Tales of Aravorn: Seasons Of The Wolf
- January 15, 2015
- Winter Wolves
- 40h median play time
Seasons of the Wolf is a good story and character driven RPG for those who want a break from epic narratives but still focused on story.
Get on Steam"Tales of Aravorn: Seasons of the Wolf" is a visual novel RPG set in the fantasy world of Aravorn, where you can play as twins Shea or Althea. After finding a young wolf, your epic journey will take you to the desert city of Dingirra and the stormy port of Shacklesplit, where you'll battle corruption, crimelords, and various enemies in turn-based tactical battles. Choose from 9 classes and loot randomized items for a unique game experience. A visual novel only mode is also available.
Reviews
- The game features a compelling story with well-written characters, particularly the side characters, which adds depth to the narrative.
- The combat system is engaging and requires strategic thinking, making battles feel meaningful and challenging.
- The art and music are well-executed, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
- The pacing of the story can be slow, leading to moments of boredom and a lack of engagement with the plot.
- There are limited romance options, which may disappoint players looking for more diverse relationship choices.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as resource management and difficulty spikes, can be frustrating and may deter casual players.
- story95 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its emotional depth and character development, while others criticize it for being slow-paced and lacking a compelling plot. Many players appreciate the connections to the previous game, "Loren: The Amazon Princess," but feel that the narrative in this installment is less engaging and sometimes meanders with unnecessary side quests. Overall, while the writing and character interactions are noted as strengths, the execution of the story leaves some players wanting more coherence and excitement.
“The storytelling is top notch.”
“The story is well written and the characters are deep and coherent, and the main story as well as the personal stories of each character are quite good.”
“Interesting story with a few really good plot twists.”
“The game is just throwing one enemy wave after another to an unnecessary extent, while also coming up with a slow and boring story.”
“It was just pretty boring; there was barely any plot, and it just felt like the characters were running around aimlessly most of the time.”
“No, I am leaving this review because the story of this game, the actual storyline, is, sad to say after such an amazing game before it, awful.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with solid mechanics and diverse combat strategies that enhance the RPG experience. While some players find certain mechanics frustrating at the start, the overall fun factor and depth of content, including improved skill trees and character development, make it a worthwhile investment. However, the narrative may feel more linear compared to its predecessor, Loren the Amazon Princess, which could be a drawback for some players.
“The combat mechanics are pretty nice, with each character having an array of skills which allow the player to develop diverse strategies depending on how you develop them as they level up.”
“With over 40 hours of gameplay under my belt, I definitely recommend Aravorn: Seasons of the Wolf.”
“The writing is good, the gameplay is good; it's just really solid all around.”
“The mechanics and achievements I can't give an honest thought on, as they vary from reasonable to unfair, though in some cases intentional.”
“(Annoying mechanic for the start of the game when you are trying to do things and learn).”
“Here's the short version of this review: Tales of Aravorn serves as a solid update to Loren the Amazon Princess mechanically, but falls short of its predecessor from a narrative standpoint.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag, featuring exceptional fantasy anime-style artwork and appealing visuals, but also suffering from inconsistencies and a lack of variety in scenes and character portraits. While some players appreciate the immersive visuals and well-executed scenes, others note that the combat is minimally graphic and that clashing art styles can detract from the overall experience. As a visual novel, expectations for high-quality graphics and 3D animation should be tempered.
“Graphics are great, music is relaxing.”
“The graphics are very appealing.”
“Good fantasy anime style artwork.”
“The writing often does not match the visuals, and the lore occasionally contradicts itself.”
“As a visual novel, don't expect high-quality graphics and 3D animation, obviously.”
“The visuals range from mediocre to gorgeous throughout the game, and it is sad to see a lack of variety in scenes and character portraits.”
- music8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, with many describing it as relaxing and phenomenal. The soundtrack is noted for being memorable and enjoyable, enhancing the overall gaming experience and even being considered worth purchasing for fans of game music.
“The music is phenomenal!”
“The game soundtrack is quite good.”
“The game also has some really cool musical scores, so the soundtrack may actually be worth buying if you're into that.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is well-received, with players appreciating its balance of wit and emotional depth. Many highlight the amusing interactions among characters and the engaging narrative that enhances the overall experience. The humor contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game's romantic elements and character dynamics.
“I also enjoy the narrative; it has just the right amount of humor.”
“There's humor, there's pathos.”
“I played it to flesh out the romances and was captivated by the humor.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is marked by impactful tragic events that resonate with players, evoking genuine feelings. However, some users feel a disconnect due to limited romance options, which detracts from their overall connection to the characters and the richly crafted universe.
“Tragic events happen to the protagonist, and it genuinely made me feel.”
“I had a couple of heartfelt sighs.”
“The limited and arguably worse romance options made me feel disconnected from the characters and story, which affected my experience in the awesome universe created by Winter Wolves in Loren.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in this game to be tedious, suggesting that lowering the difficulty can help alleviate the monotony. The game offers features like free level-ups for underperforming characters, which some users appreciated, allowing them to progress without obsessively grinding for experience and money. Overall, while some optional grinding exists, it is not necessary for enjoyment or advancement.
“This game was far more tedious.”
“So take it from me, if you feel the start is dragging on a bit, lower the difficulty to easy and power through. There's no need to obsess over grinding out all the XP and money you can. At several points in the game, you get the option for free level-ups if you're falling behind, a feature I quite enjoyed, especially as it meant I could level up party members I hardly used.”
“Some optional grinding.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The character development system is class-based, featuring appealing character designs and visually stunning backgrounds that enhance the overall experience.
“The character development system is class-based, allowing for unique growth paths.”
“The character design is impressive, and many of the backgrounds are stunning.”
“The character development system is class-based.”
“I found the character progression to be very linear and lacking depth.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character development made my experience feel shallow.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Tales of Avalon: Seasons of the Wolf offers strong replayability thanks to its engaging narrative and the option to play as one of two main characters, along with multiple romance paths. With an estimated 15-18 hours for a first playthrough, players are encouraged to explore different choices and outcomes in subsequent runs.
“Tales of Avalon: Seasons of the Wolf has a perfect balance between battle scenes and a rich, highly replayable narrative.”
“There's a decent amount of content: probably about 15-18 hours for a first playthrough, with some replay value due to the ability to play as one of two main characters and the various romance options.”
“After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back. The choices felt limited, and the story didn't change enough to warrant another playthrough.”
“While the game offers multiple endings, the paths to reach them are too similar, making replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
