There were two games this year that I requested review codes, but I didn’t write about them. To make sure I got both covered before the end of the year, I started this blog with the plan to post a combined “Quick Looks”. But as I got to writing, I had enough to say on both to justify their own dedicated posts. While both blogs start with this same introduction, the rest of the content is specific to each game.
This blog focuses on Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon. If you’re interested in reading my thoughts about Onirism, I’ve linked it here.
An RPG that throws everything at you
Tainted Grail is an action-RPG that gives off The Elder Scrolls vibes. This follows a lot of the same tropes of other Western-developed RPGs. Your character starts the game in prison and must escape. They ‘discover’ something magical/mysterious. Afterwards, they enter a world where they must toe the line between many challenges.
I held back on writing about the game for a few reasons. While the game was available for a while in Early Access, it went version 1.0 earlier in the year. Unfortunately, the launch wasn’t smooth, and the game still felt like it wasn’t ready. People on Steam were complaining that aspects of the second half of the game were missing. There were problems with audio and other glitches that halted progress. I wanted to give it a bit more time to address the early launch issues.
To be honest, there are still issues, but I’ve accepted that they are common for these kinds of games. You have enemies who trip and fall to their deaths. Your character or an enemy will get stuck in the environment. It’s that jank that makes some battles easier than intended. Sometimes it works in your favor. Othertimes, you’re stuck having to restart a section. You will get the hang of making sure to Quick Save every few minutes.
Overwhelming at times
Like The Elder Scrolls games, your character evolves as you play. Run a lot, and your athletics improve. Use a bow and arrow often; your archery skills get better. There is a traditional leveling system. Plus, there are over a dozen different skill trees. But your improvements are small. Don’t expect to feel like your character is making significant gains from one level to the next.
They also throw a lot of other abilities your way. You can buy a sketch book and start drawing what you see. I have no idea if this makes a meaningful impact later, but they aren’t stopping you from doing this. Cooking is one skill they want you to improve, and it is beneficial in the long run. There are cooking-specific side quests where you need to cook items for people. Cooking your own food will also help you when you need to replenish/boost your health, mana, or stamina.
Considering I am looking for XP opportunities, any chance to gain more is a plus. I don’t mind crafting a winter jacket for a guard. At the same time, I’m struggling to progress the main story. The core object centers around the ghost of King Arthur. He has tasked us with finding certain items. I’m at a point where I need to approach a temple. This has been a challenge, since the first part involves a fight with a character. You don’t die if you fail, but my character isn’t strong enough to take her on. It’s annoying that I’ll have to spend another hour or so doing sidequests to get better.
Came out at the wrong time
The more I spend with Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, the more fun I am having. Even with my struggles, I am enjoying the world. Sure, I’m not progressing with the main campaign, but I have been able to do other things. This dropped after Avowed and Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered, which both overshadowed this. In a different year, more people would have paid attention to this one. For anyone craving a medieval-focused, action-RPG, this is definitely worth checking out.
