FATED: The Silent Oath

Fated: The Silent Oath deserves to be experienced not for its lush environments or adventure gameplay, but because it’s one of the few VR games yet that effectively creates a connection between you and the characters around you in a way that’s unique to the medium. Something as simple as nodding your head can spark a powerful reaction both in the game world and, more importantly, inside you. There aren’t many VR experiences that pull that off quite so successful yet and, for that reason alone, Fated is worth your time — even if it is a bit brief.

The Silent Oath is an excellent story-driven game that brings out the very best of virtual reality’s application and is one that certainly deserves a sequel.

Quotation forthcoming.

As a visual feast and a technical achievement, Fated is a success. This is a beautiful world to explore, and features some of the most interesting and unique design aesthetics available on PSVR. Much of the writing and all of the acting is admirable, and it’s only the strange choice to keep the main character so distant from the action that prevents this project from being an unqualified success. When viewed as a one-hour stroll through a unique environment, it’s a winner. When taken as a larger work, the developers bungled their chance to do something more resonant.

At only a few hours long, Fated keeps things short and sweet. Although there’s little reason to go back and play again, I didn’t feel as though the £7.99 pricetag was too steep. In that respect, it’s more of a showpiece, a flashy virtual rollercoaster, and one that’s definitely worth riding.

Fated: The Silent Oath is a brief but worthwhile reason to turn your PlayStation VR headset on. While walking simulators in virtual reality are already becoming dime a dozen, Fated actually backs this up with good voice work, characters that are very easy to care about, and a strong, laser-focused art direction.

A brief game that doesn't really feel like a game due to a severe lack of interaction. This is a shame, since there's a lot of potential here, especially in the VR department.

The base idea and the setting looked promising, but the core experience is too light and simple. It's a pity, because it had more potential.

Fated is a good VR experience, with spectacular activities, but the story ends really too quickly and too suddenly.

There are only a few interactive moments in the game, but they are all pretty simple and seem to have been included so that Fated could call itself a game rather than a VR movie. The story is enjoyable enough, especially if you have more than a passing interest in Norse mythology, but the game is really short and ends rather abruptly, and it ends in a manner that will undoubtedly leave many disappointed with the ending. And if you're looking for a VR experience that's more game than experience, you should look elsewhere.

Fated: The Silent Oath is a brief Nordic experience that teases something greater, but will ultimately leave the player wondering if there is more to come.

Fated is well-meaning but hollow. [June 2017, p.92]

Fated: The Silent Oath is a very short experience with limited interaction. The ability to nod and shake your head to communicate with characters is fun and the visuals are appealing but in the short running time I struggled to bond with the characters or get invested in the story. Hopefully a second chapter will improve on things as there is a lot of potential.