Info about The Forgotten City:

Official game description:
Awards & Nominations
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About the Game
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Travel 2,000 years into the past and relive the final days of a cursed Roman city, where if one person sins, everyone dies. Combat is an option, but violence will only get you so far. Only by questioning an intertwined community of colourful characters, cleverly exploiting the time loop, and making difficult moral choices can you hope to solve this epic mystery. Here, your decisions matter. The fate of the city is in your hands.  
*   Explore an open-world ancient Roman city with historically authentic art, architecture, costumes and customs  
*   Investigate a gripping, non-linear mystery with multiple endings  
*   Become entwined in the lives of richly detailed, deeply interactive characters  
*   Grapple with moral dilemmas which have life-and-death consequences  
*   Play as whoever you want, by choosing your character’s gender, origin and backstory  
*   Solve problems with reason, charm, bribery, intimidation, violence, or by cleverly exploiting the time-loop

Release date: Jul 28, 2021

Categories: Narrative Adventure, Choice-based Narrative, Multiple Endings, Time Loop Mechanics, Mystery, Historical Setting, Dialogue-driven interactions, Exploration

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Generally Positive with Minor Issues; summary: The game is generally well-received for its accessibility and lack of dependency on external guides or wikis. However, there are mixed feelings about the game's handholding and initial confusion, suggesting a need for better balance in game guidance.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally works well on Linux with minimal tinkering required. Users report a smooth experience on both desktop Linux and Steam Deck, indicating good compatibility and performance.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has mixed reviews regarding its performance on the Steam Deck. While some users report a smooth experience with minor adjustments needed for battery life and performance, others highlight significant issues with frame drops and graphical quality. Controls and gameplay have mixed feedback, with some users finding them good and others finding them annoying. Overall, the game seems to have some compatibility strengths but also notable performance and optimization issues.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game performs well across different hardware cohorts with higher VRAM configurations showing particularly strong performance.
  - Sample size: 30 (2% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 10 reports): The game is reported as well-optimized and provides a unique experience.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 7 reports): The game runs well with maximum graphics settings on a 4K display.
  - Caveats: 30 of 1912 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that many users find the game enjoyable and worth the price, especially when purchased on sale. Several reviews mention that the game is short, typically around 6-10 hours to complete, which makes the full price seem a bit high for some users. However, many reviews also state that the game is worth the full price or even a steal on sale. This suggests that while the full price might be considered a bit steep for the length of the game, the overall experience and quality justify a price range that is slightly lower than the current base price but still reflects its value.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 13.0h
  - Story completion: 6.5h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 5.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple accounts of playtime for 'The Forgotten City.' One player mentions completing the game in about 13 hours and spending an additional 5 hours for alternative endings and achievements, suggesting a total playtime of around 18 hours for full completion. Another player indicates completing the game in about 6 or 7 hours, which aligns with the typical story completion time. Additionally, a player reports a total of 12 hours to reach every possible ending and almost all achievements, supporting the endgame playtime. The session length is not explicitly mentioned, so it is set to null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow and somewhat boring start but becomes significantly more engaging and fun after the initial hours or upon reaching the first ending.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Reaching the first ending
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: slow pacing; heavy dialogue at the start; initial lack of engagement
  - Unlock drivers: story progression; engaging mystery
  - Conditions: persistence through the initial slow phase; engagement with the story and characters
- Player Archetypes:
  - Thoughtful Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and dialogue
    - Playstyle: Exploration and conversation-focused gameplay
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story-driven player; explorer
    - Reference games: Outer Wilds; Subnautica
  - Mystery Solver (buy)
    - Motivation: Solving mysteries and exploring moral dilemmas
    - Playstyle: Adventure and mystery-solving gameplay
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: adventure gamer; mystery solver
    - Reference games: Broken Sword 5; Deathloop
  - Skyrim Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Familiar gameplay mechanics and nostalgia
    - Playstyle: Exploration and interaction with Skyrim-like mechanics
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Skyrim fan; Elder Scrolls veteran
    - Reference games: Skyrim; Oblivion


