Classics revisited
Even the cast can’t believe it. “A murder in the village of the dead? Tell me this is a joke.” No, it’s deadly serious. Dual protagonists are drawn to the coastal village of Doolin in this strange tale that draws on Irish mythology. Part dark fairy tale, part magical girl anime, part murder mystery, Folklore does its thing in style.
In the game, Ellen is searching for her deceased mother after receiving a peculiar letter, while paranormal journalist Keats is on the hunt for a story. The pair quickly find themselves entangled not only in a murder mystery but in the fate of the Netherworld, a hidden realm inhabited by the dead and all manner of spirits known as Folk.
The game was released in 2007, relatively early in PS3’s lifespan, and the Sixaxis controller’s motion-sensing tech played a key part in the action. While this spelled disaster for many overly ambitious early PS3 titles, it worked for Folklore, where it was your tool for a spot of spirit-trouncing. When pummelling Folk, you see their spirit glowing red – which means it’s the perfect time to yank said spirit right out of their body. Some Folk require slightly specialised wrangling, but most only need a well-timed upward flick of the Sixaxis to be sent packing. It’s occasionally fiddly but rarely frustrating – unlike too many games of the early motion control era.
I AM THE LORE
Absorbing unfamiliar Folk recruits them to your cause, granting you their abilities that you can then map to the Sixaxis’ face buttons. You can switch up your loadout on the fly, and as you encounter a bestiary’s worth of Folk, with even bosses recruitable, you eventually have plenty of abilities to choose from. Each Folk you absorb nets you some experience but levelling only increases your health. You need to meet specific criteria if you want to beef up specific abilities.
It was, and still is, a unique combat system. You always have to bear strategy in mind and switch your abilities depending on the situation as your two protagonists use the same Folk in slightly different ways. Ellen tends to summon Folk to her aid and
THE SIXAXIS’ MOTION-SENSING TECH IS YOUR TOOL FOR SPIRIT-TROUNCING.
favours a more defensive stance, whereas Keats uses Folk like a brute force extension of himself.
Folklore is a game firmly split down the middle. Chapters are divvied up between Ellen and Keats, each protagonist’s perspective split half-andhalf between exploring the humdrum human domain and fighting through the beautifully realised Netherworld. The story bounces between more traditional CG cutscenes and slower-paced comicbook-style sequences. While it doesn’t feel completely disjointed, it’s fair to say this blend of elements didn’t work for everyone, especially as players had to complete both characters’ stories before taking on the final chapter.
In a world of sequels and tie-ins (and sequels to tie-ins), Folklore stands out in how standalone it remains. After a not-too-shabby selection of (still purchasable!) costume and side-quest DLC, including an adorable Xmas adventure, a proper followup seemed like a possibility. A PSP sequel was discussed and a download-only, PS Move-compatible second game was pitched to Sony. But even though top brass liked the idea, continuing the story as a series was deemed not worth the financial risk as the first game did not sell well enough outside Japan. Executive game director Yoshiki Okamoto said at the time, “It makes me a little sad, but that’s just the way it is.” Developer Game Republic shuttered in 2011, with a number of its staff going on to work on The Evil Within series at Tango Gameworks. A followup may be unlikely, but the game we do have is a dark fairy tale well worth revisiting.