Prayer of the Faithless
- April 17, 2022
- VermillionNova
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StorePrayer of the Faithless is a unique blend of traditional RPG and classic survival-horror gameplay. In addition to fighting enemies to level up, you must also scavenge the field to find healing supplies, as well as new gear that comes with their own skills and traits to further customize your party. Battles reward smart tactics and aggressive offense by tying stamina pools to both skill usage and d…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging combat system that requires strategic planning and attention, making battles feel rewarding and intense.
- The story is well-crafted with deep character development and a compelling narrative that explores themes of individualism versus collectivism in a grimdark setting.
- The game successfully combines elements of survival and resource management, creating a tense atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The writing suffers from tonal inconsistencies, with characters often behaving in ways that undermine the gravity of the story's dark themes.
- There are issues with resource management and item availability, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in the early stages.
- The art style and graphics may not appeal to everyone, as they are described as rough around the edges and could detract from the overall immersion.
- story34 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a complex blend of dark themes and character-driven narratives, exploring the tension between individualism and collectivism amidst a bleak, apocalyptic setting. While some characters are engaging and the worldbuilding is praised, the execution suffers from perceived biases and inconsistencies, leading to a narrative that feels uneven and at times misanthropic. Despite its flaws, the plot is described as thrilling and thought-provoking, with multiple endings that reflect player choices, making it a noteworthy, albeit imperfect, experience.
“The story is very thrilling, with lots of intrigue and good worldbuilding, and the cast of characters is very likable.”
“Incredible storyline with solid characters and worldbuilding.”
“The overall plot is exceptional as you try just to survive while uncovering more about this world and pushing the characters forward.”
“The cadets training to be the last bastion of defense against humanity's inevitable destruction still make time for petty high school cliques and bullying, and despite their leader being borderline fascist, the protagonist is able to get away with petty pranks and constant, flagrant disrespect for authority -- until suddenly he can't and he's going to get executed for backtalking the king, but actually don't worry, his friend in high places pulls strings to bail him out because we can't actually have consequences for the protagonist; it's not like this is supposed to be a dark story or anything.”
“The story is also incredibly misanthropic: the masses are consistently depicted as selfish, overemotional idiots who never listen to reason and descend into panic and violence at the slightest excuse, and anyone who tries to be any kind of ruler is inevitably corrupted by power and forced to commit crimes against humanity to appease these monsters.”
“But it just crumbled in execution, largely I suspect due to the creator's overwhelming bias towards individualism; the story was supposed to weigh it against collectivism, but it could never do that fairly.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as unique and gripping, combining elements of turn-based JRPGs with resource management and stealth horror mechanics, creating a tense atmosphere where careful planning is essential. While the combat system is deep and engaging, some players find the resource management aspect stressful and unpredictable, though a guide is available to help navigate the mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its depth and integration with the story, making it a compelling experience.
“It's a game in which the gameplay is as truly gripping as the plot, in which you'll carefully plot every move, manage and ration your resources wisely, and take every step carefully to avoid the certain doom that hangs over the cast.”
“Once you learn the mechanics, you can find various ways to annihilate your foes.”
“The combat is very deep, with mechanics built around the character's personalities.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's the same old turn-based JRPG with a somewhat unusual combat system.”
“The gameplay is a mixed bag for me, since the resource situation feels a lot more stressful than in other RPGs due to how unpredictable it can be to resupply.”
“As a result, the gameplay feels like a bizarre combination of a JRPG and a stealth horror game, since it becomes necessary to dodge roaming encounters in order to avoid running out of supplies.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting that the art style is rough and lacks polish, particularly in character sprites and pixel work. While some players find the visuals to be a weak point, others appreciate the unique and edgy aesthetic, suggesting that the overall gameplay and story compensate for the graphical shortcomings.
“As someone with no particular preference for pixel graphics, I found this game very good.”
“The art style is probably the only weak point of the game; it's rough around the edges both in terms of character sprites and pixel work, and is probably the sole reason why people move past this project without paying much attention.”
“The art style is edgy, maybe slightly childishly so – store screenshots show you exactly what you’ll get; things like a crucified dude that buffs enemies or a half-bug dominatrix.”
“Everything else - the ugly visuals and sound, lack of controller support and whatnot I can overlook, even though there are plenty of examples of games made on a similar scale with those things done very decently, but the writing, in my opinion, has no excuse to be this bad in a game that is sold for money and with its story being the main selling point.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its well-curated track selection that complements the game's atmosphere, with standout elements including eerie ambient sounds in the swamp and an intense metal theme for boss battles.
“The track selection is well done and fits the game's mood perfectly; I especially liked the creepy ambient in the swamp and the metal boss battle theme.”
“Music is there.”
“Regarding the music, the track selection is well done and fits the game mood perfectly. I especially liked the creepy ambient in the swamp and the metal boss battle theme.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is marked by a stark contrast between its misanthropic themes—depicting the masses as irrational and corrupt—and moments of genuine poignancy, particularly in the judged and tired endings, which resonate deeply with players.
“The story is very genuine, and I found parts of the judged and tired endings genuinely touching.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding in the game can be time-consuming, often leading to extended play sessions for purposes like streaming or multitasking. This suggests that while grinding is a significant aspect of gameplay, it may also be used as a backdrop for other activities.
“I haven't beaten it yet as of this message, so the Steam time doesn't reflect how much time I actually spent. Most of that time was me grinding for streaming purposes on Sunday evenings after church or leaving the game on while playing on my phone via the Steam Link app.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through the engaging and witty conversations among the characters, particularly the chemistry between the trio of Aeyr, Trill, and Luke, which adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise murky narrative.
“Despite all the murky stuff happening here and there, the characters' conversations are not lacking in humor, and I really liked the chemistry between them. Aeyr, Trill, and Luke are probably my favorite trio here.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, with witty dialogue and hilarious situations that kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
“I love how the game balances serious moments with lighthearted humor, making the characters feel more relatable and the story more engaging.”
