Released all the way back in 2007, Folklore didn’t receive great reviews on its initial launch, with critics condemning the game’s pacing and its repetitive gameplay. Still, many that played the game back in the day have a soft spot for Folklore now. Unfortunately, it’s a little difficult for fans to get their hands on a physical copy of the game nowadays. Having only received a limited release, physical copies of Folklore aren’t too common, and thanks to scalpers, the game’s market value has shot up considerably over the last two years, going from about $20 up to $100. While it’s a bit of a niche title, PlayStation Plus Premium could attract a decent number of subscribers if it put Folklore on its service.
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Everyone Deserves a Chance to Play Folklore
Folklore follows the story of Ellen and Keats, two playable protagonists who wind up meeting at an old Irish fishing village named Doolin. Lured to the island by mysterious voices, the two witness the death of a woman and begin an investigation into the cause of her presumed suicide. This journey takes them on a trip to the Netherworld, where the two attempt to solve the mysterious case by speaking with the spirits of the dead, who are guarded by various mythical creatures.
The general gameplay loop of Folklore has two distinct phases. The first phase sees players question the villagers around town about various comings-and-goings, relationships, and possible suspicions. The second phase, and the more prominent of the two, sees players engage in third-person hack-and-slash action in the Netherworld. One of the game’s most unique features is its vast array of abilities, which are unlocked by absorbing downed weakened foes. When the player absorbs the downed enemy, they are granted a new ability which summons that creature and forces them to carry out an attack. Four summoned attacks can be equipped at once, each taking a face-button slot.
One of the biggest highlights of Folklore is its art design. For a 2007 game, Folklore looks incredible. At the time, the gaming industry was unanimously trying to deliver the most realistic graphics possible, which led to a lot of muted color palettes. Folklore went against this trend, and it holds up much better because of it. Folklore’s backgrounds are vibrant and bright, as are its varied monster designs that perfectly capture the mythical atmosphere the game is striving for. Critics may have disliked Folklore’s narrative and some elements of its combat, but the game’s visuals were praised across the board.
Though Folklore isn’t often considered one of the PlayStation 3’s best exclusive titles, it’s certainly still worth playing all these years later. If Folklore came to PlayStation Plus Premium, it could add quite a bit of value to the service, with even a single copy of Folklore sometimes costing more than an entire year’s worth of PlayStation Plus Premium. It would be great to see more underrated classics like Folklore head to PS Plus Premium over the next year or so.
Folklore is available on PS3.
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