Many villains have used the dead as a weapon. But combined with memories, those from the past can be even deadlier. This is what happens when the Harrow begins to attack. Many weapons will have to meet with many enemies. From Big Blue Bubble, comes the action-adventure game known as Foregone.
The title is available for PC through Steam.
Story for Foregone
Years after a devastating war, the city of Calagan has prospered. During that time, a project has been coming to fruition: the creation of the Arbiters. In the action-adventure game Foregone, the player takes on the role of the first to exist. The first Arbiter’s task is to find the source of the corruption known as the Harrow. Only by finding and destroying it will the people and creatures of the land be free from corruption.
While it may seem a daunting task, the Arbiter should have the strength necessary to purify the land.
Foregone Gameplay
Foregone is an action-adventure game with pretty standard controls. Thanks to that detail, getting into the game was a breeze. I could melee strike with a sword or shoot enemies with a pistol. But I was also able to slide behind an enemy when it was necessary. Sliding was especially useful when I encountered an enemy with higher life points. Throughout the game, I am playing as someone called an Arbiter. Which is just a fancy name for ‘super-soldier.’
While enemies in this game aren’t difficult, Foregone makes sure even easy gives a little trouble. Melee striking was easy when the enemies were on the same platform I was. When I found a creature hanging upside down or from a wall, I had some trouble. Sure, it’s easy to swing a sword when they’re directly in front of me. For some reason, though, hanging upside down gave them an edge. These enemies gave me slight trouble, as I had to time my strike correctly or repeat the action. I hated them because of how hard it was to hit them the first time. Other enemies, while small, could attack in rapid succession. If I wasn’t careful, I could lose my life points in the blink of an eye.
I can’t think of another game like Foregone when it comes to weapons. Many will offer a variety of weapons. But they give no opportunity to upgrade them. While exploring, the Arbiter can pick up different weapons. After returning to the ‘Outpost,’ I can choose to upgrade certain things I’ve acquired. Finding a gateway to the Outpost is not hard, but fighting the enemies to get to it is. As much as I liked upgrading, I found myself frustrated I didn’t have more gold. This required constantly leaving the Outpost.
The Ferryman, who appears outside the gateway, offers the chance to re-acquire half of the loot. The price to get loot without exploring will cost half the treasure. While it’s the easier option, some might instead choose to adventure back to their last location. If you can manage to find your last death spot, you’ll have all the weapons. This will ensure you can have the rare items you picked up during the run. I loved this because I didn’t feel like tracking down something I “might” remember the location of.
Graphics/Audio of Foregone
Pixelation doesn’t always work for a game. And it’s doubly unfortunate when that’s the draw. But in the case of the game Foregone, it was an excellent way to go. Choosing to go that route opened up the game to a wider range of systems. And it allows people with even old computers to enjoy the title. For being a pixelated title, there is a surprising amount of detail within. In addition to the wonderful color palette presented, the resolution had a wide range of settings.
I was impressed by the variety of sound as well. All weapons had a sound unique to them. And each time a conversation came up, I heard people speaking as I read text. The voice actors themselves were also believable as the characters they portrayed. Which is something I don’t find often with many games that fit into the ‘platformer’ genre.
Summary
Having gone through the experience, I cannot recommend a game like Foregone for everyone. Even on easy mode, the game can have a few frustrating moments. Timing can be an interesting element to add to a platformer. But I can’t help but feel the action-adventure may have suffered a little for it. Despite that, the game has a lot of redeeming qualities. The graphics don’t wear out the computer, the controls are easy to manage, and there are dozens of weapon types. The game is perfect for anyone in the mood for a hack-n-slash adventure through a pixelated world. You can find the game on Steam now.
Foregone Review
Foregone shows us what happens when a company considers the future. Decades after a war, corruption has begun to spread. As the first Arbiter, one must work to stop the spread of the ‘Harrow."
Overall Score
Good
Pros:
Retro Graphics Easy to understand controls Non-linear gameplay Voice-acting Upgradeable weapons
Cons:
Timed missions are hard to get the hang of
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Foregone Review
Retro Graphics
Easy to understand controls
Non-linear gameplay
Voice-acting
Upgradeable weapons
Timed missions are hard to get the hang of