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:
- Compelling and unique story (weight 0.97): The game features a compelling and unique storyline that is both intriguing and well-thought-out. Players appreciate the interesting premise, rich dialogue, and engaging narrative that keeps them immersed.
- High-quality puzzles and gameplay (weight 0.73): The game is praised for its fantastic puzzles and overall gameplay experience. Players find the puzzles interesting and not too challenging, contributing to a satisfying and enjoyable adventure.
- Beautiful graphics and atmosphere (weight 0.53): The game is noted for its beautiful graphics, detailed visuals, and atmospheric setting. The artistic design and stunning visuals enhance the immersive experience.
- Use of myths and history (weight 0.3): The game incorporates mythological and historical themes, providing an educational aspect related to ancient Mediterranean religions and history.
- Excellent voice acting (weight 0.2): The game features high-quality voice acting that ranges from solid to great. Players appreciate the good sound and voice acting, which enhance the overall experience.
- Rewarding exploration and details (weight 0.18): The game rewards curiosity and exploration with intricate details and branching paths. Players enjoy the blend of investigation, diplomacy, and exploration.
- Originated from a Skyrim mod (weight 0.15): The game has its origins as a Skyrim mod, which has been developed into a full-fledged game. Players appreciate the unique evolution from a mod to a complete game.
- Thought-provoking themes (weight 0.13): The game explores thought-provoking themes of good and evil, life and death, and philosophical and moral questions. These themes add depth to the narrative.
- Good world-building and lore (weight 0.13): The game features well-designed maps, top-notch world design, and fleshed-out lore. Players appreciate the detailed and immersive world.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive and short gameplay (weight 0.35): Many players found the gameplay to be repetitive and tedious, with little replayability. The game's length was also criticized as being too short, with some players completing it in around 6 to 8 hours.
- Poor writing and character development (weight 0.2): The writing was described as terrible, with poor character development and an awful plot. The ending was also criticized as being stupid and childish.
- Stiff and odd facial animations (weight 0.16): Facial animations were criticized for being stiff, odd, and sometimes poorly synced with lip movements. This issue was noted by multiple players as detracting from the overall experience.
- Plot weaknesses and holes (weight 0.14): The plot was noted to have some holes and weaknesses, with certain rewrites making it less compelling. Some plot twists were also seen as predictable.
- Subpar optimization (weight 0.13): The game's optimization was criticized as being subpar or even horrible by some players. This suggests that the game may not run smoothly on various systems.
- Low replay value (weight 0.11): The game was criticized for having little to no replay value, with a disappointing ending that did not encourage players to revisit the game.
- Uninspired music and art style (weight 0.09): The music and art style were noted as being uninspired and not memorable, contributing to a less engaging overall experience.
- Uninteresting and long dialogues (weight 0.09): Some dialogues were found to be uninteresting, monotonous, and too long, which could make certain parts of the game feel tedious.
- Lack of direction and challenge (weight 0.09): The game was noted for its lack of direction and challenge, with some players also pointing out the absence of a map as a significant drawback.
- High price for content (weight 0.09): The game was criticized for being overpriced relative to the amount and quality of content it offers, making it not worth the full price for some players.
- Motion sickness in 3D (weight 0.08): Some players experienced motion sickness while playing the game in 3D, which could be a significant issue for those sensitive to such effects.

