Cert: 12+
Platform(s): PS3
Genre: Action-adventure, role-playing game
Folklore is a game set in the rural village of Doolin, in Ireland, which seems to be overcome with fairy folk, ghosts and...em... such and such. Right, I am not going to waste time here. This is preposterous - whoever did the research for this game has obviously never been to Ireland. Yes, they've seen photos because visually this game is stunning; however, these photos were taken a hundred years ago, by the looks of things!
Right: things wrong with this game include the half-life guide who has a Union Jack t-shirt on. I'm sorry, are they trying to cause a war here?! The main story involves characters from the village named Ronaldo and Suzette; I know there is a Spanish influence in the west, but this is a bridge too far. The sheer lack of authenticity reeks this game out.
The game uses a similar style to Final Fantasy, and is, in fact, more straightforward - but it is let down by the over-use of cut scenes. If you are a fan of reading pages and pages of dialogue this is for you.
This is a crying shame - the opening is fantastic, the actual playing is not bad, (the few times you get to move,) and the art is nothing short of beautiful. But this game is bogged down in its bizarrely-researched storyline.
Irish mythology is owed an apology.
Graphics 5/5
Gameplay 2/5
Replay Value 1/5
Overall rating 2/5
Review by Eamonn Cleary
