16.10.2007

I noticed that as of yet there aren't any reviews on the full-game version of Folklore, so I'm going to fill the space for everyone and let you know what you're getting for your money.Folklore's story revolves around the two main characters, Ellen (A young girl desperately searching for her lost mother) and Keats (A journalist/reporter for an occult magazine). Both characters have quite different personalities, which makes it refreshing when playing through as both. Ellen is your typical naïve, albeit brave mix of both heroin and maiden-in-distress, whereas Keats is more of a cynical, sarcastic persona, after hard-facts and a good 'scoop' for his magazine.The storyline requires you to play as both characters in order to complete the game.This is seemingly an interesting concept, as both character's stories are quite seperate in that where Ellen is searching for answers to her past, all Keats wants is a front-page story, and thus the two go seperate ways, inevitably meeting towards the end of the game, which I won't discuss for spoiler reasons! The story is set in two different 'worlds' and many different 'sub-worlds' lasting over a period of 7 chapters.In the 'real' world, you will only play in the quite village of Doolin, and it's near surrounding area. The village itself offers very little for the adventurous player, and the locals don't have very much to say at all. The second world is the 'netherworld', now the Netherworld is split into many different realms, each of which could be considered sub-worlds. Each realm in the Netherworld is gloriously detailed and vibrant, it's clear that the power of the PS3 contributes greatly to the stunning visual effects in Folklore, and it sure is pleasing to the eye. Sometimes it's just worth a stroll through the different realms for the visual treats that they are.Briefly going back to the story aspect of the game, and the fact that you need to play as both characters in order to finish the game, this is where the game's greatest bugbear comes into play. The way the story is structured means that you have two options in the order you play each chapter: You can either play one chapter as Ellen, and then go back and play it as Keats (effectively leapfrogging your way through the game) which is terribly boring as both characters usually go through exactly the same worlds, the only real difference being the monsters (or 'folks') that occupy the realms, and the slightly different routes you have to take based on decisions made by the character you first played the chapter with (ie, if there's two routes to get to the end, each character must take a different route). The second way, which in my opinion is the better way but that is undoubtably the player's opinion, is to go right through to chapter 7 with one character, leave the game for a few days, and then return to finish it with the other character and then meet at the end to complete the game. It's a bit of a weird way to go about finishing a game, but to avoid excessive repetitiveness you will need to leave the game well alone for a while..This doesn't help towards the replayability aspect of the game as once you know the story, there's not much point in doing it again other than to try out new tactics.The artistic direction of this game is definitely comic-book style. Cutscenes are displayed in a comic style, with characters placed in the frames and text flowing through speech bubbles. This is both good and bad as although its presented nicely, sometimes the conversations can be a little void of character, and a little empty. They can be fast forwarded, but not skipped, which can sometimes be a nuisance. It's definitely an aquired taste, but it's equally something that you will grow used to, personally I quite like it. When the CG cutscenes appear, you can really marvel at the graphical and cinematic quality as characters and evironments come to life.Back to Folks; there are over 100 in the game to 'collect'. This is a concept not too farfetched from games such as Pokemon, where you capture a creature in order to use it in battles. Exactly the same applies in Folklore. Folks naturally have different appearances and abilities, for example there are certain folks which act as barriers to shield you from harm, and there are folks that have status-changing attacks which might posion or bind enemies, and then there are standard folks which simply attack in different ways. Overall, the folks are well-varied and each has a nice description and unique personality. Folks can be levelled up when certain parameters are met, for example some require you to only feed them an item, whereas some require you to defeat or capture a certain amount of enemies. Capturing Folks utilises the SIXAXIS function of the PS3 controllers, and it's definitely one of the best uses so far! Overall the whole Folks system is clearly well thought out and there's definite room for expansion on the Playstation Store, I wouldn't be surprised to see downloadable Folks any time soon.The extras in the game are a little short, with only a handful of sidequests offering you small rewards which usually go towards levelling up your folks. One thoroughly Japanese aspect of the game is unlockable costumes for both characters. Each costume gives your character both a different look and helpful attributes. For example, the fairy-cloak gives you a resistance to sleep and posion (useful for capturing one tricky folk!). For players who complete the game capturing every single folk, there's a special costume to be had, and for the competitive types this is an achievement to go for, even simply for the bragging rights!All in all then, Folklore can best be described as an action-adventure game, with a heavy dose of 'Fairytale book' to it. It's fun, it's a little repetitive, but it'll give you many hours worth of gameplay, and in such beautifully decorated environments it isn't such a bad thing to have to go back and forth between them. It's definitely a game worth trying out, whether you rent it or buy it!

