I, the Forgotten One
- June 22, 2023
- Hosted Games
In "I, the Forgotten One," become the late king's disinherited child, shaped into a weapon after being sent away to war. Now, you must restore peace to a kingdom in turmoil and deal with your inner despair. Choose your path as a man or woman, and specialize in different aspects of medieval warfare in this 450,000-word interactive novel. Your physicality impacts the world's perceptions, offering a rich, immersive experience.
Reviews
- The writing is exceptional, with a gripping and dark storyline that effectively explores themes of war, trauma, and personal struggle.
- The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the player emotionally invested in their journeys and choices.
- The game offers meaningful choices that impact the narrative, providing a sense of agency despite its linear structure.
- The protagonist's constant self-pity and focus on past traumas can become tiresome and detract from the overall experience.
- Some players feel that the romance options are limited and lack depth, particularly for LGBTQ+ characters.
- There are occasional bugs and inconsistencies in the narrative that can disrupt immersion, such as characters appearing alive after being reported dead.
- story109 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story is a dark and gripping narrative set in a medieval context, exploring themes of ambition, trauma, and the brutal realities of war. While many players praise its depth and character development, some criticize its linearity and lack of meaningful player agency, feeling that choices often lead to predetermined outcomes. Overall, it is regarded as a compelling and emotionally impactful experience, particularly for those interested in complex characters and dark storytelling.
“At first glance, this interactive novel presents itself as a well-written story of ambition, politics, and warfare in medieval times.”
“The characters are interesting and develop beautifully throughout the story.”
“The story is dark and utterly unflinching with its depictions of violence, depravity, and especially war, but it also has this underlying sense of hope.”
“The storyline with the mother turning against him feels weak and poorly justified, almost like it was added just to push the plot forward.”
“While I did get some enjoyment out of this game, I unfortunately can't quite recommend it. While there were many choices regarding combat tactics and strategy that seemed at least somewhat meaningful, I felt much more like a passenger than a driver of the main character's personal story.”
“The fact that the romance options were very limited, that the character interaction options were limited, that the endings weren't satisfying, etc. all added to my disappointment with this story.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging battle mechanics and character depth, providing a satisfying experience, especially upon replay. However, the inclusion of a "respect" mechanic tied to unlikable characters detracts from the overall enjoyment, suggesting a missed opportunity for more nuanced interactions. The strategic elements are compelling, particularly the freedom of movement in army composition, which adds layers to the gameplay experience.
“Good story, nice battle system and mechanics, and plenty of interesting characters.”
“The mechanics are enjoyable, and the characters have the right amount of depth for the length of the book.”
“Gameplay-wise, I really enjoyed the strategy aspect; it would almost be fun if I didn't always have in mind how terrible being in charge of a war is.”
“However, both of the characters that are influenced by this 'respect' mechanic happen to be terrible people, and this is quickly shown in the beginning of the story.”
“It makes me wonder why the author even bothered to put in this mechanic.”
“Instead, the author could have fleshed out the mechanics for other, actually likable, characters - perhaps creating more nuanced approaches for the romances or more nuances for the relationship with the sister.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players expressing deep investment in the narrative and characters, particularly the marshal's poignant struggles. The blend of heart-wrenching moments and lighter, heartfelt scenes creates a unique and immersive experience that resonates strongly, often evoking tears and a sense of meaningful choice. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to balance dark themes with moments of warmth, making it a standout emotional journey.
“I loved this book so much; it made me emotionally invested, and it felt like my every choice truly mattered and was acknowledged in a way that, even if it was in text alone, felt incredibly deep and impactful. I really enjoyed that.”
“It's easily the most beautiful and heart-wrenching game I've played in a long time, and I cried multiple times towards the end.”
“It's dark, it's thrilling, it's absolutely heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time, and if that doesn’t make it one of the best, then I don’t know what will.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, offering meaningful choices that encourage multiple playthroughs without penalizing players for character deaths. Users express excitement for a sequel, indicating that the game's design supports varied experiences across different sessions.
“All in all, a worthy buy, and I'm excited for the sequel. That being said, don't let my hours on this game fool you; I accidentally left it open. However, the game seems to be fairly replayable and doesn't force characters to stay alive if you choose to have them killed.”
“Don't be fooled though, it still has tons of meaningful choices and replay value.”
“I like how replayable it is.”
“All in all, a worthy buy, and I'm excited for the sequel. That being said, don't let my hours on this game fool you; I accidentally left it open. The game seems to be fairly replayable and doesn't force characters to stay alive if you choose to have them killed.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are noted for their immersive and gritty realism, effectively simulating the experience of being a medieval general. Players appreciate the detailed and graphic descriptions that enhance the serious themes, though they caution potential players to be aware of the game's intense content.
“My favorite thing about this game was that, in some ways, it is a better simulator of what it was really like to be a medieval general than those tactical games with graphics where you have a clear aerial view of your troops, can constantly click to reposition the troops, and get frequent updates on your own and the enemy casualties.”
“As expected with this game, there's a lot of graphic descriptions of gruesome elements; serious themes are treated, and thus you must be aware of what you are getting yourself into.”
“The graphics in this game are outdated and lack the detail that modern players expect.”
“I found the character models to be poorly designed and lacking in realism.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its depth and engagement, with strong writing and characterization contributing to an immersive experience. However, some critiques note that descriptions of scenery and characters are minimal, focusing more on violence and the protagonist's mental struggles, which may detract from the overall ambiance.
“There's plenty of specific praise that other reviews discuss, great writing, characterization, pacing, interesting and relatively unexplored themes for a CYOA game, and overall an amazing atmosphere as well as half a dozen other things I could say in the game's favor.”
“The descriptions of things like characters' features, scenery, and atmosphere were very bare-bones, but the author spent quite some time describing the violence and developing the main character's mental struggle, which I believe is the ideological focus of the story.”
“The overall atmosphere felt flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich setting, the atmosphere was dull and failed to evoke any real emotion or engagement.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of flat and grim elements, with some players finding it amusing while others perceive it as lacking in lightheartedness. Overall, the comedic tone seems to evoke a range of reactions, from chuckles to a more serious interpretation.
“I posted this review chuckling at the clever jokes sprinkled throughout the game.”
“The humor in this game is so well-crafted that I found myself laughing out loud at the unexpected twists.”
“Every character has a unique sense of humor that keeps the dialogue fresh and entertaining.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express concern that the monetization strategy is misleading, as the game is marketed without disclosing that it is only part one of an incomplete story. This lack of transparency has led to frustration among players who feel misled by the promotional materials.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it pushes players to spend money to progress in the game.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra.”
“The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency disrupt the gameplay experience and make it feel more like a cash grab than a fun game.”