Info about Ghost of a Tale:

Official game description:
Ghost of a Tale is an action-RPG game in which you play as Tilo, a mouse and minstrel caught up in a perilous adventure. The game takes place in a medieval world populated only by animals, and puts an emphasis on immersion and exploration. It features stealth elements, disguises, conversations with allies and enemies, and quests.  
You’ll be able to explore the secrets of Dwindling Heights Keep and navigate its dangers. Tilo is not much of a fighter, so stealth and nimbleness are your allies when confronted with enemies twice your size. Talk to the characters you meet and leave no stone unturned in your quest to find Merra, your true love….
**About the team:**
-------------------
Ghost of a Tale has been developed by a very small team. **Lionel "Seith" Gallat** is its creator, responsible for 90% of the art, design and coding. **Paul Gardner** is the game's writer and an experienced game designer. **Cyrille Paulhiac** does coding and develops tools. The game's orchestral score is composed by **Mathieu Alvado** and **Jeremiah Pena**, while Tilo's songs are written and arranged by **Containher**. Sound design is by **Nicolas Titeux**. **Jerome Jacinto** brings his expertise as an illustrator to the game's 2D art.

Release date: Mar 13, 2018

Categories: Stealth Gameplay, Exploration, Character Interaction, Puzzle Solving, Story-driven Gameplay, Atmospheric Horror (Light), Single-player, Animal Simulation

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the difficulty in completing quests and navigating the game world due to insufficient in-game information. This leads to a reliance on external resources such as walkthroughs and maps, causing frustration and detracting from the overall user experience.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has notable performance issues on certain hardware, including the Steam Deck, with reports of battery drain and overheating. However, it also has positive feedback regarding its compatibility with the Steam Deck, with several users mentioning it runs well despite not being officially supported. Design issues, such as the lack of save points, were also noted, which can affect the user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $3.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth purchasing both at full price and at a discount. One user specifically mentions seeing the game on sale for 3 euros and considering it a great deal for a 17-hour game, indicating a lower price point. Another user mentions that the game is worth it even at full price, suggesting the upper end of the price range. The general sentiment is that the game provides good value for money, whether purchased at full price or at a discount.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 17.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple references to the total playtime required to complete the game, including both main and side content. Several reviews mention that completing everything in the game takes around 14 to 20 hours. The reasoning for the extracted values is based on these direct mentions of playtime durations. The confidence is relatively high due to the consistency of the reported playtimes across different reviews.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts slow and tedious but improves significantly once players unlock more areas and abilities, particularly the full guard's armor and disguises.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Unlocking the full guard's armor and disguises
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: repetitive stealth mechanics; slow pacing; limited options early on
  - Unlock drivers: unlocking more areas; acquiring disguises; discovering shortcuts
  - Conditions: exploration; progression through main quests; engaging with side quests
- Player Archetypes:
  - Stealth Adventurer (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of stealth and adventure gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Focused on stealth mechanics and exploring the game world.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: stealth enthusiast; adventure gamer
    - Reference games: The Thief Games; Deus Ex
  - Completionist Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Achieving 100% completion and exploring all aspects of the game.
    - Playstyle: Thorough exploration and completion of all quests and achievements.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: completionist; explorer
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Skyrim
  - Aesthetic Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of the game's unique aesthetic and charm.
    - Playstyle: Appreciation of the game's visual style and thematic elements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: aesthetic lover; rodent fan
    - Reference games: Redwall books; The Tale of Despereaux


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent stealth gameplay (weight 0.37): The game features a well-designed stealth system that blends seamlessly with exploration and storytelling. Players appreciate the intricate mechanics and the enjoyable flow of sneaking and stealing.
- Captivating atmosphere (weight 0.34): The game's atmosphere is immersive and charming, with a beautiful medieval setting. Players are captivated by the world's design, lighting, and overall graphics, as well as the sound design.
