Sang-Froid - Tales of Werewolves

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,703 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Sang-Froid - Tales of Werewolves Game Cover
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In Sang-Froid - Tales of Werewolves, you'll enter a folktale world co-written by author Bryan Perro, where two feuding brothers must unite to save their sister from the Devil. With a mix of action and strategy, you'll need to use your wits and cunning to set deadly traps and outsmart powerful enemies, as brute strength alone won't be enough to ensure survival in this frozen forest. Plan ahead, outsmart your foes, and protect your sister from the darkness that threatens her.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,703 reviews
story324 positive mentions
stability18 negative mentions
  • Unique blend of tower defense and action gameplay that requires strategic planning.
  • Engaging story set in 19th century Canada with a charming atmosphere and excellent soundtrack.
  • Challenging gameplay that rewards careful planning and execution, providing a satisfying experience.
  • Poor voice acting and writing that detracts from the overall experience.
  • Clunky combat mechanics that can feel unresponsive and frustrating at times.
  • Limited replayability and a relatively short campaign that may leave players wanting more.
  • story738 mentions

    The story of "Sang Froid: Tales of Werewolves" is a blend of Canadian folklore and supernatural elements, focusing on two brothers trying to save their possessed sister from the devil's influence. While the narrative is engaging and offers a unique take on werewolf lore, it suffers from poor voice acting and clunky cutscenes, which detract from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, many players find the story compelling enough to complement the game's strategic gameplay and atmospheric setting.

    • “The story is immersive and simple and makes you care about what happens next.”
    • “The stakes and tension in the story grow steadily to fever pitch, and the cliffhanger left me wanting more immediately.”
    • “The story is actually fairly unique, taking a different spin on the werewolf lore than the usual and throwing in some Native American lore for good measure.”
    • “And the plot is a disappointment - not only is it uninteresting, it's absolutely irrelevant to the gameplay.”
    • “The story progress was not really interesting and does not provide anything new for those who know the common knowledge of werewolves.”
    • “The story is overly complicated, fairly nonsensical, and unnecessary.”
  • gameplay586 mentions

    The gameplay of "Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves" is a unique blend of tower defense and action mechanics, featuring strategic planning phases where players set traps and manage resources before engaging in combat. While the game offers innovative mechanics like the fear factor and a variety of traps, some players find the combat slow-paced and the overall execution somewhat rough around the edges. Despite its flaws, many reviewers praise the gameplay for its depth, challenge, and engaging atmosphere, making it a standout experience in the indie game scene.

    • “The gameplay is immersive, the mechanics are solid, and the combat is fun.”
    • “Sang-froid's gameplay is phenomenal: the pre-battle trap-setting is immensely satisfying and rewards strategic thinking, which is further intensified by a fantastic skill-tree!”
    • “The gameplay is unique, combining both action and strategy elements.”
    • “I'm not a fan of the mechanics.”
    • “And as for gameplay, it can be seriously rough, unpolished and extremely confusing.”
    • “But I found the gameplay boring as you basically do things over and over.”
  • music476 mentions

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its phenomenal quality and perfect fit for the game's theme. The folk-inspired soundtrack, featuring traditional Canadian elements, enhances the atmosphere and immerses players in the experience, making it a standout feature that many consider worth the price of admission alone. Overall, the soundtrack is described as charming, engaging, and memorable, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The music in this game makes it a must-have and must-play, and the gameplay itself is really entertaining and fun!”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, fits the game perfectly.”
    • “In short, Sang-Froid is a challenging but rewarding game that offers fun gameplay, a badass story, and some of the best music you'll ever hear in a video game, if not just in general.”
    • “The music might wear on your nerves, depending on your taste, but like almost everything else, it is accurate to the time.”
    • “Beyond that, the story and the music's alright, nothing to write home about.”
    • “The graphics aren't brilliant and neither is the story, but for the setting, gameplay, artwork and soundtrack, I'd definitely recommend this game, especially for those wanting to get into the strategy games genre.”
  • graphics250 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting their outdated quality and lack of polish, often describing them as "ugly" or "simple." However, some appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric charm that these visuals contribute to the overall experience, suggesting that the graphics, while not impressive, align well with the game's indie roots and gameplay mechanics. Overall, while the graphics may not be a strong point, they are often seen as a minor issue compared to the engaging gameplay and compelling story.

    • “The artwork is beautiful.”
    • “This game drips atmosphere and charm, even if the graphics seem a tad cartoony and the English voice acting is... passable, at best.”
    • “The graphics are simple but they work - it is an indie game but deserves way more attention.”
    • “The graphics are just plain ugly.”
    • “Old gritty graphics that are outdated and not even enjoyable in that way, nothing positive about that.”
    • “The cutscenes, the graphics, and the voice acting are all constant reminders that this is not a triple-A release.”
  • atmosphere114 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and enchanting qualities, effectively capturing a chilling, wintry setting that enhances the gameplay experience. While the soundtrack and ambient sounds contribute significantly to the overall mood, some critiques mention that the writing and voice acting could detract from the otherwise rich atmosphere. Overall, players find the combination of strategic gameplay and atmospheric elements creates a unique and engaging experience, particularly appealing for cozy winter nights.

