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
- Stunning visuals and high production values, especially for a 2016 title.
- Engaging narrative that evokes emotional responses and attachment to characters.
- Offers a unique VR experience with various comfort options to mitigate motion sickness.
- Extremely short gameplay, averaging around 80-110 minutes, leaving players wanting more.
- Lack of modern control support, relying solely on gamepad controls which can be uncomfortable and lead to motion sickness.
- Abrupt ending with no clear resolution, making it feel unfinished and unsatisfying.
- story70 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a central focus, offering an engaging and emotional experience, though many players note that it ends abruptly, leaving a sense of incompleteness. While some appreciate the touching narrative and character development, others criticize the thin plot and lack of interactivity, likening it to a tech demo rather than a fully realized game. Overall, the story is seen as a promising foundation for future installments, but its brevity and abrupt conclusion have left many players wanting more.
“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.”
“Great story, really immersive and stays with you for a while after playing the game.”
“The story is incomplete, like this is just the first of many chapters.”
“The cliched puzzles don't add much to the story for me.”
“This game is a walking simulator with a horrible story.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visual art style and high-quality animations, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While many users commend the visuals as some of the best in VR, there are criticisms regarding character animations, which are described as stiff and lacking fluidity. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, despite some minor flaws.
“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.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as minimal and easy, with some enjoyable moments and unique mechanics, but it lacks depth and content, offering only about 1.5 hours of playtime. While some players appreciate the interactive storytelling and varied stage moods, others criticize the control mechanics and the overall focus on animation over gameplay. Overall, it may appeal to fans of narrative-driven experiences, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more action-oriented game.
“The 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, but if you're looking for something action-packed, this isn't it.”
“Enjoyable game, lots of mechanics that haven't really been attempted in many VR games to try.”
“Unfortunately, the content is very small in terms of gameplay.”
“Another pro or con (depending on how you look at it) is this game is pretty light on actual gameplay.”
“There is barely any gameplay here... the developers were too focused on making an animation short than an actual game.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotionally impactful story that resonates deeply with players, often evoking tears and strong feelings for the characters. While the narrative is described as surprising and relatable, some reviewers note that it ends abruptly and may not meet expectations for gameplay. Overall, it effectively showcases the potential for emotional attachment in virtual reality experiences.
“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.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive Viking and Scandinavian mythology themes, enhanced by stunning graphics, animations, and sound design. Players appreciate the rich lore and storytelling, making it particularly appealing for those who enjoy atmospheric and narrative-driven experiences.
“Nice lore and atmosphere, especially for lovers of Scandinavian mythology.”
“Everything from the graphics to the animation and sound is absolutely phenomenal and really helps to set the atmosphere.”
“I personally enjoyed this game, as I am a story-driven, atmospheric game type person.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to its primarily narrative-driven structure, with many users indicating that there is little incentive to play through it multiple times.
“It's mostly narrative, so there's no replay value.”
“We can say there is no replay value.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its great soundtrack and immersive sound design, which enhances the overall gaming experience and complements the environments effectively.
“The soundtrack, sound design, and environments were very immersive.”
“Great soundtrack.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's character development for its impressive visual style and unique character designs, highlighting how these elements enhance the overall 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%