- Well-designed locations (weight 0.29): The game world is compact and well-designed, with beautiful and detailed level designs. Players appreciate the intelligent layout and the comfortable map design.
- Pleasant graphics and soundtrack (weight 0.27): The game features high-quality, colorful, and detailed graphics that are visually appealing. The pleasant soundtrack complements the attractive visuals.
- Memorable characters (weight 0.24): The game features well-developed, charismatic, and memorable characters. Players appreciate the unique character designs and the charming dialogue.
- Engaging storyline (weight 0.24): The game offers an interesting and well-written story with engaging twists. Players find the storyline enjoyable and unique.
- Beautiful stylized graphics (weight 0.23): The game is praised for its original and beautiful graphic style, featuring highly detailed graphics and well-done animations. The visual presentation is stunning and appealing.
- Detailed and interesting lore (weight 0.21): The game world is rich with detailed and interesting lore. Players appreciate the well-developed background stories and the depth of the game's lore.
- Charming art style (weight 0.18): The game features a charming and cozy art style with beautiful character designs. Players find the presentation and visuals very charming and appealing.
- Cute animations (weight 0.16): The game includes high-quality and adorable animations, particularly for the main characters. Players appreciate the smooth and beautiful animations.
- Enjoyable puzzle-solving (weight 0.14): The game offers logical and intuitive puzzles that are enjoyable to solve. Players appreciate the understandable and engaging puzzle mechanics.
- Fun and humorous dialogue (weight 0.14): The game features well-written and humorous dialogues that bring joy to players. The dialogues are engaging and add to the overall charm of the game.
- Rewarding exploration (weight 0.13): The game encourages exploration and discovery, offering immersive and challenging experiences. Players find the exploration mechanics engaging and rewarding.
- Colorful characters (weight 0.12): The game includes a range of colorful and quirky characters with distinct personalities and goals. Players enjoy the unique and charming character designs.
- Fairy-tale and tragic story (weight 0.11): The game presents a fairy-tale atmosphere with a tragic and engaging story. Players find the narrative well-presented and intriguing, despite its sadness.
- Responsive controls (weight 0.1): The game features convenient and responsive controls, including controller support. Players find the controls to be well-designed and easy to use.
- Visually stunning (weight 0.1): The game is visually stunning with gorgeous visuals and attention to detail. Players appreciate the beautiful art design and graphics.
- Beautiful soundtrack (weight 0.09): The game features a beautiful and melancholic soundtrack that complements the overall sound design. Players appreciate the pleasant and non-intrusive musical accompaniment.

Common complaints:
- Confusing maps (weight 0.29): The maps in the game are often confusing and not very helpful. Players find themselves wandering cluelessly and the maps can be unclear, leading to missed quest items.
- Repetitive fetch-quests (weight 0.23): The game features repetitive fetch-quests that can become boring and tedious. These quests often involve backtracking and can feel convoluted.
- Excessive backtracking (weight 0.2): The game involves a lot of backtracking, which can become tedious. Players often have to traverse the same areas repeatedly.
- Minor bugs present (weight 0.17): Players have reported encountering minor bugs and issues, including environmental bugs and control issues. These bugs are generally not game-breaking but can be occasional nuisances.
- Unsatisfactory ending (weight 0.17): The game's ending has been criticized for feeling incomplete, unsatisfying, and abrupt. Many players feel that the story lacks a proper conclusion.
- Unclear quest objectives (weight 0.17): Quest objectives can be unclear and time-consuming. Players often find it difficult to understand where to go or what to do next.
- Lack of audio elements (weight 0.14): The game has been criticized for its lack of music, voice acting, and sound effects. This contributes to a less immersive experience.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.12): Gameplay can feel repetitive and boring due to repetitive tasks. This includes repetitive quests and fetch-like tasks that do not feel fun.
- Game is too short (weight 0.1): Many players feel that the game is too short and does not offer enough content to justify its length.
