Fe
- June 4, 2020
- Zoink
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Fe is a single-player mystery platformer game with a stunning story told wordlessly through gameplay. Explore a breathtaking Nordic forest, communicate with creatures using an analogue song mechanic, and defeat the Silent Ones to protect the forest. Experience a fabulous game with amazing visuals and music, and become Fe to discover a world you'll never want to leave."
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and art style that create an enchanting atmosphere.
- Unique gameplay mechanics involving singing to communicate with animals and solve puzzles.
- Relaxing and immersive experience, perfect for players looking for a chill adventure.
- Frustrating controls, especially with keyboard and mouse, and lack of key remapping options.
- Vague objectives and lack of clear guidance can lead to confusion and aimless wandering.
- Mandatory use of the EA Origin launcher can hinder the overall experience and accessibility.
- story80 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily conveyed through visuals and environmental storytelling, leading to a mix of interpretations among players; some find it beautiful and impactful, while others describe it as vague and confusing. Many reviewers appreciate the aesthetic and emotional depth, but criticize the lack of dialogue and clarity, making it challenging to fully grasp the narrative without extensive exploration. Overall, the story is seen as a memorable yet flawed aspect of the game, with potential that feels underdeveloped.
“This game is underrated and has a beautiful story; more people need to play it.”
“The atmosphere is just amazing and the story made me tear up.”
“Fe's story is told entirely through images instead of text, and despite the fact that I didn't really understand what was going on, it still managed to leave an impact on me by the end through imagery and audio alone.”
“The story is by far the most problematic bit of the game and is where most of my gripes sit.”
“The final failure for this game in my personal opinion was the utter lack of any form of a story.”
“Unfortunately, the storyline of the game can already be completed in less than 4 hours without collecting a lot of hidden gems, discovering walls, and more.”
- gameplay54 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Fe" is characterized by its unique singing mechanic that allows players to interact with animals and solve puzzles, creating an engaging exploration experience. However, some players found the controls, particularly with keyboard and mouse, to be awkward, and the explanations of mechanics unclear, leading to frustration. Overall, while the game features beautiful graphics and a charming atmosphere, it suffers from repetitive gameplay and a lack of depth in its mechanics and storytelling.
“This is a really nice game mechanic and it emphasizes the story element as you connect with more animals and learn their language.”
“The mechanic of different songs to talk to different animals and access different parts of the forest is unique and well done.”
“Overall, the game is gorgeous, the soundtrack is lovely and the gameplay is smooth.”
“The only thing that bugged me was the explanations of mechanics in the game are slightly unclear. For example, when you first learn to sing, it shows you moving your mouse forward and back to change pitch, but it doesn't tell you you're supposed to move it quickly to try and maintain the same pitch.”
“It's so cute and everything, but it's impossible to select/change the voices, which is the most important mechanic of progressing in this game.”
“There are some cool ideas here, but the overall gameplay is just repetitive and not super engaging.”
- graphics53 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique low-poly art style and beautiful aesthetics, creating an immersive and relaxing atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the charming visuals and sound design, which contribute to the game's overall appeal, despite some criticism regarding the simplicity of the graphics. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, cute creatures, and atmospheric music makes it a standout title for fans of indie games.
“The graphics are really good, and there's adventure in it too!”
“The environmental storytelling and visuals are beautiful.”
“Absolutely amazing graphics and storyline, a wonderful and beautiful game that will take you deep into the world of Fe.”
“The visual aesthetic is somehow less pleasing in-game than I had expected from trailers, and the charm wore off for me too soon.”
“The graphics are pretty and the animals are cute, but that's about it.”
“While the graphics of a game don't really define it, the art style does, and their choice of season inadvertently shot themselves in the foot by only allowing them to use cold colors.”
- music43 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with soothing melodies and unique musical mechanics that allow players to interact with the environment and creatures. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a key component that keeps players engaged, contributing to the game's relaxing and immersive nature. While some note that the music is not revolutionary, it is consistently described as lovely and integral to the game's enchanting visuals and emotional storytelling.
“It's a very cute game, has great music and even some creepier moments as well.”
“The music and graphics relax you as you venture deeper into this world and discover the story.”
“The game's music is great throughout, but it becomes especially powerful in the last area, where it intensifies the closer you get to the finale.”
“The music is also disappointing, as it involves fine-tuning loudness and nothing very musical at all.”
“Honestly, I'd love to recommend this game; it has soothingly melodic music and a cozy atmosphere... but the controlling part is highly important for a comfortable walkthrough, and I can't give a recommendation.”
