.
Gameplay mechanics are engaging, with a strong emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving reminiscent of classic Metroidvania and Zelda titles.
The developers are actively updating the game, showing dedication to improving the experience and adding new content.

The control scheme is poorly designed, making it difficult to navigate and play without frustration, especially for those using a keyboard.
Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating encounters with enemies and bosses.
The game currently lacks sufficient content for the price, feeling more like an extended demo than a complete experience.

story
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The game's story is described as cute and engaging, featuring interesting twists and a classic good vs. evil narrative that resonates with players. While some find the writing overly enthusiastic and conventional, many appreciate the immersive world-building, character development, and the sense of progression through quests that impact the game world. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable and comforting, with players eager to see how it unfolds in future updates.
- “The stunning locations and compelling visual storytelling draw you in as you develop your character's abilities throughout the adventure.”
- “Moreover, Faeland excels in its storytelling, delivering an enthralling narrative that unfolds as players progress through the game.”
- “The story feels like comfort food, and there is a whole lot to like.”
- “The writing seems to be overly enthusiastic; all the characters seem to have the same inclination towards the protagonist whenever he finishes a quest or does anything right. It's very jarring that there are no risky situations or intensity to the conversations, even though the action set pieces have some gripping moments, which makes it all the more disappointing that the writing is so subpar.”
- “I haven’t played any of the actual game yet, just the opening tutorial, where you learn how to get a little bit comfortable with the controls and learn about some of the story, to tell you what your character’s main reason is for bothering to get out of bed, which funnily enough, almost doesn’t happen.”
- “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.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
7%
The gameplay is generally praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging RPG elements, and nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic adventure games like Castlevania and Zelda. While many players appreciate the polished animations and responsive controls, some have noted minor issues with combat mechanics and precision requirements, particularly with the ledge-grab feature. Overall, the game offers a rich and enjoyable experience, blending exploration and combat effectively, though some players are hopeful for further improvements in upcoming updates.
- “It's an excellent homage to classic Castlevania-style adventure games, with updated combat and gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, and the controls are responsive.”
- “The RPG elements add depth to the gameplay, providing a sense of progression and accomplishment as players navigate through the game's world.”
- “I like what this game is trying to do & its atmosphere, animations, etc., but for the love of god, review your combat gameplay overall.”
- “Some of the combat and mechanics may need to be reworked a bit, especially since the combat can feel quite clunky at times.”
- “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.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
22%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic, retro-inspired quality, drawing comparisons to classic titles like *Chrono Trigger*, *Secret of Mana*, and *The Legend of Zelda*. Players appreciate the beautiful compositions that enhance the atmosphere and gameplay, with particular praise for the immersive soundscapes and clever transitions, such as the underwater effects. While some reviewers noted that the music may not reach the heights of the genre's best soundtracks, it remains a highlight that contributes significantly to the overall experience.
- “Absolutely gorgeous search action RPG with fantastic music that just feels good to play.”
- “The music is particularly terrific, with echoes of Yasunori Mitsuda's music for Chrono Trigger and Hiroki Kikuta's for Secret of Mana.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful and so's the pixel work.”
- “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.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and retro aesthetic, reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit titles. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in animations, world-building, and character design, which enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic visuals, a few express disappointment with certain aspects feeling dated, but overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm.
- “Strong 2D Zelda vibes in the dungeon design (including manipulation of dungeon elements), superb graphics and animations, and overall there is so much attention put into little details and secrets.”
- “The attention to detail in the graphics enhances the overall atmosphere of the game, sucking players into its enchanting world.”
- “The pixelated graphics are incredible, and the layout of the 'levels' is very well thought out.”
- “Shitty graphics, lost for hours, can’t get the axe, trash fire!!!”
- “I dig the retro aesthetic, but I find it very disappointing when it feels like a dated project to play.”
- “There are a few buildings or areas where the art style does change completely.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience due to excessive backtracking and a lack of fast travel options. While some appreciate the cute aesthetics, many express frustration with the slow pace and limited replay value, primarily revolving around gold farming and optional challenges.
- “It's easy to miss and, sadly, does little to alleviate the game's frequent, tedious backtracking.”
- “I feel like I'm spending most of my time grinding or backtracking to get gold when I thought this was supposed to help.”
- “There's not much replay value other than collecting optional items, gold farming, and completing self-challenges.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its charming pixel art, music, and attention to detail, which effectively immerses players in its enchanting world. While many appreciate the Zelda-like fantasy vibe, some feel that the overall atmosphere could be enhanced with more realistic movement and improved combat gameplay. Overall, the visual and audio presentation is considered above average, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.
- “The pixel art, music, and atmosphere are very good; comfortable and familiar, it's overall nice.”
- “I absolutely love the Zelda-like fantasy atmosphere, but a higher emphasis on slower, realistic movement would enhance it.”
- “In terms of audio and visual presentation, and spritework, this game is highly above average, it has a charm to it but somehow lacks in atmosphere.”
- “I absolutely love the Zelda-like fantasy atmosphere, but a higher emphasis on a slower realistic movement.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Faeland is praised for its heartfelt homage to classic adventure games, evoking nostalgia through its music and storytelling. While the game features enjoyable elements and a wholesome narrative, players note that it can still present challenges, particularly in combat, despite its colorful and inviting appearance. Overall, the emotional experience is enriched by its engaging story and nostalgic references.
- “Faeland feels like a heartfelt homage to some of the best adventure games I have ever played, and a lot of the music reminds one of SNES titles like Zelda: A Link to the Past and Terranigma.”
- “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.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of amusement and frustration, particularly when characters exhibit dramatic, uncontrollable movements that lead to unexpected encounters with bosses. This blend of comedic timing and chaotic gameplay adds a unique charm, though it can also be irritating at times.
- “It's kind of funny and annoying at the same time when my character gets dramatically hurt mid-air, sending him uncontrollably into the boss's embrace.”
- “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud, making every quest feel like a comedic adventure.”
- “I love how the game uses humor to lighten the mood, even during intense moments; it keeps the experience enjoyable and entertaining.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is currently in early access, and while players do encounter some bugs and glitches, they are generally not severe and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “While I understand this is early access, the number of bugs and glitches I've encountered is quite frustrating.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “I appreciate that it's still in development, but the stability issues really detract from the overall gameplay.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”