- Slow early game (weight 0.09): The early game has been described as slow and boring, with slow movement speed contributing to the overall sluggish pace.
- Inconsistent enemy AI (weight 0.09): The enemy AI in the game can be unintelligent and incredibly dense, leading to a less challenging and immersive experience.
- Quick stamina depletion (weight 0.07): Stamina in the game runs out quickly and replenishes slowly, which can be frustrating during gameplay.
- Language-specific issues (weight 0.07): Some players have reported issues specific to certain language versions of the game, including unclear objectives and confusing maps.

Gameplay feedback:
- Stealth and RPG elements (weight 0.5): The game combines stealth mechanics with RPG elements, creating a unique blend of adventure and role-playing. Players engage in quest-based stealth-action and exploration.
- Story-driven gameplay (weight 0.32): The game features a strong narrative focus, with a story-driven gameplay experience. It includes RPG elements and a compelling story that drives the player's actions.
- Exploration and discovery (weight 0.29): Players are encouraged to explore complex locations and discover secrets. The game world is interconnected, allowing for immersion and exploration.
- No combat system (weight 0.17): The game lacks a traditional combat system, focusing instead on stealth and non-combat challenges. Players can knock out enemies but do not engage in direct combat.
- Map and quest system (weight 0.14): The game features a map with labyrinths and a quest system without detailed markers. Players must navigate and locate true labyrinths to progress.
- Character interactions (weight 0.13): Players interact with characters based on clothing and engage in dialogue. These interactions are crucial for progressing through the game.
- Puzzles and platforming (weight 0.12): The game includes puzzle-solving and platforming elements. While not a major focus, these mechanics add variety to the gameplay.
- Engaging story (weight 0.12): The game has a tragic and engaging story that captivates players. The narrative is a significant part of the gameplay experience.
- Disguise mechanics (weight 0.12): The game includes mechanics for assembling and using disguises. These disguises help players gain access to restricted areas.
- Infiltration mechanics (weight 0.11): Gameplay consists of infiltration mechanics, where players must sneak past guards and avoid detection.
- Unique gameplay experience (weight 0.1): The game offers a unique gameplay experience with a blend of stealth, exploration, and RPG elements. This combination creates a distinctive and engaging gameplay loop.
- Upgrades and costumes (weight 0.1): The game features upgrades and costumes that change the character's appearance and abilities. These elements add customization and progression to the gameplay.
- Unique lore (weight 0.1): The game has a unique lore that is important for dialogue options and character development. Players must engage with the lore to fully understand the game world.
- Hunting down secrets (weight 0.1): Gameplay focuses on exploration and hunting down secrets. Players must search for items and uncover hidden paths to progress.
- Compact and interconnected world (weight 0.1): The game world is compact and interconnected, with various environments and creatures. This design encourages exploration and discovery.
- Controls and mechanics (weight 0.09): The game features specific controls and mechanics, such as using items to distract enemies and navigating through the game world with various actions.
- Map design with shortcuts (weight 0.08): The game features a small but well-stocked map with numerous shortcuts between different zones. This design encourages exploration and efficient navigation.
- Day and night cycle (weight 0.07): The game includes a dynamic day and night cycle that affects gameplay. This cycle adds depth to the game world and mechanics.
- Playing as intelligent mice and rats (weight 0.07): The story revolves around characters who are intelligent mice and rats. Players experience the game from the perspective of these characters.
- Beautiful art (weight 0.05): The game is praised for its beautiful art and unique character designs. The visual style contributes to the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game.
- Character portraits and schedules (weight 0.05): The game includes character portraits and schedules, adding depth to the characters and their interactions.

Performance notes:
- Frequent bugs reported (weight 0.19): Many players have reported encountering bugs, ranging from minor issues to more significant problems. These bugs are widespread but often have easy workarounds.
- Performance issues (weight 0.16): There are mixed reports about performance, with some players experiencing no issues while others report frequent stutters, FPS drops, and overheating.
