FATED: The Silent Oath
- April 28, 2016
- Frima Studio
The Silent Oath is an excellent story-driven game that brings out the very best of virtual reality’s application and is one that certainly deserves a sequel.
FATED is a first-person movie-length narrative-adventure game in virtual reality. This immersive game with stunning visuals showcases the best that VR has to offer, proposing a strong story-driven, narrative experience that focuses on emotion over gameplay.
Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful art style that have held up well since its release in 2016.
- The narrative is engaging and emotional, with well-voiced characters that draw players into the story.
- The game includes various comfort options to help mitigate motion sickness, making it accessible for players new to VR.
- The game is very short, with gameplay lasting around 80-100 minutes, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and wanting more.
- The control scheme is limited to gamepad use, which can lead to discomfort and motion sickness, especially with slow movement and turning mechanics.
- The story ends abruptly without resolution, making it feel incomplete and leaving players frustrated about the lack of a sequel.
- story91 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players noting its initial promise but ultimately feeling disappointed by its abrupt and incomplete ending. While some found the narrative engaging and emotionally resonant, others criticized it for being thin, poorly executed, and lacking interactivity. Overall, the story serves as a foundation for a potentially compelling experience, but many reviewers expressed a desire for more depth and resolution.
“The story was engaging and I found myself caring about the characters very quickly into the game.”
“Great story, really immersive and stays with you for a while after playing the game.”
“I cried a few times through the story; the story is great, and the voice acting I found to be sufficient to draw the player in.”
“A negligible story that at first looks promising but then goes nowhere and ends with a whimper.”
“The story is abysmal, the ending is incredibly off-putting.”
“There are so many loose ends to the story, it's ridiculous.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and high-quality visuals, even for a title released in 2016. While many users appreciate the stunning environments and overall aesthetic, some note issues with character animations being stiff and lifeless. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, though there are mixed feelings about the optimization for VR controls.
“Luckily, there is no need to rush since you can be busy with enjoying the beautiful art style.”
“Even though this game is from 2016, the visuals are top notch.”
“Everything from the graphics to the animation and sound are absolutely phenomenal so far and really help to set the atmosphere.”
“Pretty graphics but incredibly boring.”
“But the graphics and story initially indicated that it might be a neat little game.”
“The developer put some effort into the graphics, and I won't criticize the voice acting.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simplistic and minimal, with many reviewers noting that it feels more like an interactive narrative than a full-fledged game. While some enjoyed the unique mechanics and varied stage designs, others criticized the lack of depth, short playtime, and control issues, suggesting that the game leans heavily on its story rather than engaging gameplay. Overall, it may appeal to fans of narrative-driven experiences but may disappoint those seeking action or complex mechanics.
“Enjoyable game, lots of mechanics that haven't really been attempted in many VR games to try.”
“+ Gameplay mechanics are not repetitive; each stage has its own mood and flavor.”
“I didn't mind, and there are some fun action sequences and other gameplay moments to mix things up.”
“Unfortunately, the content is very small in terms of gameplay.”
“I enjoyed it... but more as a narrative short with some far too simple gameplay to call it much of a game.”
“There is barely any gameplay here... the developers were too focused on making an animation short than an actual game.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive environments, and effective use of sound, creating a captivating experience that enhances the narrative. Players appreciate the detailed settings, such as forests and caves, and the thematic elements related to Scandinavian mythology and Viking culture, which contribute to a rich and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the game's aesthetic and immersive qualities are highlighted as standout features, despite some disappointment with the story's conclusion.
“Put simply, this is a very pretty mini-narrative adventure with beautiful models, textures, lighting, and atmosphere.”
“Everything from the graphics to the animation and sound is absolutely phenomenal and really helps to set the atmosphere.”
“Great graphics, good controls, and a nice atmosphere.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a compelling and touching storyline that resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings and even tears. While some reviews praise the emotional depth and relatability of the characters, others criticize the narrative for being manipulative and lacking substance. Overall, the game effectively engages players on an emotional level, showcasing the potential for emotional attachment in virtual reality.
“Really good story, that made me feel for the characters.”
“The story was surprising and ended somewhat abruptly but it was very touching and relatable.”
“I cried a few times through the story; the story is great, and the voice acting I found to be sufficient to draw the player in.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its low replayability due to its primarily narrative-driven structure, with many users noting that the short experience does not justify its price. Overall, players feel that there is little incentive to replay the game after completing it.
“It's mostly narrative, so there's no replay value.”
“There is no replay value.”
“At £14.99, it seems like a lot for such a short experience, which makes it hard to recommend given the lack of replay value.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its great soundtrack and immersive sound design, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience.
“The soundtrack, sound design, and environments were very immersive.”
“Great soundtrack.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development is praised for its great overall visual style and appealing character designs, contributing to a strong aesthetic experience.
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the graphics are praised, users note that the controls are not well-optimized for VR, impacting the overall experience.
“Nice graphics, but the controls are not optimized for VR.”
“The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the requirements.”
“There are frequent frame drops and stuttering, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
Critic Reviews
FATED: The Silent Oath Review - PSVR
The Silent Oath is an excellent story-driven game that brings out the very best of virtual reality’s application and is one that certainly deserves a sequel.
80%Fated: The Silent Oath Review - Speak Up
Fated: The Silent Oath really wants to tell a personal story about family in VR. Instead it tells a boring story surrounded by mostly boring gameplay elements that is only occasionally brought up by some nice art design.
40%Fated: The Silent Oath Review
Fated: The Silent Oath is unique among the current slate of VR games, in that it has an engaging story and a fully realized world. However, the short time spent in this world could be vastly improved in many ways. Those who have a VR headset and want to see how a traditional story-based experience could work should be intrigued, but others might want to skip this adventure.
60%