Pendragon Rising
- December 4, 2015
- Choice of Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreSeize the throne in the age of King Arthur! Lead an army of Britons against the darkest of enemies in this epic interactive medieval fantasy novel.
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Reviews
- The game offers a rich and immersive take on the Arthurian legend, with well-crafted storytelling and engaging characters.
- Choices feel meaningful and can significantly impact the story, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes.
- The setting and atmosphere are well-developed, providing a unique blend of political intrigue and personal character development.
- The stat system is frustrating and inconsistent, often leading to arbitrary decreases that can break immersion and enjoyment.
- Many choices feel like they lead to the same outcomes, diminishing the sense of true agency in the narrative.
- The game ends abruptly, leaving players wanting more resolution and closure to the story and character arcs.
- story83 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Pendragon Rising" is generally well-received, featuring engaging writing and a rich narrative that allows for multiple playthroughs with different outcomes based on player choices. While some players appreciate the depth and twists of the plot, others criticize aspects such as the romance options and the overall pacing, feeling that certain elements could have been better developed. Overall, it offers a unique take on the Arthurian legend, blending traditional themes with fresh storytelling, though some players desire more substantial character arcs and a more immersive experience.
“The choices were all non-obvious and interesting, and the story was satisfying with enough twists and turns that I'll likely play it again sometime to see what other paths I could have taken.”
“Pendragon Rising differs from other 'choice of...' text-based choose-your-own adventures in that it's more concerned with telling a story rather than asking you, the reader, 'what would you do in this situation?' Instead, Pendragon Rising asks you to be the best Arthur/Arta you can be.”
“The writing is very good, the characters memorable, and most noticeably the story is paced very well with moments of conflict and magic, but also intimate spaces where you explore Arthur/Arta's place in the rapidly changing landscape of Dark Age Britain.”
“The story was mediocre at best and the romance options were terrible; either be gay, date your half-brother/sister, or your aunt/uncle.”
“Constantly being told you're essentially useless and nobody wants you, even though you've gathered lots of allies and are supposedly adored, isn't great storytelling in my opinion.”
“The story was short and the plot was kept rather narrow no matter what decisions you made.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, effectively evoking a sense of mythic history and a fractured, post-Roman Britain. Reviewers appreciate the balance between fantastical elements and a realistic setting, making it enjoyable and engaging, with enough depth to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“The atmosphere is fantastic; it oozes mythic warriors of long-forgotten times.”
“This has to be one of my favorite CYOA books so far, as the atmosphere is really enjoyable, the characters likable/hateable, and it has enough content to play it more than once, even getting a fully different setting.”
“It conveys the atmosphere of a fractured, post-Roman Britain quite well, and although it has some fantastical elements, these are quite subdued for the most part and maintain a more realistic approach.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the world.”
“Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
“The environment is bland and repetitive, making it hard to feel connected to the game's world.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its interesting characters and multiple scenes, though some players note a lack of choices that could enhance this aspect, particularly for a choose-your-own-adventure style. Overall, many reviewers feel that the game's replay value justifies its price, making it a worthwhile pick.
“It has high replayability if you're willing to read through some of the other mandatory texts.”
“Interesting characters with many different scenes to increase replayability.”
“It is a good game; however, like others have mentioned, there is a lack of choices and replayability, something that is expected in a choose-your-own-adventure type game.”
“Overall, for the price it asks and the replay value, I would suggest picking this game up; you won't regret it.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics in this text-based game are minimal, as the focus is on storytelling rather than visual elements. While some users appreciate the lack of graphic updates typical in other games, they suggest that the addition of artwork or background music could enhance the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are not a primary concern, but some visual elements could improve immersion.
“The graphics are stunning and truly enhance the immersive experience of the game.”
“The visual design is breathtaking, making every scene feel alive and engaging.”
“The art style is unique and beautifully crafted, adding depth to the storytelling.”
“Ever get bored of promised graphic updates only to be disappointed?”
“Though for better impact, I would have added some artwork/background music to help set scenes.”
- music3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is notably lacking, with users highlighting the absence of any sound or background music, which detracts from the overall experience. Some players have resorted to using their own playlists to enhance the atmosphere, suggesting that the addition of music could significantly improve immersion.
“There isn't any sound at all - music or otherwise.”
“I put on a Celtic music playlist and it sufficed, keeping in line with the lore.”
“For better impact, I would have added some artwork/background music to help set scenes.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay primarily revolves around political intrigue, featuring decision-making that shapes the player's character as King Arthur or Queen Arta, with occasional battles and puzzles. Each playthrough lasts about three hours, focusing on the consequences of the player's choices.
“The gameplay is mostly political intrigue with a few battles and puzzles thrown in.”
“As expected, the roughly 3 hours of gameplay consists solely of making decisions, leading to what kind of King Arthur/Queen Arta you will be.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a notable absence of humor in the game, which significantly detracts from the overall enjoyment for players who prioritize comedic elements in their entertainment.
