The Foretold: Westmark Legacy
- April 30, 2024
- Nodbrim Interactive
Get on Steam"The Foretold: Westmark Legacy" is a gothic horror adventure deck builder set in the corrupted peninsula of Burrmouth. As paranormal investigator Herbert Westmark, you'll explore the map and uncover the mystery behind missing people, accompanied by a parasite demon named Ambrose. With a unique card puzzle mechanic, players must think carefully before making each move to survive the dark corners outside of town. The game is inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, and Mary Shelley, and features a stunning hand-drawn art style.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by solid voice acting and a compelling Lovecraftian narrative.
- The card mechanics are innovative and provide a fun twist on traditional deck-building gameplay, allowing for various play styles and strategies.
- There is a good amount of replayability with branching paths and unlockable difficulties, making it engaging for players who enjoy exploring different outcomes.
- The checkpoint system and inconsistent auto-saves can be frustrating, often requiring players to replay multiple battles after a failure.
- The game is relatively short, with many players feeling that it lacks content and depth, leading to a repetitive experience on subsequent playthroughs.
- The difficulty spikes and reliance on RNG can make the game feel unfair at times, detracting from the overall enjoyment and accessibility.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this card battler and deck builder is characterized by a unique and fresh mechanic set against a grimdark atmosphere, but it suffers from a steep learning curve and overwhelming complexity. While the combat mechanics are enjoyable and the game is visually polished, many players find the overall gameplay lacking in content and often frustratingly difficult. Despite its charm and immersive narrative, the obscure mechanics can detract from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling that the game doesn't fully deliver on its potential.
“Have so far streamed a normal playthrough on my channel and don't think this game deserves all the negative reviews it has collected... charming grimdark card battler/deck builder with an interesting story and combat mechanic against a variety of cosmic horror entities.”
“Learning curve is a little steep, but I'm super pleased to see a genuinely fresh card game mechanic--don't worry you get better cards that give you better board control over time!”
“Yes, the gameplay can seem difficult at times, but I found there are enough checkpoints to even out the difficulty.”
“Devs put so much effort into making a card game, but there is little gameplay in it.”
“Played for about 30 minutes and just thought the mechanics were boring, shifting and adding up card totals.”
“This game has a unique concept ruined by obscure mechanics and an obscene difficulty.”
- story14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its charm and depth, featuring a well-developed narrative set against a backdrop of cosmic horror, complemented by solid voice acting. While some players find the story engaging and appreciate its clarity, others note that its brevity and choppy pacing detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the combination of an interesting plot and enjoyable combat mechanics contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
“Have so far streamed a normal playthrough on my channel and don't think this game deserves all the negative reviews it has collected... charming grimdark card battler/deck builder with an interesting story and combat mechanic against a variety of cosmic horror entities.”
“Also appreciate that there's a proper story here instead of something vague and merely suggested.”
“The game gives a great story (although choppy), atmosphere, and card battle system.”
“But starting again after unlocking a more difficult version of exactly the same story doesn't compensate for its brevity.”
“The story feels rushed and lacks depth, leaving many plot points unresolved.”
“While there is a story present, it often feels disjointed and fails to engage the player emotionally.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and compelling qualities, featuring a striking art style and effective voice acting that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight its creepy, mysterious tone and Lovecraftian narrative, which contribute to a unique and engaging setting. Despite some gameplay issues, the atmospheric elements are consistently noted as standout features that elevate the game's appeal.
“The game gives a great story (although choppy), atmosphere, and card battle system.”
“Pros: creepy and mysterious atmosphere, great immersion, great art style, the voice acting is great, grim dark game with a serious tone but doesn't take itself too seriously, the narrative gameplay is really unique.”
“It has a great setting, which oozes atmosphere, along with a Lovecraftian narrative that's very compelling.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their art style, reminiscent of Darkest Dungeon, contributing to a creepy and mysterious atmosphere that enhances immersion. Reviewers highlight the unique narrative gameplay and great voice acting, although some note a lack of tutorial for the battle mechanics. Overall, the visuals effectively complement the game's grim yet slightly humorous tone.
“The art style and setting are very similar to Darkest Dungeon, which was an attractive aspect.”
“Pros: creepy and mysterious atmosphere, great immersion, great art style, the voice acting is great, grim dark game with a serious tone but doesn't take itself too seriously, the narrative gameplay is really unique.”
“The story and graphics are cool.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"The Foretold: Westmark Legacy" is praised for its replayability, offering different paths and experiences despite its short length. The addition of a new map enhances its value, making it a highly recommended choice for players seeking engaging gameplay.
“The Foretold: Westmark Legacy is a short but engaging game with a good amount of replayability.”
“Gorgeous art, immersive sounds and atmosphere, short and replayable (different paths) + they added a new map at half price, highly recommended!”
“The Foretold: Westmark Legacy is a short but engaging game with a good amount of replayability.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game has stability issues, citing it as buggy and highly annoying.
“Yes, but it's buggy and highly annoying.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and stability issues that ruined my experience.”