Gameplay feedback:
- Narrative-driven gameplay experience (weight 0.53): The game is heavily focused on narrative and storytelling, with gameplay mechanics centered around dialogue, exploration, and character interactions. Players engage in detective-style investigations and puzzle-solving within a strong narrative framework.
- Exploration and quests (weight 0.38): The game offers open-world exploration and a variety of quests, including main and side quests. Players can engage in non-linear questlines and interact with characters to progress the story.
- Multiple endings and choices (weight 0.34): The game features multiple endings, with four possible scenarios based on player choices. This adds replayability and encourages players to explore different paths and outcomes.
- Puzzle-solving mechanics (weight 0.3): Puzzles are a core part of the gameplay, often integrated into conversations and exploration. While some puzzles may be simple or pointless, they contribute to the overall mystery-solving experience.
- Character development and interactions (weight 0.09): The game features a variety of characters with development arcs, and interactions with these characters play a significant role in the gameplay and narrative.
- Historical and cultural context (weight 0.09): The game is set within a rich historical and cultural context, providing players with a unique backdrop for the narrative and gameplay.
- Time-loop mechanics (weight 0.08): The game incorporates time-loop mechanics, allowing players to revisit and alter events, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Smooth performance reported (weight 0.19): Several players reported that the game ran smoothly without any issues.
- Freezing and jerking issues (weight 0.12): Some players experienced freezing and jerking during gameplay, which affected the overall experience.
- Movement and operation difficulties (weight 0.11): Some players experienced difficulties with movement and operations, including glitches and stiff animations.
- Optimization issues (weight 0.1): Some players mentioned optimization issues, particularly with the Unreal Engine, leading to various performance problems.
- Long loading times (weight 0.09): Players noted that the game has long loading times, particularly when entering new areas.
- Occasional frame drops (weight 0.09): There were reports of occasional frame drops, which could be disruptive during gameplay.
- Visually impressive (weight 0.09): The game was praised for its breathtaking visuals and overall visual impressiveness.
- Performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.06): The game runs decently well on the Steam Deck, though some players suggested limiting the frame rate for better battery life.
- Graphics issues on poor hardware (weight 0.06): Players with lower-end computers or poor laptops reported graphics issues and performance problems.
- Camera and motion sickness options (weight 0.06): There are camera options available to reduce motion sickness, which some players found helpful.
- Performance impact on laptop (weight 0.06): The game was reported to make laptops run hotter and burn through battery life quickly.
- Minor bugs and janky issues (weight 0.06): Various minor bugs and janky issues were reported, affecting the gameplay experience.
- Fullscreen settings glitch (weight 0.05): A glitch related to fullscreen settings was reported, requiring restarts to fix.
- Aged technical aspects (weight 0.05): The game shows some aged technical aspects, which might affect the overall experience.
- Performance issues on max settings (weight 0.04): Players experienced performance issues when running the game on max settings.
- Immersive audio (weight 0.04): The game was praised for its immersive audio, enhancing the overall experience.
- Resolution recognition issues (weight 0.03): There were issues with the game recognizing the correct resolution, leading to performance problems.
- Time counting issue in offline mode (weight 0.03): An issue with time counting in offline mode was reported by some players.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for story and history lovers (weight 0.28): Players who enjoy story-rich games, particularly those with historical and mythological themes, are likely to appreciate this game. It is recommended for fans of dialogue, story, and ancient mythology.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.22): The game is highly recommended by many players for its engaging story and historical setting. It is often suggested to buy it, especially when on sale.
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.21): The game is considered worth its asking price, particularly when purchased on sale. Some players mention that it is worth playing despite its flaws.
- Avoid spoilers for best experience (weight 0.17): Many players recommend going into the game blind and avoiding spoilers to enhance the experience. It is suggested to complete all endings before watching any related content.
- Recommended for mystery and puzzle lovers (weight 0.12): The game is recommended for those who enjoy mystery, puzzle-solving, and time-loop mechanics.
- Recommended for fans of specific games (weight 0.1): If you enjoyed games like 'Outer Wilds' or 'The Forgotten City' in Skyrim, this game is highly recommended for you.
- High ratings and positive reviews (weight 0.07): The game has received high ratings and positive reviews from players, making it worth the positive ratings it has garnered.
- Positive future expectations (weight 0.07): Players are looking forward to more projects from the development team and have high expectations for their future work.
- Must-play for immersive storytelling (weight 0.07): The game is a must-play for fans of immersive storytelling and investigative games with a divine touch.
- Non-demanding and philosophical experience (weight 0.07): The game offers a nice breather for a non-demanding experience and is recommended for players interested in philosophical questions and ancient thought.
- Recommended for adventure and exploration (weight 0.04): The game is definitely recommended for fans of adventure and exploration.
- Recommended for visual novel fans (weight 0.04): Fans of visual novels with choices and multiple endings are likely to enjoy this game.

