Flint: Treasure of Oblivion Review

Setting Sail with Captain Flint and Billy Bones

Ahoy mateys, do you fancy embarking on a tactical RPG set within the golden age of piracy? How about when you throw in some exploration, fantasy components and loads of booty to search out too? Effectively Savage Stage have gotten you lined with their newest, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion.

Step into the boots of Captain James Flint who, alongside along with his trusty first mate Billy Bones, is on the hunt for some mysterious treasure. Nonetheless, issues get a little bit extra difficult on his quest to attain notoriety as his journey takes one thing of a supernatural flip.

Be part of Captain Flint

A “By the Numbers” Narrative with Beautiful Comedian Guide Visuals

Blurb apart, I’m afraid to say that Flint: Treasure of Oblivion has a “by the numbers” narrative which does the job however is missing in noteworthy moments. The story is informed in-engine for the overwhelming majority of the time, with only some quick reduce scenes spliced in between chapters. In any other case, comedian guide panels are the strategy used to spin the yarn and in equity are very well drawn. They flesh out the characters within the absence of voice performing and make the dialogue exchanges extra entertaining for the participant.

A Visually Interesting World with Linear Exploration

On the floor, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion seems to be actually fairly with a gorgeous sheen on the environments, from the jungles to the deep underground caves. Nonetheless, the sport struggled to take care of this every so often and at one level the rendering gave up utterly so the surroundings seemed to be washed clear of any element.

By way of gameplay, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is definitely fairly formulaic. The motion is made up of exploration sections, and switch based mostly fight which is triggered whenever you encounter a gaggle of enemies. Though you’ll go to just a few totally different places, every chapter has practically the identical blueprint, that being primary exploring sandwiching a flip based mostly battle. The third particular person view is harking back to Baldur’s Gate 3 (it’s not the one factor that’s) as Captain Flint and his crew familarise themselves with their environment.

My principal concern is that the environments are fairly sufficient to have a look at, and also you’ll go to a satisfying mixture of city and idyllic areas, however they’re very linear. They virtually really feel like tunnels for probably the most half regardless of the looks of being open, as whenever you veer off the overwhelmed observe you’ll rapidly hit an invisible wall or come up towards some locals blocking your manner.

There are objects dotted about to choose up, and a few rooms would require a excessive scoring cube roll to enter, however as you strategy your controller will vibrate and a yellow exclamation mark will seem, eradicating any type of problem. This additionally occurs whenever you’re required to do some platforming, with the trail forward marked white.

Flint Treasure of Oblivion Review 2 — A panel enjoying story

Missed Alternatives for Thrilling Gameplay Selection

To be truthful, there are a few events the place issues open up a little bit, resembling whenever you go on a recruitment drive to search out crew to your ship within the native city. These situations are very uncommon, and it’s only a case of the identical once more as you resolve every drawback with a scrap, or the easy press of a button.

At occasions you’ll be teased with a doubtlessly thrilling encounter, resembling a excessive seas cannon battle, however then the in-game cinematic will kick in, or issues will fade and all the things occurs off display. It’s with these examples the place there’s an ideal alternative so as to add some a lot wanted selection to the gameplay that’s sadly not taken.

Participating Flip-Primarily based Fight with Cube-Rolling Mechanics

Gladly, the flip based mostly fight sections are rather more pleasurable. As soon as Flint and his crew encounter an enemy mob, the ground will change into tiled because the motion transitions into the fight section. Outcomes are based mostly round cube rolls, with every character additionally having a restricted variety of strikes. Traversing the surroundings or attacking enemies are primarily your solely decisions, however there are additionally particular playing cards (some distinctive to sure characters) which can be utilized price free and others which might be discovered within the wild, or bought from the store with recovered booty. These differ from boosting stats, to providing further strikes and even chucking grenades at enemies.

Varied weapons, armour and playing cards could be geared up to your character’s loadout, and extra complicated encounters would require you to deploy three separate squads and select the place to place them on the battlefield. Whether or not it’s firearms, gentle or heavy melee weapons, these could be swapped about earlier than you head into every encounter.

Flint Treasure of Oblivion Review 3 — Crew up!

Strategic Depth and Random Parts Maintain Fight Recent

There are many random components at play due to the cube, resembling weapon breakages, further strikes and even on the spot loss of life. Earlier than every assault, you’ll be given a quantity which signifies how troublesome it is going to be to drag it off efficiently. Oh, and in every battle sure characters should survive in any other case you’ll instantly lose. Warning is suggested, as a result of earlier than it a key crew member could be ambushed then killed, that means you’ll have to begin the battle yet again.

The flip based mostly fight is stable however don’t attempt to learn the reams of guidelines offered, as a substitute leap into just a few battles then return to fill within the gaps. It appears complicated at first, however the fight is definitely fairly accessible when you get your head round it.

A Clunky UI and Lack of Replay Worth

Plundered treasure is used to degree up crew and improve skills as you play, and that is shared amongst all members. Nonetheless that is the place the clunky UI is uncovered, and it’s not very consumer pleasant in any respect. Sadly it’s the identical when prepping your loadouts for battle, holding observe of what you may have chosen is a little bit of a nightmare.

When you end the primary marketing campaign that’s it, you name it 100% full. Achievements will come at you thick and quick for beating chapters and successful battles, so when you’ve accomplished Flint: Treasure of Oblivion you’ll even have max Gamerscore and no actual cause to return. There’s nothing else to be completed, which given the initially spectacular trailers and screenshots is stunning as they really masks a really linear, simple sport.

Flint Treasure of Oblivion Review 4 — A median journey that’s entertaining sufficient

A Enjoyable however Flawed Pirate Journey

At £34.99 and providing roughly 8 hours gameplay, it is a sport that asks lots for comparatively little in return. And but, largely due to the satisfying flip based mostly battling, I loved myself with Flint: Treasure of Oblivion total.

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion could also be a mean journey at finest, nevertheless it’s nearly entertaining sufficient to shake off accusations of fashion over substance.