24.8.2012

Folklore is one of those obscure games that attracts a cult following despite sumptuous visuals, engaging storyline and an original take...basically, one of those games that despite having all the right ingredients, doesn't appeal to everyone's taste. I am unsure why it was unsuccessful, but from the moment we started playing we were drawn into the world, the characters and the mysterious storyline, which kept us playing until the end.Basically, you choose either Ellen, who comes to Doolin Village (a kind of pseudo-Dublin) to find her long-lost mother, and Keats, a reporter wanting to get to the bottom of a string of recent murders. After completing an ancient ritual,Ellen gains the ability to travel to the Netherworld, which takes many forms and is based on human perceptions of the afterlife. Within these worlds, she is able to absorb the 'Ids' (souls) of mythical creatures and use these powers against other Folks (creatures). Keats acquires a similar ability but his Folks tend to be different and have different powers, so although you travel through the same worlds (essentially twice) you do not play the same game twice, as Ellen and Keats also have different motivations for entering the Netherworld. I recommend playing this two player, choosing a character each and completing it one chapter for one character, then the same chapter for the other, in order to get the full story.The gaming is fairly engaging, but one does get rather bored of simply beating up rooms full of Folks. The Puzzles within the game can be a bit obscure and tend to entail simply figuring out how to beat up a Folk or finding your way out of a complicated level (there is normally an easy-to-follow clue). We did find that Keats' story is harder than Ellen's, as she tends to have Folks that are easier to use. Ellen also has Cloaks which can give her resistance to certain abilities, while Keats simply has transcendence - the ability to become invincible and super-strong for a short while. At one point it was mentioned that Keats gets the same abilities Ellen gets from the Cloak, but I haven't seen this at work yet. Karma Release - the way in which you make your Folks stronger - can also be a little irritating as sometimes you have to go back several worlds to beat up a certain Folk with the one you are attempting to strengthen just so it costs slightly less to use them. We found, as we went on, that it was better to only Karma Release Folks you actually use, so you don't end up grinding for grinding's sake (especially annoying if someone's waiting their turn).The other complaint I had was that I was hoping each Folk would be carefully researched. I found that most Folks have a real mythological name (Kelpie, for example) but that their descriptions, powers and appearance were NOTHING LIKE THEY ARE IN THE LEGENDS! This got a little irritating as we found a lot of Folks were just repeats of other Folks that looked a bit different - Keats, for example, has about four Folks whose function is simply 'to fire ice blocks,' and this is not only unnecessary but a complete waste of programming time. I also found that some of the descriptions and dialogue was badly translated, and that some of the voice acting (in the rare FMV scenes, as most story is relayed through manga-style panels) is rather embarrassingly flat. I also found that while the story was engaging, it occasionally bordered on the absurd and wasn't really clearly explained, particularly the ending, although whether this is because Japanese games tend not to state things as clearly as English and American ones (their anime is very much the same) I am not sure.We kept playing for the storyline, and there's no denying that the Folks were fun, and that we really looked forward to playing it. The visuals were beautiful and the levels are atmospheric and engaging. The music also deserves a mention, as lilting flute solos take their place beside haunting vocals and every level stands out audio-visually. Quests were also fun and usually had a tidbit or two to add to the main storyline and its surrounding world, but beware of the repeating quests that are there simply to give you items over and over (Voice Under the Sea comes to mind!)We're not sure how the online capability works as our copy can't connect to the Internet (it's an American copy so we can't download any extras for it in England). Be aware that the American version (which we have) will work on a PAL PSTHREE but you may need to adjust your visual output or have the correct TV - check Yahoo! Answers and boards if unsure, but our American copy works just fine on our regular HD telly and PAL PSTHREE.A lively, fun and engaging game with a few kinks, but well worth adding if you liked games like Jade Cocoon or Crash of the Titans.

