Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Folklore blends hack-and-slash action with RPG-style customization, delivering a combat system that feels swift and responsive. Ellen and Keats each handle differently, offering varied pacing across their campaigns. By shaking or tilting the motion-sensing controller at the right moment, players can absorb a Folk’s id and harness its unique abilities.

Once absorbed, up to four Folks can be mapped to the face buttons, allowing rapid switching on the fly. Each Folk brings its own attack patterns, elemental affinities, and special moves, creating an opportunity to tailor your loadout to suit different enemy types. Progression comes through leveling up both your character and individual Folk, unlocking new skills and stat bonuses.

The system rewards experimentation, encouraging you to mix and match bizarre creatures—from fiery salamanders to shadowy specters—to discover potent combinations. Boss battles in particular call for strategic Folk selection, as certain id abilities can break enemy armor or exploit elemental weaknesses. This depth unfolds gradually, ensuring that newcomers won’t be overwhelmed right away.

Between the two intersecting storylines, gameplay variety is kept high; Ellen’s narrative leans into mobility and quick strikes, while Keats often uses ranged techniques and status-inflicting assaults. Replay value is strong, especially if you switch character order on subsequent playthroughs, as you’ll encounter new Folk in differing sequences.

Graphics

Visually, Folklore strikes a moody tone, alternating between the grounded realism of present-day Doolin and the surreal vistas of the Netherworld. Character models are well-detailed for their era, with subtle facial animations that help convey emotion during key cutscenes. Texture work on cobblestone streets and worn doorways adds tangible weight to the village environment.

The seven afterlife realms each sport a unique aesthetic, from moonlit forests to molten lowlands. Bold color palettes and lighting effects—such as dynamic shadows and ethereal glows—enhance the sense of otherworldliness. You’ll find yourself lingering to admire drifting motes of light or the sinuous vines creeping along crumbling ruins.

Folks themselves are a highlight of the art direction: grotesque, whimsical, and often surprisingly intricate. Their animations reflect their elemental natures—fire-based creatures flicker with embers, while water spirits flow fluidly across the ground. Particle effects, like swirling leaves or spectral trails, punctuate each attack, making every battle visually satisfying.

Performance generally remains stable, with only occasional frame drops when too many effects are on screen. The camera can sometimes struggle in tighter corridors, but for the most part, it does a solid job tracking frenetic combat. Overall, the graphical presentation stands up well, even by modern standards, thanks to its cohesive vision.

Story

Folklore unfolds through two distinct but interwoven narratives. Ellen’s quest to uncover her family’s past is driven by a haunting message from her late mother, lending emotional heft to her journey. Keats, a skeptical journalist for an occult magazine, enters the picture after receiving a cryptic distress call—his investigations often clashing with Ellen’s personal motivations.

The idyllic Irish village of Doolin serves as a perfect gateway between the living world and the Netherworld. Local legends about meeting the dead draw both protagonists into dimly lit manor houses and mist-wreathed graveyards. The game’s pacing allows each character to shine, revealing new facets of the lore and deepening the mystery around the so-called Folk.

As Ellen and Keats traverse the seven realms of the afterlife, they encounter a menagerie of monsters and faeries inspired by Celtic mythology. Each realm explores different conceptions of life after death—some offer serene beauty, others brim with terror. The narrative weaves these settings into a broader meditation on loss, acceptance, and the thin line between life and death.

Dialogue is generally well-acted, with moments of genuine pathos underscored by a haunting soundtrack. While some plot twists are predictable, the dual perspective structure keeps surprises coming. By gradually revealing how Ellen and Keats’ stories intersect, Folklore builds toward a finale that ties personal revelations to the greater supernatural conflict.

Overall Experience

Folklore offers a captivating blend of action and RPG elements framed within a beautifully imagined take on Irish folklore. Its dual protagonists ensure that no two playthroughs feel identical, and the strategic depth of the Folk customization system keeps combat engaging from start to finish. The motion controls add novelty, even if they occasionally feel finicky.

From the quiet whispers in Doolin’s taverns to the grand vistas of the Netherworld, the game world feels alive and mysterious. Progressing through increasingly surreal realms fosters a sense of wonder that few action games achieve. And with over a dozen unlockable id abilities per character, there’s ample incentive to revisit both storylines.

Minor shortcomings—such as camera quirks in tight spaces and occasional repetition in enemy encounters—barely detract from the overall experience. Folklore’s strengths in atmosphere, narrative ambition, and dynamic combat more than compensate, making it a standout title for anyone seeking a rich, immersive adventure.

Whether you’re a fan of action-heavy gameplay, an enthusiast of mythology-inspired storytelling, or simply on the lookout for a game with unique flair, Folklore delivers. Its haunting charm lingers long after the credits roll, marking it as a hidden gem well worth uncovering.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10