Impressions: Folk Tale

Folk Tale is a strategy city building game that is just good fun.  You control a group of settlers in search of a better life.  It’s your job to either let them have that or not.

Enter one of the main groups of jerks that will be trying to ruin your fun.
Enter one of the main groups of jerks that will be trying to ruin your fun.

Due to fan feedback, the good folks over at Games Foundry are planning on turning the entire game into a sandbox.  While I believe that a good story could carry this game in and of itself, after having played this game for a few hours, I can see why fans asked for this.  That’s not to say the story isn’t great, but that a sandbox mode would bring so much more freedom and unique gameplay to the table.

The characters are all fun especially Camphry the mage.  He just brings in the awkward and it's even better when you end up saving his familiar (no spoilers though).
The characters are all fun especially Camphry the mage. He just brings in the awkward and it’s even better when you end up saving his familiar (no spoilers though).

A few thoughts popped into my head while playing the game were that there was some definite stereotypes going on in here, but that wasn’t the case.  Since Folk Tale is in alpha right now, they are missing a few features that they do intend to add.  Eventually even women will have the ability to get jobs in this game other than tavern keeper.  You’ll be able to modify skin tones and Camphry isn’t gay, he’s just flamboyant and sarcastic.  It’s sad that these have been such an issue that the devs had to make a post about it specifically. When a game is in Early Access, that means it’s not finished.  A little research goes a long way.

That being said, I love the voices!  They are all really well done and fitting for the good-humored setting they seem to be going for.  I know that a few people are going to complain about the goblins and their strong accents, but that’s what subtitles are for so there’s no room for it (complaining that is).  Also, if you zoom in, you can hear the villagers complain or saying random things that are got a few chuckles out of myself.  The hero’s taunt ability also makes me laugh quite a bit.  Some taunts are more cliché than others, but I still enjoy it.

Here you can see the building options dial and how some buildings have sub options open to them once you build it.  Also witness the day/night cycle!
Here you can see the building options dial and how some buildings have sub options open to them once you build it. Also witness the day/night cycle!

The combat at the moment is fairly simple, point and click.  However, you can see them implementing more to it than that.  With the introduction of hero characters you’ll see special moves and the ability to gain extra moves or strengthen already owned moves.  There are stat points to increase your strength or dex yadda yadda yadda.  You can equip loot that you… loot from mobs (or from your dead comrades).  There are bosses with better loot and eventually there will be instances/dungeons with more goodies to plunder.  I’m not sure if you can tell, but I may be excited for this game.

Leading your army into battle is simple, having them all live is a different story.
Leading your army into battle is simple; having them all live is a different story.

The very thought of turning this game into a sandbox is going to require a bit of work and Games Foundry knows that.  They have so many ideas and are getting very detail oriented into things I wouldn’t have thought of.  (This is why I critique games and don’t make them.)  If you dig city building / tower defense sandboxy type games, this is going to be one to watch for.  You can pick it up on Steam Early Access and figure out how the basics of gameplay are going to work.  That and you get to support some great game devs.

This is the Video describing all of the ideas they have for their sandbox version of the game.  If you can sit through an almost thirty minute informational video, it’s a good watch.  The amount of things they desire to put into their game is crazy and I applaud them for it.  Good on you guys, keep up the good work!

Jonathan Amarelo Sig
(Subliminal message: *buy this game*)

3 thoughts on “Impressions: Folk Tale

  • August 23, 2013 at 06:30
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    Is this a game that youngsters could play fairly easily? Like say a 10 year old? Obviously you mentioned reading may be necessary due to troll accents, so I wouldn’t go too young, but does it have blood, guts, and/or inappropriate content for children?

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    • August 23, 2013 at 06:42
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      To quote what they say about the game:

      “Folk Tale contains material that may be considered inappropriate for children or sensitive audiences.”

      That being said, there are some things that are innuendo that a kid may not pick up on. It’s nothing crazy and there is no blood right now. However, this is still in the making so things could change. The devs seem to want to keep this game light-hearted fun though so I would doubt there would be anything too offensive even in the final product.

      Sooo… right now I think it’s good for everyone, but they could add something later that could turn some people off. You might wait until they are closer to completion to see where it stands if you wanted to play it more safe.

      Reply
      • August 23, 2013 at 06:50
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        Totaly forgot about a bad-mouthed parrot, but they bleep him out and do the “*&%^(” thing with his words so it can’t even be read. (you’ll know what he’s saying, but some may not.)

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