Fatum Betula
- June 12, 2020
- Bryce Bucher
- 2h median play time
Fatum Betula finds virtue in the 32-bit generation. It is impossible to return to the ethos that powered games from a quarter century ago, but Fatum Betula captures their spirit and respects their integrity. The wild sense of experimentation, the natural invitation to curiosity, and the harsh beauty imposed by technical limitations shine through every austere texture and restrained polygon.
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Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox
Reviews
- Fatum Betula features a captivating atmosphere with beautiful PS1-style graphics that enhance the surreal experience.
- The game encourages exploration and experimentation, offering multiple endings and secrets that keep players engaged.
- The soundtrack and sound design contribute significantly to the overall mood, creating a haunting yet comforting ambiance.
- Some puzzles can be cryptic and may require external guides to fully understand, which can detract from the immersive experience.
- The game is relatively short, and while it has replayability, some players may find the need to repeat actions tedious.
- Certain endings rely on random encounters, which can lead to frustration if players are unable to trigger them during their playthrough.
- atmosphere137 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Fatum Betula" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and immersive quality, effectively drawing players into its surreal, nostalgic world reminiscent of PS1-era aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from comfort to eeriness, enhanced by its captivating visuals and sound design. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the standout feature, making the exploration and puzzle-solving experience deeply engaging and memorable.
“The atmosphere is so thick and lulling, completely serene yet uncanny.”
“The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful, with a slightly creepy feeling.”
“Fatum Betula is a deeply atmospheric exploration puzzle game, with PS1 style low poly visuals.”
“The atmosphere is eerie, haunting, and foreboding.”
“A game as captivating in its visual atmosphere as it is uninspired in its themes and gameplay structure.”
“It's short, the world is small, and the story is sparse, but the atmosphere, the graphics, the puzzles, the music, and everything else tie it together into a great little game.”
- graphics134 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic low-poly PS1 aesthetic that effectively creates a haunting and surreal atmosphere, reminiscent of classic titles from the era. Many players appreciate the unique art style and how it complements the game's eerie themes and philosophical puzzles, while some note that the visuals may not appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking deeper lore or more dynamic environments. Overall, the visuals are praised for their charm and ability to evoke a sense of wonder, making it a standout experience for fans of retro-inspired graphics.
“The graphics are charming low-poly PS1-esque goodness, which are always good to have in a game.”
“The visuals and soundtrack piece together perfectly to craft an unforgettable experience.”
“A true spectacle in terms of its visuals, worlds, and story, all combined with the pleasing yet unnerving aesthetic that was PlayStation 1 graphics.”
“Don't expect too much from it, no philosophy or uncommon stuff, just PS1 graphics...”
“The graphics are low-poly PS1 style and very surreal, nothing really matches both in terms of environment and NPC designs but somehow it works, especially when accompanied with the beautifully ambient soundtrack.”
“If I am being nitpicky, I think they should have done a bit more with the stage design, locations felt just a little uninspired considering that PS1 aesthetic allows you to get away with a lot of things.”
- music66 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the surreal and eerie experience. Many players appreciate the way the soundtrack adapts to different locations, creating a unique ambiance that complements the visuals and storytelling. However, some users noted that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over time, though the overall quality remains high.
“The soundtrack is impressive too: it's dreamy and surreal and perfectly supports what the game is trying to achieve.”
“The atmosphere, the storytelling, the world, the music, everything about it is exactly what I wanted to experience, despite not knowing beforehand.”
“The visuals and soundtrack piece together perfectly to craft an unforgettable experience.”
“Music does a lot of heavy lifting with building the atmosphere, it always fits either an ethereal or distorted mood of an area that it plays in, however there isn't a lot of tracks, and by the end it can already start feeling grating.”
“Sometimes you just straight up get blasted with music which isn't nice for the ears at all.”
“The music almost seems to want to relax you, but it can never escape an overwhelming feeling of ominous ulterior motives - of unreality, [dis]reality.”
- story44 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as minimal and often ambiguous, focusing on a series of fetch quests that lead to multiple unsatisfying endings rather than a deep narrative. While some players appreciate the surreal atmosphere and visual storytelling, many find the plot lacking in depth and coherence, with the experience leaning more towards an exploration of themes rather than a traditional story. Overall, the game appeals to those who prioritize aesthetics and ambiance over a compelling narrative.
“Amazing sound design, immersive areas, and a very intriguing story.”
“The plot of this game targets philosophy with its multiple endings - each serving as its own self-contained aphorism, offering insight and a 'lesson learned' for those curious enough.”
