Urgh....this one feels hard because I feel like a lot of this is my own preferences holding me back, but so much of this feels almost needlessly clunky.

There's a ton of things I like, mostly aesthetically. I like how there's essentially no prompts for anything; the game assumes you know how video games work and that the setting is familiar enough that'll you'll know generally what to do (herbs heal you, you may need keys for chests, how to attack, etc) and this really does feel like the Souls experience stripped down to amoeba level: the spooky, desolate and hopeless environment except here mixed in a stew with really traditional and cliche fantasy elements.

It's just inherently so...clunky. The tank controls (literally, with the inverted look which I hate with a burning passion), the slow slow combat and movement; if I needed to play for more hours just to get into the groove of it I just can't. Great music though, and I praise every single one of the King's Field games for their look, I'm just too weak to continue.

This is potentially the most immersive video game ever made. The haunting music, well-crafted dungeons, ever-present environmental storytelling, and plethora of missable content in the form of hidden areas, items and enemies make this an absolute gem, sure to fill the player with a sense of wonder and make them feel rewarded for every bit of exploration as they delve into the depths of the Ancient City, provided the player is armed with enough wit and patience to make it through the perilous journey.

I tend to dislike games with ham-fisted stories, which seem to think that they are movies, and can keep the player invested into their story. Some games, like God of War 4 and Silent Hill 2, can pull this off, but most games stumble and embarrass themselves, leading to an experience focused on a stupid, unsatisfying gimmick. With this perspective, it's easy to appreciate a game which lets you discover the story for yourself by observing the environments trodden down by the pressures of civil war and the forces of time, and taking in the sights, taking note of whatever feelings passing across these intricate structures and barren landscapes might bring.

Overall, this is a game which arouses a true sense of adventure within me — genuine intrigue, awe and amazement at what can be achieved with sounds and images within the realm of video games. Sure, the game may not have much literary value, but if you come in with the intent of going on a real adventure into a treacherous land, you might discover an experience that will forever stick with you, making all other exploration games pale in comparison.