“The music in my opinion was fine.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Fe is widely praised for its beautiful visuals, soothing soundtrack, and magical, surreal qualities that create a relaxing and immersive experience. Players appreciate the game's minimalistic design and vibrant colors, which enhance the exploration and emotional depth of the story. Overall, the game's atmospheric elements make it a standout choice for fans of puzzle platformers and those seeking a tranquil gaming experience.
“The atmosphere is just amazing and the story made me tear up.”
“It's very atmospheric and quite relaxing to play - perfect for unwinding after a day of work.”
“Fe is a very beautifully styled puzzle game with calm, cute elements, a lot of blooming light colors in dark environments, and a relaxing atmosphere if you are okay to just wander in a park, listen to the hum, go mushroom hunting, all the while trying to figure out what the game is about.”
“Honestly, I'd love to recommend this game; it has a soothingly melodic music and a cozy atmosphere... but the controlling part is highly important for a comfortable walkthrough, and I can't give a recommendation.”
“I happen to love the minimalistic atmosphere the game has, combined with its surreal aspect.”
“Fe is a very beautifully styled puzzle game with calm, cute elements, a lot of blooming light colors in dark environments, and a relaxing atmosphere if you are okay to just wander in a park, listen to the hum, go mushroom hunting, all the while trying to figure out what the game is about.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its beautiful graphics, touching soundtrack, and a philosophical storyline that resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers express that the game evokes strong feelings, with some mentioning that the ending brought them to tears, while others appreciate its creative and wholesome nature. Overall, it is described as a moving experience that combines emotional depth with satisfying gameplay.
“The ending made me cry; I really love this game.”
“Beautiful graphics, touching soundtrack, philosophical storyline, great satisfaction upon discovering secrets that you worked insanely hard to get.”
“A gorgeous, wordless, and emotional little platformer that popped up on Steam just when I needed a game of its creative caliber to get through the day.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs that significantly hinder gameplay, particularly during platforming sections. Many express frustration with the performance issues associated with the Origin platform, suggesting that separating the game from this service could improve the experience. Overall, while the game has charming elements, its technical shortcomings detract from enjoyment.
“It was so buggy, and I'm not going to climb up to the highest point of the forest one more time after falling off like 100 times.”
“Origin has a notorious habit of running poorly, and if they could decouple the game from Origin, it might actually make the first 30 minutes playable (rather than buggy Origin-ness) followed by finally being able to play the game eventually.”
“The interactions with the other creatures of the forest feel similar to Spore's creature stage, albeit less annoying and buggy.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, comparing it to the overwhelming challenge of completing a 5000-piece puzzle, despite the simplicity of the individual tasks involved.
“Tedious”
“The 'puzzles' were relatively simple; it's just the tedious nature of the game that makes it feel like a goddamn 5000-piece puzzle.”
- humor2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the humor in the game falls flat for many players, with some finding it unfunny and frustrating, particularly in gameplay elements like singing with an alien flower that can be tedious and time-consuming. Overall, the comedic aspects seem to miss the mark, leading to a lack of enjoyment.
“The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, with quirky characters and absurd situations that keep you laughing.”
“I love how the game blends clever puns and silly scenarios, making every moment feel light-hearted and fun.”
“The witty dialogue and unexpected comedic twists really elevate the experience, making it a joy to play.”
“This was not funny at all!”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is visually stunning, with artistic designs that initially draw players in. However, the review suggests that the gameplay experience may not be engaging enough to sustain interest over time, as the player struggled to continue despite the appealing aesthetics.
“Everything from the gameplay to the character design to the music is absolutely beautiful.”
“I was initially drawn to this game by the artistic beauty of the character designs, but after two hours of pushing myself to try and finish, I realized I was nowhere near done and felt too sick to continue.”
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from the story and the characters.”
“I expected a rich narrative with deep character arcs, but instead, I found flat personalities and predictable growth.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy is criticized for lacking effective advertising, which has contributed to its underground status; however, players believe that with better promotion, it could gain significant attention and recognition.
“The monetization in this game feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
“I feel like the game is designed to push players towards microtransactions rather than providing a fair experience.”
“The in-game purchases are not just optional; they are almost necessary to progress, which ruins the overall enjoyment.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Fe offers a moderate level of replayability, primarily through collectibles, but many players find the experience enjoyable enough to warrant multiple playthroughs even without them.
“Fe does have some replayability in the form of collectibles, but even without those, I can easily see myself coming back for more replays.”
“Fe does have some replayability in the form of collectibles, but even without those, I can easily see myself coming back for more replays.”
