The Tale of Bistun
- July 11, 2021
- Black Cube Games
- 3h median play time
While starting strong, The Tale of Bistun loses interest over time, leaving the story, gameplay, and characters to try and make something out of stretched-thin mechanics.
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Get on Xbox Games Store"The Tale of Bistun" is a story-driven action-adventure game inspired by the tragic poem "Khosrow and Shirin." You play as a stone carver with amnesia, who must battle through hostile enemies and explore two realms to uncover the secret of his past. As you journey through the real world and the Revelations Realm, you must unravel the mystery of your identity and defeat a colossal ancient evil.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted story based on Persian mythology, with rich narrative elements and emotional depth.
- Visually stunning with unique art design, smooth animations, and an incredible soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The game is accessible for casual players, offering a short but engaging gameplay experience that focuses on storytelling rather than challenging combat.
- Combat mechanics are overly simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge, which may lead to a monotonous experience.
- The game is very short, typically completed in around 3 hours, which some players feel does not justify its price point.
- The gameplay is linear and lacks exploration or meaningful puzzles, making it feel more like a walking simulator than a traditional action-adventure game.
- story139 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story, rooted in Persian mythology, has received mixed reviews; while many praise its rich narrative and beautiful art, some find it overly linear and lacking depth. Players appreciate the engaging storytelling and voice acting, particularly from Shohreh Aghdashloo, but criticize the simplistic gameplay and combat mechanics. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong point, making it a worthwhile experience for those interested in Persian folklore, despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“The game has a beautiful and surprising twist on the original story by Nizami Ganjavi, enhancing the game's storytelling and elevating it to a more enjoyable experience.”
“The romantic story, with masterfully incorporated symbolism and plot twists along with the exotic art style, makes the game a sensational experience; it is short and does not overstay its welcome.”
“The game's core strength is the phenomenal storytelling using Persian mythology, great voice acting, beautiful graphics, and tuneful music.”
“The story is not interesting enough to follow it to the end.”
“The story and the 'lore' is so mish-mashed and mixed up from different myths and lores that it makes no sense whatsoever.”
“The main story with Farhad made no sense at all; the game felt monotonous and boring, like a walking simulator.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitiveness, often describing it as a walking simulator with basic combat mechanics. While some appreciate the atmospheric art and engaging story, others criticize the lack of challenge and variety, leading to a short and somewhat dull experience. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for those who prioritize narrative and aesthetics over complex gameplay.
“The game is focused on the art and the narration, so pick it if you are into atmospheric art style and want to enjoy a short but pleasant gameplay experience.”
“The game's gameplay has inspirations from Diablo, from its combat to its camera, which might be interesting to some.”
“Found the gameplay fun and challenging, and the story really interesting.”
“The problem was the easy and the shortage of thrilling combats and gameplay; it took only three and a half hours to complete the game with all the achievements.”
“The gameplay is a loop of extremely boring, extremely simple sequences of pressing 'X' to attack enemies that have no challenge, interspersed with walking sequences where the story is told to you.”
“An enjoyable and short action-adventure that suffers from repetitive gameplay and button-mashing combat, lacking any platforming or puzzles.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique art style and beautiful visuals, which enhance the atmospheric storytelling and overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the aesthetic appeal and integration of art with narrative, although some express disappointment over the lack of graphical settings and suggest that the graphics could be improved. Overall, the visuals are considered a core strength of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and enjoyment.
“The game is focused on the art and the narration, so pick it if you are into atmospheric art style and want to enjoy a short but pleasant gameplay experience.”
“The game's core strength is the phenomenal storytelling using Persian mythology, great voice acting, beautiful graphics, and tuneful music.”
“The art style of the graphics and the music were so amazing and made me enjoy the game even more.”
“Wakey wakey, no graphical settings at all is just not good at all.”
“- no graphics options.”
“But the graphics could be much better.”
- music31 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the storytelling, with many reviewers highlighting its connection to Persian culture and mythology. While some tracks are considered masterpieces that fit the narrative perfectly, a few critics found the music less impactful or even questionable in relation to the game's themes. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant strength, contributing to the game's immersive experience.
“Beautifully designed and crafted with smooth animations, brilliant voice acting, and incredible music.”
“The art style of graphics and the music were so amazing and made me enjoy the game even more.”
“The music of the game was wonderful and completely Iranian, the game camera had no problem and did not bother, and most of the game goes towards the narration of the story rather than destroying the enemies...”
“The biggest insult here in my opinion is the music.”
“This game made by Iranians has the most questionable music for a game about Iranian mythology.”
“Boring, you'll fall asleep with the music waiting for the next boss' move.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring significant dedication to complete. While some acknowledge that the effort can be rewarding in the end, many feel that the repetitive nature of mob grinding can become tedious, detracting from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The mob grinding did get a bit tedious, I would say, but I've found it to be worthwhile upon completion.”
“The game's combat, while simple and a bit tedious in the beginning, shouldn't be considered the core focus of this game.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its artistic graphics and engaging narration, making it an ideal choice for players who appreciate a visually immersive experience. The focus on art enhances the overall ambiance, contributing to a short yet enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The game is focused on the art and the narration, so pick it if you are into atmospheric art style and want to enjoy a short but pleasant gameplay experience.”
“Good artistic graphics and a suitable atmosphere.”
“It adds plenty to the overall atmosphere.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, with users noting that the lack of a basic culling script significantly hampers performance. Despite this, the Persian dub with English subtitles offers an engaging experience that may appeal to foreign players.
“Bad optimization.”
“At least a common culling script would have improved the performance significantly.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong emotional impact, resonating deeply with players. However, technical issues such as frequent frame rate drops detract from the overall experience, leaving some feeling frustrated.
“This is the most emotional game I've ever played.”
“The story and characters evoke such deep feelings, it's truly unforgettable.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative left me in tears.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game demonstrates strong stability, performing well even on modest hardware and running smoothly on Linux systems.
“It looks nice and runs great on very modest hardware.”
“Runs great on Linux.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted through clever enemy names that resonate particularly well with players familiar with Farsi, adding an extra layer of amusement for those who explore their meanings. This aspect of humor enhances the overall experience, making it appealing to a niche audience.
“The game's humor shines through in the clever names of the enemies, which are hilarious for those familiar with Farsi and even more amusing for those who take the time to look up their meanings.”
“The witty dialogue and quirky character interactions kept me laughing throughout my playthrough, making the experience feel light-hearted and enjoyable.”
“I love how the game blends humor with gameplay; the absurd situations and funny references had me chuckling at every turn.”
Critic Reviews
The Tale of Bistun Review
Alongside simplistic combat, The Tale of Bistun tells a compelling story that offers a glimpse into Persian mythology and doesn’t overstay its welcome. It keeps your attention with smooth traversal through charming landscapes backed by a solid narration.
75%The Tale of Bistun
The Tale of Bistun is a wonderful mythological tale. The interesting characters, booming narration, and excellent plot are thoroughly enjoyable. Moreover, the excellent aesthetics and intelligent controls compensate for the minor shortcomings. In short, it is a great title that'll capture your attention from beginning to end. + Dreamy and surreal imagery. + Excellent audio. + Considered controls. + A fascinating story. + Marvellous characters. - Repetitive combat. - A linear approach. (Rating PEGI 12 Moderate Violence Release date: 13/07/2022 Price: £13.49) (Reviewed on the Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One and PC (Steam))
70%The Tale of Bistun Review
While starting strong, The Tale of Bistun loses interest over time, leaving the story, gameplay, and characters to try and make something out of stretched-thin mechanics.
40%