- Frequent crashes (weight 0.15): Several players have experienced frequent crashes, sometimes dozens of times. These crashes often occur during saving or specific actions.
- Missing sound effects (weight 0.12): Players have noted that many sound effects are missing from the game. This includes sounds associated with specific events that do not play at all.
- Compatibility with Steam Deck (weight 0.1): The game reportedly works well on Steam Deck, with some users experiencing perfect performance. However, there are also reports of the game being unoptimized for Steam Deck and draining the battery.
- Minor graphical and technical issues (weight 0.1): There are reports of minor graphical errors and technical issues, including texture and camera problems. These issues are generally not game-breaking but can be noticeable.
- High system requirements (weight 0.06): The game has high system requirements, which can make it difficult for some players to run the game smoothly. This is partly due to the use of Unreal Engine 5.
- Video settings issues (weight 0.06): Some players have reported issues with video settings, requiring restarts or causing odd bugs. These issues can affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Invisible barriers and missing collision (weight 0.06): Players have encountered invisible barriers and missing collision boxes, which can hinder exploration and gameplay.
- Save issues with Steam Cloud (weight 0.06): Some players have experienced issues with saving games using Steam Cloud, which can lead to progress loss and other problems.
- Old graphics and optimization problems (weight 0.06): Some players feel that the graphics are outdated and there are optimization problems, leading to a less than optimal visual experience.
- Initial button prompt bug (weight 0.05): There is an initial bug reported with button prompts, which can affect the user interface and require reloading the game.
- NPC spawning issues (weight 0.03): There are reports of issues with NPCs spawning and despawning, which can affect the game's immersion and progression.
- Achievement and quest bugs (weight 0.03): There are bugs affecting achievements and quests, which can hinder progression and completion of the game.
- Early Access issues (weight 0.03): The game is in Early Access and has minor bugs and incomplete parts, which can affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Stamina management issues (weight 0.03): Players have reported issues with stamina management, which can affect gameplay mechanics and overall experience.
- AI problems (weight 0.03): There are problems reported with the AI, which can affect the behavior and interactions of non-player characters.
- Animation glitches (weight 0.03): There are reports of animation glitches, which can disrupt the visual experience and immersion in the game.
- Specific armor bug (weight 0.03): There is a reported bug with the gilded armor, which can affect character progression and equipment.
- Main menu navigation issues (weight 0.03): The main menu navigation has been described as clunky, which can make it difficult for players to access different game features.
- Photo Mode exploitation (weight 0.03): Players have noted that the Photo Mode can be exploited to scout ahead, which can affect the game's challenge and intended experience.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.3): The game comes highly recommended by many players, who praise its quality and suggest giving it a try despite some minor drawbacks.
- Ideal for stealth and adventure fans (weight 0.2): Fans of stealth and adventure games, particularly those who enjoy titles like Dishonored or Styx, will find this game appealing.
- Adorable mice characters and exploration (weight 0.14): The game features cute mice characters and is recommended for those who enjoy exploration, puzzles, and quests.
- Recommended for immersive experiences (weight 0.13): Players who enjoy immersive and story-driven games with rich lore and world-building are likely to appreciate this game.
- Unique setting and gameplay (weight 0.12): The game is praised for its unique setting and engaging gameplay mechanics, making it stand out in its genre.
- Fantasy adventure in a quasi-medieval setting (weight 0.12): The game is recommended for lovers of fantasy adventures set in a quasi-medieval environment, offering a rich and engaging experience.
- Worth the price (weight 0.1): Many players feel that the game is worth its price, offering good value for money.
- Recommended on sale (weight 0.07): Some players suggest waiting for a sale to purchase the game, indicating that it offers better value at a discounted price.
- No combat focus (weight 0.07): The game is suitable for those who do not mind the absence of combat, focusing more on story and exploration.
- Good alternative for Skyrim fans (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for fans of Skyrim who are looking for a different but equally engaging experience.
