King's Field: The Ancient City, known in Japan as King's Field IV, is a medieval-themed first-person role playing video game produced by From Software for the PlayStation 2 in 2001. It is the fourth game in the King's Field series and the last one released for home consoles.
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Probably one of the most engrossing atmospheres in a game ever.
Suprisingly enjoyable. The atmosphere entirely carries it and I found it very nice.
Working backwards through From Soft's catalogue; it's really interesting to see the earlier versions of ideas iterated upon in later From Software games. Also just a solid dungeon crawler borrowing elements from other adventure games like The Legend of Zelda.
Fuck the dwarf
This game effortlessly exudes an atmosphere full of darkness and warmth, weaved perfectly with its classical synth soundtrack. At times you can feel the slowness of the game, especially when backtracking or looking for hidden items, but almost every effort taken to explore for items is met with useful rewards. Exploring the cleverly interlinked Ancient City was deeply satisfying, while still keeping that sense of tension and unease that King's Field is known for. A great conclusion to a great series.
The PlayStation can produce mind-boggling effects.
As much as it is a clunky, unpalatable piece of shit, I fucking love this game. King's Field IV is an old school dungeon crawler where you fight so very many skeletons (there's a lot of skeletons). It also has possibly the best vibes of any game I've played, rivaled only by Dark Souls perhaps.
King's Field is oppressive, its world dying, but you can bet your ass off some banger tune will be going off in the background at all times. Albeit quite slow (your turn speed is literally 5 rpm, unless of course you walk through a spiderweb, halving it), the exploration is also legitimately very satisfying. There are a myriad of fun, optional illusory walls and hidden items, and the levels are surprisingly well realized and interconnected. It's always incredibly relieving to stumble upon a save point after delving through a crypt for 30 minutes, and at -1 mph no less.
I particularly remember when I finally emerged in one of the game's central hubs after hours of tense spelunking. The area is a lush, colorful forest, one of King's Field's few above-ground locales, and completely unlike anywhere else in the game. It too, has fallen from its former glory, yet it is the first real reprieve in what has thus far been quite a grueling experience. It's beautiful— in all its crunchy, early PS2 game grace.
King's Field IV is certainly not for everyone, but it is unique and ethereal, truly a charming little game if you can stomach it.
As much as it is a clunky, unpalatable piece of shit, I fucking love this game. King's Field IV is an old school dungeon crawler where you fight so very many skeletons (there's a lot of skeletons). It also has possibly the best vibes of any game I've played, rivaled only by Dark Souls perhaps.
King's Field is oppressive, its world dying, but you can bet your ass off some banger tune will be going off in the background at all times. Albeit quite slow (your turn speed is literally 5 rpm, unless of course you walk through a spiderweb, halving it), the exploration is also legitimately very satisfying. There are a myriad of fun, optional illusory walls and hidden items, and the levels are surprisingly well realized and interconnected. It's always incredibly relieving to stumble upon a save point after delving through a crypt for 30 minutes, and at -1 mph no less.
I particularly remember when I finally emerged in one of the game's central hubs after hours of tense spelunking. The area is a lush, colorful forest, one of King's Field's few above-ground locales, and completely unlike anywhere else in the game. It too, has fallen from its former glory, yet it is the first real reprieve in what has thus far been quite a grueling experience. It's beautiful— in all its crunchy, early PS2 game grace.
King's Field IV is certainly not for everyone, but it is unique and ethereal, truly a charming little game if you can stomach it.