Other player notes:
- Tips for earning money (weight 0.04): This cluster provides advice or strategies related to obtaining in-game currency.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.15): Players loved the game's engaging story, atmospheric setting, and unique time loop mechanics. The integration of historical and mythological elements, along with the freedom of exploration and puzzle-solving, contributed significantly to their enjoyment.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): The game's engaging mystery, time loop mechanics, and multiple endings generated a lot of excitement. Players were also thrilled by the narrative depth, character interactions, and the overall immersive experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players felt satisfied with the game's deep story, engaging characters, and the challenge of uncovering secrets and achieving different endings. The well-implemented time loop mechanic and the overall tight gameplay experience also contributed to their satisfaction.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): The game's compelling narrative, historical authenticity, and the depth of its mythology references earned admiration from players. The creativity and talent shown by the small development team, along with the game's masterful use of time loop mechanics, were also highly praised.
- Frustration (weight 0.06): Players experienced frustration due to game bugs, repetitive gameplay, and issues with mechanics like jumping and weapon switching. The lack of a map, crashes, and the game's rigidity in dialogue and interactions also contributed to their frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Some players were disappointed by the lack of real moral dilemmas, shallow puzzle-solving, and underwhelming endings. The game's content and gameplay did not meet expectations for some, leading to disappointment.
- Joy (weight 0.05): The game brought joy to players through its detailed character models, engaging story, and enjoyable gameplay. The positive experiences with the game's narrative, atmosphere, and historical setting were also significant contributors.
- Engagement (weight 0.04): Players were highly engaged by the game's gripping narrative, interesting characters, and the themes about the nature of good and evil. The captivating story and moral dilemmas kept them invested in the gameplay.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciated the game's well-developed characters, moral dilemmas, and the effort put in by the developers. The philosophical and moral themes, along with the game's design and mechanics, were also highly valued.
- Excited (weight 0.03): Players were excited about the game's engaging story, unique features, and the anticipation for new projects from the team. The enjoyable mechanics, storyline, and depth of the game contributed to their excitement.
- Happy (weight 0.02): The game's positive experience, good story, and improved standalone gameplay made players happy. The wonderful game ending and the improvement from the source material were also significant contributors.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Players were surprised by the game's interesting case, multiple endings, and its origins as a Skyrim mod. The twisty narrative and unexpected reveals added to their surprise.
- Engaged (weight 0.02): The game's compelling plot, unique setting, and high stakes kept players engaged. The well-developed characters and engaging mystery-solving aspects were also significant contributors.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players were satisfied with the game's storyline, historical accuracy, and overall experience. The game's length and beauty, along with the enjoyment of its features, contributed to their satisfaction.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Some players were disappointed by the game's weakened plot, lack of true variability, and uninteresting characters. The map size and usefulness of collectibles, along with shortcomings in world-building and time-loop implementation, also contributed to their disappointment.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Players were interested in the game's ancient stories, endings, and cross-religious aspects of the lore. The cool brain teasers and interesting locations to explore also piqued their interest.
- Delight (weight 0.01): The game's historical context, engaging characters, and story delighted players. The unique gameplay experience and the satisfaction with the game's storylines and endings were also significant contributors.
- Positive (weight 0.01): Players had a positive experience with the game's story quality, moral discussions with characters, and engaging mystery. The impact of actions and story was also highly regarded.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): The game's twists, stories, and the exploration of moral and philosophical themes sparked curiosity in players. Unraveling mysteries and secrets, along with the exploration of the city, also contributed to their curiosity.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players were enthusiastic about the game's fantastic puzzle mechanics, twists, and overall experience. The strong recommendation and enjoyment of the game were also significant contributors.}