17.10.2007

You will really be missing out if you own a PS3 and don't treat yourself to the wonderful and magical experience that Folklore has to offer. To put it simply, this game rocks!You play as two characters in the game, Ellen and Keats. Ellen is on a journey to the village of Doolin to find answers about her past after recieving a mysterious letter from her dead mother while Keats, a reporter, finds himself drawn to the village after a strange phonecall, thinking that he may have a good story on his hands. The two characters meet and the adventure begins.Doolin holds the entrance to the Netherworld where people can visit the dead. The Nethwerworld consists of different realms full of magical monsters,fairies, folks and folklores. You will spend your tme in the game visiting Doolin and the Netherworld. In the day you can explore the village and talk, interact with people, finding out clues to a mystery that will begin to slowly unfold. At night you will be able to enter the Netherworld to meet the dead and find answers to Ellen's past and the mysterious goings on that have been happening to the people of Doolin, but you will have to fight your way through the folks and seek help from the fairies before eventually fighting a huge Folklore which holds your secret.Each realm has a collection of folks. Each folk is individual in it's own right and use various element attacks like charms, water, fire or combat attacks. The amount of folks in folklore is really quite something considering each can become your weapon and you can use them at any time. The folks range from the funny and cute to the scary and incredibly peculiar. To fight folks you basically use other folks against them. To do this you absorb a folk's soul which becomes a power of the Netherworld cloak. You then are able to assign any folk you have absorbed to a button on your controller and use it to attack other folks and absorb them also. You absorb their souls by using the sixaxis motion sensing controller of the PS3 by performing a number of actions such as tilting left to right, shaking or pulling up like using a fishing rod. Once you have a folk, he will go into your palette and you can use him at any time to fight other folks who may require that certain folk to beat.The sixaxis in this game is incredibly satisfying and fun to use and very precise. In other parts of the game, you will encounter comic-book style cutscenes which are like reading a comic which helps unfold the story as you go along. These are great and the story is very intriguing. But you will also be presented with the standard cinematic style cutscenes which are simply breathtaking in this game.The game will offer you up to 15-25 hours of gameplay depending on your ability, huge stunning vast lands to travel through, each with amazing graphics and the tiniest of details and combines various elements of many games all rolled into one but this is a truly original game that will surprise and entertain you throughout. There is a decent level of difficulty and stategy in this game to keep you hooked without getting too frustrating or too easy and you will really have to think about the folks you have to use to defeat the bosses and mini-bosses. Also available is quests which are kind of side missions you can do as favours for the folks, go to the pub at night and speak to the folk and you'll be on your way to get some rewards.The game features some online features where you can build your own dungeon or mini-level and upload it for other people to play in or you can play in theirs with rewards too for constumes and the Playstation Network will also feature future downloads for the game to extend it even further.This game reminds me of the movies The Labyrinth and The Wizard of Oz combined with an episode of Miss Marple! There is heaps to do and great detail has gone into the making of this brilliant game. It's one of the best games I've ever played. Do not miss out and enjoy entering the Netherworld on your PS3 now!

6.10.2007

This review is based upon both demos that were/are available from the online Sony Europe store, and also info from the official Gamespot review.Folklore is a truely stunning looking game. If you want a game to demonstrate what the PS3 is capable of graphically, this is a strong candidate. Gameplay varies between slow and calm to frantic and action-packed (ie. depending on if one is 'puzzle-solving' in the game-hub village of Doulin, or fighting monsters in one of the Netherworld 'quests'), but consistently engaging.'Puzzle-solving' is/seems like a bit of a claim, as the game leads one by the hand in Doulin - seemingly not allowing one to explore and get lost - but this could just be a symptom to the demo.

5.11.2007

Firstly there is no denying that this is a beautiful game, characters, baddies/folk, landscapes are all so well created its hard to take it all in, however this game is not just looks, the storyline too is compelling, although some may complain about the fact yo must play the same levels twice - once as each characher i find this quite interesting, I player Ellen first (as I usually find male characters more enjoyable I saved Keates) and obviously you find things happening that you sont know why or how and you dont get to find out untill you enbark on your second character. Combat is good, basically you capture the baddies of that area and they fight for you, they are of course of different types shield,

28.8.2009

Very simply put, this is one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. The scenery is just stunning. There are seven "worlds", each of them perfectly unique and rich and some of them more than a little creepy.I won't give a detailed description of the plot, as others have already done that. I got a lot of hours out of this game, and though completeld I still turn it on to have a run around and enjoy the atmosphere. The story is engaging, the characters not very irritating (how rare!) and there is plenty to do. Each captured folk can be powered up and, if you're a stickler for completion, fulfilling the criteria will keep you going for hours. There are even downloadable quests available if that isn't enough for you.

25.3.2008

Folklore is a fantastic game in many ways. It offers a wide variety of fighting techniques which is what makes this game so good. The storyline is complex at first but you will eventually get it. As for the graphics it is what the PS3 is all about and this successfully created wonderful graphics.Basically you can play as 2 characters however in order to see the end you must complete all the chapters as both characters. It seems silly however their are different paths to take and different folks to collect. Folks are the main enemies in the game and you must use your power to collect them.However there are some bad points such as when you get towards the end chapters they can be very frustrating.

