Folklore review

Andlet it not be said the game isn't gorgeous. Heavens no! You're in for some of the most lusciously beautiful environments ever to grace a console. We'd be the first on board any vessel bound for the Land of the Dead. Like a gothic What Dreams May Come, or Middle Earth with a brighter assortment of foliage, the level designs make even the most barren of desert environment seem worthy of aquixotic journey. If only that were possible...

Folklore's downside is that it's so damned structured,and linear to a fault. Given how striking each and every stage is, it was a little heartbreaking that we were restricted to such asternlydefined path. There's almost zero exploration involved. And with the consistent load times, respawning enemies and story repetition, the game would seem to punish any one curious enough to hoof it off the very beaten path.

In the level structure alone, the game just doesn't go very far to harness the most powerful console currently on the planet. While the many load screens aren't too long, the environments haven't grown much since Final Fantasy X. Shouldn't the PS3 be able to produce environments larger than a high school gym by now?

Additionally, the plot, involving a missing person in the forgotten town of Doolinthat just happens to be a gateway to the Netherworld,is stunted dueto similartechnical shortcomings.The text-based, comic bookcutscenes lack the emotional heft that the so-so story really could've benefited from. Especially given how breathtaking and epic the scant few cinematics look.