- Anticipation for a sequel (weight 0.05): Players are eagerly looking forward to a sequel, indicating their satisfaction and desire for more content.
- Play offline to avoid save issues (weight 0.03): It is recommended to play the game offline to avoid potential save issues, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.
- Niche but high-quality game (weight 0.03): The game is described as a niche but high-quality title, appealing to a specific audience that appreciates unique and well-crafted experiences.
- Tinkering with settings recommended (weight 0.03): Some players recommend tinkering with the game's settings to optimize the experience according to personal preferences.
- Great for all ages (weight 0.03): The game is considered suitable and enjoyable for players of all ages, making it a versatile choice for families.
- Best project in a long time (weight 0.03): Some players consider this game to be one of the best projects they have played in a long time, highlighting its exceptional quality.
- Most game-ready Early Access project (weight 0.03): The game is noted for being one of the most game-ready Early Access projects, indicating a polished and enjoyable experience even in its early stages.
- Recommended for patient players (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for patient players with good English skills, suggesting that it may require some time and language proficiency to fully enjoy.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Players are frustrated by a multitude of technical issues, including frequent crashes, game-breaking bugs, and a lack of save points leading to progress loss. The gameplay itself is also a source of frustration due to repetitive fetch quests, excessive backtracking, and slow movement speed, which make the experience tedious and monotonous.
- Joy (weight 0.17): Players express joy in the game's beautiful and immersive world, characterized by charming characters, engaging storylines, and delightful visuals. The game's unique blend of cute aesthetics, rich lore, and enjoyable gameplay mechanics, such as stealth and exploration, contributes to a memorable and heartwarming experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.09): Players are excited about the game's unique and engaging gameplay, which includes a blend of stealth mechanics, exploration, and a charming storyline. The anticipation for a sequel and the depth of interaction within the game's world also contribute to this excitement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players enjoy the game's charming protagonist, beautiful musical accompaniment, and the overall enchanting universe. The combination of puzzles, art style, and immersive atmosphere creates a unique and enjoyable experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.06): Players feel a sense of nostalgia due to the game's reminiscent aesthetic and storyline, which evoke memories of classic games, books, and childhood experiences. The game's ability to recall the charm and adventure of older media contributes to this nostalgic feeling.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players find satisfaction in the game's overall quality, including its beautiful graphics, pleasant music, and engaging gameplay mechanics. The ability to overcome challenges and enjoy the game's atmosphere despite some flaws contributes to a sense of fulfillment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players express disappointment with the game's unsatisfactory ending, which leaves the story feeling unfinished and abrupt. Additionally, the excessive backtracking and repetitive gameplay mechanics contribute to a sense of letdown.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Players admire the game's rich narrative, beautiful graphics, and the sheer amount of love and effort put into its development. The game's unique blend of genres, immersive world, and engaging story evoke a sense of appreciation and respect.
- Positive (weight 0.04): Players have a positive view of the game's cool story, well-developed lore, and charming style. The game's atmospheric locations, interesting characters, and beautiful visuals contribute to an overall enjoyable and satisfying experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's unique gameplay experience, rich world and lore, and the good use of budget to create a contrasting and engaging atmosphere. The game's narrative, characters, and artwork are also highly valued.
- Curiosity (weight 0.03): Players are curious about the game's engaging story, unique setting, and well-designed exploration and quests. The desire to uncover secrets and learn more about the game's lore and characters drives this curiosity.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players hope for future improvements, new content, and a sequel to continue the game's story. This hope is driven by the game's engaging narrative and the desire for more content and enhancements.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players feel sadness due to the emotional impact of the game's ending and story. The game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses, including a sense of existential void after completion, contributes to this feeling.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game's story, characters, visual language, and atmosphere. The deep emotional connection to the game's world and its inhabitants fosters a sense of love and affection.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the announcement of a sequel, which promises to continue the game's unique and engaging experience. The anticipation for new content and developments in the game's world drives this excitement.}