Forgotten Hope
- May 12, 2021
- Black Hammer Studios
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreForgotten Hope is a first-person narrative-driven game about a teenage girl seeking to rediscover her past. After waking up in a cave with no memories, she explores a rural village and countryside, visiting memory points to regain her lost memories. The game features mature themes, such as depression, loss, and death, and is narrated by the protagonist herself. A mysterious wolf guides the player through one open area map and two linear maps to uncover the truth.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game delivers a powerful message about mental health and hope, making it a meaningful experience.
- The soundtrack is exceptional and enhances the emotional depth of the story.
- Despite its flaws, the game is a commendable debut for a small indie studio, showcasing potential for future projects.
- The gameplay is simplistic and can feel repetitive, with limited interaction and exploration.
- Voice acting is often criticized as wooden and detracts from the overall experience.
- The narrative handling of serious themes like suicide and depression is seen as heavy-handed and lacking depth.
- story74 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a poignant exploration of mental health and personal loss, delivering a powerful message that resonates with players. While some reviews note its emotional depth and compelling narrative, others criticize it for lacking meaningful insights and relying on familiar tropes. Overall, it is described as a beautifully crafted, thought-provoking experience that effectively combines storytelling with immersive gameplay, despite some predictability in the plot.
“A nice game that delivers a valuable message throughout its story, addressing the serious topic of mental health.”
“The game navigates a very real mental health topic and does a stellar job in taking the player through the story being told.”
“Forgotten hope is a story-driven exploration game that delivers exactly what it promises.”
“The story of the girl did not seem to explore the themes further than: 'this happened to this girl and it is sad'.”
“That being said, I agree, this is a sad story, but other than the over-the-top, preachy monologue about not giving up hope at the end, this game fell short of providing any meaningful perspectives or insight.”
“In conclusion, while the game seems a well-intentioned serious story about how we deal with loss, the game does not tackle these subjects well enough to say anything meaningful, while not giving the player any gameplay to make up for it.”
- music38 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the emotional depth and immersive experience of the gameplay. Descriptions of the music include terms like "magnificent," "haunting," and "captivating," indicating that it plays a crucial role in complementing the game's themes of loss, friendship, and acceptance. Overall, the soundtrack is considered beautifully composed and integral to the game's narrative journey.
“The soundtrack was absolutely beautiful throughout the game and it was emotionally driven.”
“Forgotten Hope has a unique art style, emotional storyline with a powerful message, a beautifully crafted world, and an amazing soundtrack.”
“The first thing you’ll notice as you begin this journey is its impactful musical score.”
“The music was so haunting that it was like another entity within the game.”
“Personally, the in-game text and the soundtrack were more than enough for me to keep up with the storyline, and the narration might not be everyone's cup of tea.”
“But even without separately purchasing the soundtrack, this game is absolutely worth the price tag.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the simple, low-poly aesthetic and unique art style that complements the emotional storyline. While some found the visuals charming and fitting, others criticized them as basic and lacking in detail compared to other titles. Overall, the minimalist graphics and appealing visuals resonate well with players, enhancing the game's atmosphere despite some calls for more vibrancy and interactivity.
“There are also some nice visuals, such as the waterfall, the lighthouse, and even the burning woods.”
“Love the simple yet beautiful art style of the visuals.”
“Amazing visuals, minimalist art style, story, and the OST are the things I loved most about this game, which are truly wonderful!”
“Graphics are very low poly and basic, but still pretty.”
“Graphics are awful (just take a look at 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture' to see what can be done), the gameplay is abysmal (compare this to 'The Painscreek Murders'), and the voiceover is so grating I wanted to turn the sound off after a few minutes.”
“My only complaint would be the lack of life in the mysterious wolf; it needs some better animations and visuals, especially when getting up and walking about.”
- emotional21 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its powerful narrative and strong societal messages, resonating deeply with players. Many reviews commend its ability to evoke feelings of melancholy and hope through a beautifully crafted story, memorable characters, and an evocative soundtrack. Despite some critiques regarding voice acting, the overall emotional journey is described as impactful and thought-provoking, making it a worthwhile experience for players.
“With an emotional narrative and a powerful message for everyone, it’s truly great work.”
“A small, but well-told narrative with a deep theme that will take you on an emotional journey and leave you feeling melancholic for hours after finishing it.”
“Forgotten hope has a unique art style, emotional storyline with a powerful message, a beautifully crafted world, and an amazing soundtrack.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a simple point-and-click mechanic, often described as a walking simulator that lacks depth and interactivity, which some players found disappointing. While certain elements, like the maze in the final chapter, were praised for their execution, overall, the gameplay is considered basic and not the main focus of the experience. Many reviews highlight that the game’s narrative and atmosphere are stronger than its mechanics, leaving players wanting more engaging gameplay.
“Great story, great advice, and great gameplay.”
“The one area that did impress me somewhat was the maze in the final chapter of the game; I thought the 'follow the lights' mechanic was implemented well, and I appreciated the scattered objects of each of the characters.”
“The best way to describe Forgotten Hope’s gameplay is to call it a first-person walking simulator in the vein of What Remains of Edith Finch and Dear Esther.”
“The gameplay is simple point and click where I feel the game holds your hand too often.”
“Altogether then, we have a walking simulator in a dead world with mediocre gameplay used to convey a bungled message.”
“In conclusion, while the game seems a well-intentioned serious story about how we deal with loss, the game does not tackle these subjects well enough to say anything meaningful, while not giving the player any gameplay to make up for it.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its atmospheric, peaceful, and dream-like qualities, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the story. While the low poly art style and environments contribute positively, some players noted issues with unnatural voice lines and poor lighting that detracted from the intended dark themes. Overall, the atmosphere effectively communicates the main character's thoughts and emotions, resonating deeply with players.
“It is atmospheric, peaceful, and enticing, and yet the overall message is sincere and deeply moving.”
“The world you explore has a dream-like quality to its atmosphere and style, which adds much to the experience.”
“Loved the atmosphere and the way the main character's thoughts are communicated to me.”
“However, Hope's voice lines felt unnatural, which I could not wrap my head around. Although the dark atmosphere was intended to serve the gritty theme of the story, I felt hours of work might have gone unnoticed due to the bad lighting in the game.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring extensive exploration of areas to uncover hidden memories, which can feel tedious and frustrating.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Some of the memories were too well hidden, which makes it a tedious process of exploring the areas over and over.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received criticism, with users noting subpar voice acting and overall performance issues.
“The voice actors aren't great; the performance is not optimal either.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops.”
“I experienced long loading times and stuttering, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