“A true spectacle in terms of its visuals, worlds, and story, all combined with the pleasing yet unnerving aesthetic that was PlayStation 1 graphics.”
“It's a short fetch quest with branching options that let you pick different endings, all of which are unsatisfying.”
“The actual story in this game is quite minimal and weak and often uses ambiguity to avoid much depth.”
“There's just no story where there could be a great one.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Fatum Betula is characterized by its simplicity, focusing on exploration and puzzle-solving through a mechanic of navigating a surreal world and interacting with various liquids to influence outcomes. While it lacks complexity and fast-paced action, players appreciate the clever puzzle solutions and the atmospheric storytelling that enhances the overall experience. The game is more about immersing oneself in its unique visuals and themes rather than offering groundbreaking gameplay mechanics.
“Fatum Betula has a very simple mechanic: navigate this bizarre world and feed the roots of a plant with different liquids to achieve different outcomes for the whole world (which the plant represents in miniature).”
“The gameplay loop is short and really simple (trying to find all combinations of a liquid) but the fun comes from trying to get all of the endings in this surreal world.”
“I wasn't expecting such a strong feeling towards this game before playing it but every aspect of its gameplay felt bewitching, the graphics were unique and heavily stylized with matching background music and the interactions between the player and the world felt unique and interesting.”
“The gameplay certainly does have a lot to be desired; you walk around at a slow pace, even when running, and the game often tasks you to go back and forth everywhere to achieve certain endings.”
“The gameplay itself entirely consists of talking to people, using items on things, and filling and emptying a set of vials with various liquids.”
“As far as the gameplay, it's pretty much what you would expect from a game in this genre; it's a walking simulator with limited game settings - an aesthetic experience more than anything else.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of surreal, wry, and sometimes darkly comedic elements that enhance the overall experience without detracting from its unsettling atmosphere. Players appreciate the clever dialogue, unexpected funny moments, and thought-provoking endings, which contribute to a unique and engaging narrative. Overall, the humor is well-integrated, providing levity amidst the game's more profound themes and eerie visuals.
“I love how you never know what exactly to expect, some funny moments, and others that make you reflect on the real world.”
“Also, there was a good sense of humor that never felt out of place or interrupted the unsettling parts.”
“Dreamlike, surreal, with excellent visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and at times a rather devilish sense of humor, this game was an excellent adventure through and through.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the need for constant input and the occasional obscure puzzle solutions. However, the game's short length and engaging environment help mitigate this tedium, making subsequent playthroughs more enjoyable despite some repetitive elements. Overall, while grinding can feel laborious, the charming world and music provide a redeeming quality.
“Grinding in this game is so engaging that you'll feel like you need a second life to keep up with all the content!”
“The grind is rewarding and keeps you motivated to push through challenges.”
“I love how the grinding system is designed; it feels satisfying to see my progress and achievements.”
“The whole process felt tedious, partly because I had to hold down shift all the time, partly because I discovered the save menu too late into the game (make yourself a favor and use F5).”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Replaying can get a bit tedious but there's still new things to find each time.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the character design in the game, highlighting its visually unique and intriguing aspects that enhance the overall experience. The variety in character designs across different locations is also noted as a strong point, contributing to the game's aesthetic appeal. Overall, the character development is celebrated for its creativity and effectiveness in enriching the game's atmosphere.
“I'd like to single out the character designs for praise; everyone you meet is visually bizarre and pleasantly vague.”
“Apart from its variety between different locations throughout the game, which is pretty great, Fatum Betula also doesn't fall flat in the character design department.”
“The visuals and music are great, and I love all the character designs.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game evokes a profound sense of introspection, leaving players with an inexplicable urge to cry and a deep connection to its touching, albeit small, world.
“I want to cry passive tears for a reason I do not know.”
“Don't expect a big world, but it is a world that is touching.”
“Made me feel weird.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability due to its multiple endings and a small open-world environment, encouraging players to experiment and explore different outcomes. Users appreciate the fun and engaging nature of revisiting the game to uncover all possible scenarios.
“Nice little game with an eerie atmosphere and replayability.”
“The playtime is lengthened by replayability; the game has multiple endings, and I definitely had fun trying and thinking my way through the game's world to get as many of them as I could.”
“However, the playtime is lengthened by replayability; the game has multiple endings, and I definitely had fun trying and thinking my way through the game's world to get as many of them as I could.”
“The multiple ending factor, along with a rather small 'open world' scenario, grants a lot of room for replayability and many chances to experiment with it in order to get different results.”
