Folkloreis a PlayStation 3 exclusive title that released the summer following the console itself. During this window of time, fans saw a small handful of exclusive titles released for the console such asGenji: Days of the Blade,Ridge Racer 7,Resistance: Fall of Man, andEternal Sonata, among others. While the initial lineup of launch titles for the PS3 fell short of fans' expectations, eventually thePS3 would grow its exclusive librarywith big-name games in the years to come. Before then, fans were left with few options for their new console, though thankfully,Folklorecame out and was a charming experienced.
Folkloreis an action-adventure RPG developed by the now-defunct developer Game Republic. It blended a comic-book-style narrative murder mystery with Irish mythology, taking place between two main areas: the real world and the Netherworld. It also featured two lead protagonists the player could switch between.Folklorealso had a monster capturing system that allowed players to capture spirits and creatures known as Folk. When equipped, these Folk would give the player an arsenal of abilities to use. Despite being one of the fewPS3 games to not have trophy support, it was any rewarding as any game that did.
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Folklore’s Unique Flavor
From the beginning, players are given the choice to start as either of the two lead protagonists: Ellen or Keats. Ellen is brought to the small seaside Irish village of Doolin after a mysterious letter beckons her, while the journalist Keats gets a mysteriously distressed phone call to the same village. Doolin features exploration, puzzle-quests, and interaction with the inhabitants, acting as the main hub area. Through a turn of events, the protagonists are thrust into a magical realm of the dead known as the Netherworld.It is within this Celtic Otherworldwhere the player will locate memories of the dead to unravel the murder mystery.
Folklorehas players moving between both worlds as the narrative progresses, unlocking more of the mystery behind the murders and Ellen’s past. In the Netherworld, players will come across the Folk, which arecreatures inspired by Celtic folklorethat can be captured when their health is low enough and they glow red. Through this mechanic, the player will have to use the PS3’s Sixaxis motion controls to tug at the Folk, effectively like a fishing line, to add the creature to the player’s arsenal. Once the player has acquired some Folk, they are able to assign it to one of four buttons, being able to switch between them at will. Each Folk that is equipped changes the playstyle of either Ellen or Keats, creating dynamic options during combat.
Ellen and Keats have their own distinct playstyle, among the Folk they can equip. Ellen focuses on a more defensive stance while also having the ability to cloak herself, while Keats uses more brute-focused attacks, with the ability to release built-up energy becoming invincible and throwing stronger attacks for a period of time.
Folklore’sbeautiful approachshows that there is indeed room for a unique blend of elements that may not seem to work together, but absolutely do. Switching between protagonists, switching between the real and the Netherworld, and switching Folk for the right situation all work together well. This charming game is certainly one of a kind and anyone looking to fill out their PS3 collection might find something that stands out for them inFolklore.
Folkloreis available on the PlayStation 3.
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