Folklore

Add to that the slow pace at which both the gameplay and story move, and Folklore just doesn't work for me, despite its refreshing premise. [Dec 2007, p.148]

Folklore certainly has problems, but it will win you over in the end with mostly enjoyable gameplay. Capturing folks, upgrading their abilities and defeating bosses is gratifying enough to merit stomaching the game's awful presentational style.

A game that has definite charm. Just don’t count on its effervescence to produce a long-lasting result. Despite its pretty package, many of the game’s strongest points are marred by incongruities that keep it from excelling in a genre where excellence has already long been established.

You'll have a good time with Folklore, despite some design and storytelling quirks.

One of the most esoteric, charming and satisfying adventures on PS3 so far. [Nov 2007, p.90]

Good ideas squandered on a linear RPG. With few other PS3 RPGs, though, it's worth a look. [Nov 2007, p.65]

Too linear, but one of PS3's most charming and satisfying adventures so far. [Nov 2007, p.118]

It's not a mind-blowing epic, but Folklore's style alone is worth experiencing. [Dec 2007, p.110]

The voice acting bounces between perfectly decent and sometimes stilted and even a little embarrassing at times.

The art style and the collection of monsters are their only strengths. It won’t make you buy a PS3 but if you already have one and are into the whole ”gotta catch’em all” theme, it’s worth a try. [Nov 2007]

While it won't take long to finish the game, and bar one or two extras there isn't much in the way of replay value, while it lasts, Folklore is a bedazzling, enchanting title.

Unique combat, but lacks depth for an RPG and would benefit from bolder set pieces. [Nov 2007, p.80]

Folklore is a tale best left to the mists of time.

I've mentioned adventure style gameplay but truthfully there is not a lot of it going on in Folklore.

A decent, good-looking game that is let down by its linear nature. [Issue#158, p.78]

Folklore is a game that has extremely high aspirations both in terms of storytelling and ethical engagement. Although it is certainly a valiant attempt, I felt it never quite hit the nail on the head.

There certainly is an enjoyable experience to be discovered here – it’s just a shame that you have to work so hard to unearth it. [Nov 2007, p.128]

Every step of the way during Folklore, it’s as though developers Game Republic have been afraid of experimenting with the capabilities of the next-gen, sticking rigidly to formulas that were outdated and poor on the PS2.

No part of its design is disastrous, just unfocused. I can still appreciate what it tries to do, even while I complain about how it’s executed. If you’re someone who pines for originality and risk-taking, then Folklore is a tale worth flipping through.

Folklore turns out to be one part boring adventure game, one part underdeveloped collect-em up, and one part standard dungeon crawl. The only aspect of the game that rises above the mundane is its technical polish and the vibrant creativity with which its imaginary worlds have been created - the vivid luminescence of the Fairy World, or the scratchy, Ian Miller-esque authenticity of the War World for example. [JPN Import]