Wolfsong
- February 1, 2016
- Hyptosis
Wolfsong is a story-rich experience detailing how a simple mistake can be the beginning of immense and terrible things. The heroes will attempt to stop a great war that could plague the land for generations. Heavily inspired by classic rpgs from the snes era and attempts to pay homage to them in many ways.
Reviews
- Wolfsong features endearing characters and a beautifully crafted world, showcasing clear effort in its art and design.
- The combat system is engaging and allows for strategic gameplay, with optional battles that let players choose their approach.
- The game offers a unique experience reminiscent of classic SNES RPGs, with a well-written story that draws players into its lore.
- The game suffers from a rushed ending, leaving many plot threads unresolved and giving the impression of being incomplete.
- Combat can become tedious due to static enemy encounters and a lack of variety in battle mechanics, leading to a frustrating grind.
- The world feels underutilized, with many areas being sparsely populated and lacking meaningful exploration or depth.
- story48 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being rushed and leaving many plot threads unresolved, leading to an abrupt ending that feels unsatisfying. While some players appreciate the character development and world-building, others find the pacing too fast and the narrative lacking depth, with excessive exposition and incomplete arcs. Overall, the story has potential but suffers from execution issues, leaving players wanting more closure and complexity.
“Wolfsong is lovely, with beautiful art and a creative story that is thoughtful and full of wonder.”
“The story unfolds around a young Nordic female who has chosen the way of the warrior in order to make the world a better place.”
“Entertaining so far thanks to a surprisingly well-told story, interesting characters, world lore, and charming custom-made assets.”
“Unfortunately, much of the plot threads and stories these characters offer are left hanging.”
“There are tons of mysteries still to be revealed, plot hooks to revisit, incomplete character and story development... even the main story comes to a halt as the game ends, not a resolution.”
“I suspect that the story was planned to be longer and way more elaborate, yet for one reason or another, it was rushed to an end as a necessity.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily based on standard RPG Maker mechanics, featuring linear JRPG elements reminiscent of classic NES titles, with simple graphics and combat. While there are some interesting ideas, the overall experience lacks variety, relying heavily on boilerplate systems without additional gameplay features like mini-games. Players who appreciate traditional JRPG frameworks may find it enjoyable, but those seeking innovation may be disappointed.
“As for the gameplay, it is a linear JRPG, much like classic Zelda games on the NES or Nintendo back in the day.”
“There are some cool gameplay ideas, but as mentioned, it is mostly boilerplate RPG Maker combat.”
“Having grown up playing the early JRPGs, I only expect the story to provide a context and framework for the gameplay.”
“The battle mechanics, UI, and most likely the code underneath are all stock RPG Maker.”
“There is no other gameplay element—no minigames or anything of the sort.”
“Just stock standard RPG Maker gameplay.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their charm and effective pixel art style, particularly in battle scenes and environments. However, some users noted inconsistencies in the quality of character portraits and storyboards, which detracts from the overall visual experience.
“I also love the graphics and the way the battles are done.”
“While they have a certain charm and character, the varying quality of this artwork jars with the awesome tilesets and mapping.”
“The graphics are great (unless you dislike pixel art).”
“Simple graphics and gameplay.”
“The only gripe I had with the art style was the quality of the portraits and the storyboards.”
- character development4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game shows potential but feels underdeveloped due to budget and time constraints, leaving players wanting more depth. While some appreciate the RPG elements, others find the lengthy conversations detract from gameplay, suggesting that character growth should be more integrated with equipment upgrades and overall mechanics.
“There is the inkling, the roots, of character development for its cast that would certainly have been wonderful if the game had more time and more budget.”
“As a player who enjoys these types of RPGs for the combat and loot, I found some of the set pieces a bit long and skipped some of the character development conversations.”
“I have little interest in character development unless it impacts the actual gameplay.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in this game to be tedious and repetitive, often exacerbated by inflated enemy stats that require them to perform the same actions repeatedly. While some appreciate the challenge of balancing grinding with limited resources and health, many expect more complexity and innovation in modern RPGs compared to classic titles like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.
“And because of how inflated the enemy stats are, you must complete the same tedious actions every time.”
“It is just very tedious.”
“The heavy-handedness of the tone aside, this is a rather difficult game in which you must carefully balance grinding against limited resources and low health in a race to level up to be strong enough to beat the location's boss and be allowed to go further.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The original soundtrack by Mandi Nittinger is highly praised for its quality, enhancing the game's narrative and character depth. However, the repetitive nature of the music during gameplay can detract from the overall experience, particularly leading up to the final battle.
“The narrative is way better than expected, with decent backstories and unique personalities for NPCs; and the original soundtrack by Mandi Nittinger is very well done.”
“You do the same song and dance until you are told the final battle has come, do the very same thing to kill the final boss, and the game finishes with some text on the screen and some setup for a potential sequel that will most likely never be realized.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by meticulous attention to small details and thoughtful mapping, transforming even the most generic environments into engaging and visually appealing experiences.
“The small details and careful mapping create an atmosphere that makes even the most generic map feel interesting and beautiful.”
“The immersive sound design and stunning visuals combine to create an atmosphere that pulls you into the game world.”
“Every corner of the environment is filled with rich textures and ambient sounds, enhancing the overall atmosphere and making exploration a joy.”
“Small details and careful mapping manage to craft an atmosphere, yet the most generic map feels interesting and beautiful.”
“The atmosphere is lacking depth, making the world feel empty and uninspired.”
“Despite the attempts at creating a unique atmosphere, it ultimately falls flat and fails to engage the player.”