31.12.2009

After receiving my playstation 3 for christmas this year i promptly opened this up and stuck it in.After now sinking my teeth into a good 75% of the story i can safely say this is one of the best games i have ever played!It has alot of puzzling mystery elements to it as as Keats ( A journalist and the male hero of the game ) you attempt to find the source of a serial killing with a set of strange circumstances and as Ellen ( The female heroine ) try to unshroud your forgotten past and what happened to your family.The gameplay itself is cut in halves as during the day you explore the small island and investigate the villages cracks for anything that could assist you ,

8.12.2008

Plot: Great little fairytale story with a dark twist. You play as both Keats and Ellen, having to complete both characters chapters to finish the game. Both characters tend to play through the same areas for them to do their chapter, but seeing you get to fight different folks and both the stories are slightly different (although entwined), it doesn't make you feel like your playing the same thing twice.Graphics: Stunning. Has a great art style that I found quite unique.Controls: Easy to grasp. I especially liked the way they implemented the sixaxis built into the controller. A lot of games haven't done it very well (if at all) so makes a nice change.

27.7.2010

Ok ive not finished the game yet im about half-way through but after a few hours i have a good idea of how the game is!The graphics, they may not be the best but there are good and the design of the creatures,characters and enviroments are top-notch, you can tell alot of thought was put behind it and each chapter has a very different feel visually and the folks (creatures) that you meet are different to each realm (level)!The story is told through a comic-book style with characters dialogue shown on screen for you to read, with the occasionaly cutscene. The story takes place in a irish village called droolin, the voice-acting is hit and miss,

29.9.2007

I have played the demo an was blown away this is a very entertaining game.Now i dont know much about the storyline or such but i know the graphics are amazing an the gameplay is amazing it reminds me a bit of pokemon except not as childish an not as crap as you catcher folk's which are monsters which you then use the folk's as your weapons which is very cool!There are over 100 folk's to catcher.It is really good as you can transform into supermode which mainly makes you invincible etc an you play as two characters called Ellen an Keats an these characters both have different folk's which is very good.This is a fantasy RPG game which i love those genres of games an exclusive to PS3I would say this is a MUST BUY!

5.11.2007

This was the first game that I bought for my ps3, and at first was slightly worried at what I had chosen. However, after a couple of hours of gameplay I was drawn into the uniqueness and originality of the game. The storyline is fantastic and engrossing,if not a little repetitive. The visuals and graphics are superb, with brilliant designs on the folks and environments. Combat is another plus to the game, using the folks gained to defeat others. However the main attraction to the game for me was the idea of literally sucking the ids out of folks, involving the use of the controller to wrestle the id out. This is great fun and just adds to the overall experience and originality.

19.11.2007

If you like the idea of role-playing games but can't understand the attraction of frustrating turn-based gaming, Folklore's a brilliant and beautiful step in the right direction. Other reviewers have gone into plenty of detail on the storyline so I'd just say it's an incredibly pretty game with great attention to detail and wonderful-looking monsters. The game takes some getting used to but if you take the time to wander round all the worlds presented to you and collect the clues, defeating the bosses is relatively straightforward and always very rewarding. My only criticism would be the length of some of the graphic novel-style conversations but even these are great to look at.

15.8.2009

Folklore is a really great game. Almost a launch title the graphics are just outstanding. Two years old... and it still can hold its own. It's also very original. The only bad points are the map-layout isn't done very well, most of the time you can get lost. Levelling up folks also really has no significance and is a waste of time because its a minor upgrade. The glitches are a bare minimum and doesn't need tons of patches to eat up your HDD like other games. QUALITY GAME!!! People say PS3 has no games but Folklore only came out after 1 year, along with Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank Tools of Destruction, The Eye of Judegment after Resistance 1 and Motorstorm.

12.1.2008

It can get a little weird at times and you can often leave an area without meaning too. eg. avoinding folks and ending up going back into the area youve just come from as there is a pause while the next screen loads (most annoying). This, and its often not clear where your going as the map is rubbish, and the story line is lost on me. However the graphics are great and the music/ soundtrack is really nice. At £27... its worth a buy. Ive found a few glitches as well where the character gets stuck .. however get a faq/walkthrough for the more difficult bits and you'll enjoy it.. as even when you know what to do its still a challenge.

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