    • “Coming back to this game every once in a while, it has a lovely atmosphere, great music, interesting story.”
    • “Great ambient sound and music from French-Canadian composers further elevate the atmosphere of the game and also help to keep your attention off of any rough edges the visuals have.”
    • “Here we have a fantastic game with a compelling story, rich atmosphere and a unique feel from its stylized graphics and original soundtrack.”
    • “First of all, even though developers decided to involve a popular fantasy writer (Bryan Perro), the writing here sucks really hard and ruins the atmosphere a lot.”
    • “Simple touches, like actually being able to walk around in towns, would have added much to the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The story is charming and the game oozes charm and atmosphere, though the voice acting is fairly bad.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of intentional comedy and unintentional hilarity, with players noting the charm of poorly executed cut scenes and voice acting that adds to the comedic experience. While some elements, like the "hilariously-racist" native American rain dance, may be controversial, the overall tone is light-hearted, featuring quirky characters and amusing scenarios, such as Canadian lumberjacks battling werewolves. Despite its flaws, many find the humor to be a standout aspect that enhances the gameplay.

    • “Scully: (chuckling) so, it's like we're living an episode of our own show, but in a video game.”
    • “Canadian lumberjacks, a little bit of humor and fear, fighting werewolves and stuff--what's not to like?”
    • “Great story, the humor in the game, the gameplay.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety in level completion methods and different builds that enhance replay value, many others criticize the lack of content such as expansions, freeplay modes, and significant challenges after the initial playthrough. The short duration and repetitive elements lead to a consensus that replayability is limited, particularly for those not pursuing 100% achievements.

    • “Learning curve isn't too long and there are many ways to beat a level, so there is good replay value.”
    • “New mechanics and enemies keep every level fresh, while different builds provide replayability.”
    • “It's kinda short, but I think it has some decent replay value as the game's many traps, weapon types, magical artifacts, and terrain-based tactics provide for a lot of flexibility and different approaches to progressing through the levels.”
    • “There are no expansions or DLC, no freeplay mode, and not much in the way of replay value.”
    • “Rich with Canadian folklore and vivid storytelling, the only real downfall of this game is its short duration and relative lack of replayability.”
    • “C) Little replayability - some variety is very much needed to make me want to play it again, such as a much harder difficulty level so I can test my skills - also some randomization in where the monsters spawn, as once you have figured out the tactic to a map, there is little incentive to try another tactic.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant glitches, bugs, and crashes, particularly when attempting to achieve certain milestones. While some users noted a relatively bug-free experience, especially in terms of core mechanics, others highlighted issues like lag and clunky animations that detract from gameplay. Overall, the game appears unfinished and may require mods to enhance stability and performance.

    • “The game is relatively bug-free, providing a smooth experience overall.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.”
    • “It's laggy, it's buggy, it crashes like crazy, it's unfinished, and we'll need mods soon, so come on in, Bethesda fans!”
    • “Avoid touching walls during combat, because it glitches the swing timer, making attacking enemies hit twice as fast.”
    • “The bad is that there is little to no freedom for the player and the game is quite buggy.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with players reporting slow initial load times and poor performance, often running at only 30 fps on capable hardware. Despite the basic graphics, the lack of optimization detracts from the overall experience, making gameplay feel sluggish and controls difficult to manage. While some praise the game's complexity and tutorial clarity, the technical shortcomings remain a major drawback.

    • “Here you improve your character's performance, the strength of your traps, the ferocity of your axe, and the length of your bonfires.”
    • “Naturally, stamina is an aspect of your character’s performance you can improve, but hard choices have to be made.”
    • “Clear informative tutorials make complex challenging gameplay run smoothly and fun.”
    • “The overall performance given to you in the voice over work is basic, which is a double-edged sword of quality.”
    • “Also, for as basic as the graphics are, it's very poorly optimized.”
    • “It's unoptimized to the point of getting 30 fps on a decent rig (I can get 60 on TF2 at max graphics) and the controls are horrific.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a charming, albeit unpolished, voice acting that adds a community theater feel, enhancing the overall experience. Players report feeling genuine stress and adrenaline during gameplay, indicating that the game successfully evokes strong emotions and creates a wholesome atmosphere.

    • “I actually felt a slight bit of stress in that moment, and if you've successfully made me feel stress in a game, you've sold me.”
    • “It's really good in a wholesome sense.”
    • “Meanwhile, it's not just a mind game, where you plan-and-execute... actually, the execution part is made of real action, filled with suddenness, emotional experience, and adrenaline.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, as combat is slow and often unengaging, with a reliance on pre-battle preparation to minimize its impact. However, the game's concise design helps to highlight its enjoyable elements, preventing the less enjoyable aspects from becoming overly burdensome.

    • “Combat is a slow and tedious affair with the player's weakness being balanced out by the enemy's reluctance to attack.”
    • “If you do a good job before battle, you won't have to rely too much on the combat, which is mostly tedious (although the fear-factor system is genius).”
    • “Sang-froid has its rough spots, but I feel that the game realizes the goals it set out to achieve, and by keeping itself short and sweet, it manages to emphasize its fun parts and keeps the less fun parts from becoming tedious.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is implemented through an RPG-style skill tree, allowing for a solid progression system. While the graphics and character designs may not be groundbreaking, they are considered solid and contribute to the game's longevity.

    • “Character development utilizes an RPG-style skill tree, allowing for deep customization and growth.”
    • “The RPG-style skill tree in character development offers players a unique way to shape their characters' abilities and traits.”
    • “With the RPG-style skill tree, character development feels engaging and rewarding as players can tailor their characters to fit their playstyle.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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Play time

11hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
5-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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