Can't believe this game is free. Before you start the story of the game there is a disclaimer that says "We have no P2W here. Your legend is written by skill and choice, never by wallet size. We will never sell power. We will never compromise the integrity of combat and gameplay for profit. This is our promise." Respect on that alone.

Moving on, the combat feels good and flows well, visuals are top tier, and there are lots of customisation options. Consistent 144fps with DLSS 1440p. Can see myself sinking many hundreds of hours into this. My only gripe is there are a lot of menu's to navigate, which will likely make more sense as time progresses.

Bleak Faith: Forsaken is an absolute hidden gem amongst AA titles. It is not perfect by all means but I am fine with that coming from a Gothic fan. There are some odd textures here and there, and some slight animation jank when climbing, but it just works great!. The exploration, atmosphere and level design in this game is amazing and feels very labrynthine (is apparently inspired from the BLAME! Manga). I was checking every nook and cranny and there was usually a secret to behold. There are many paths to take, one way leads into 3 more and feels rewarding when you explore. The boss fights are memorable and there are plenty of perks for build variety. I went with a Strength illusionist/summoner build and completed the game in about 26 hours. There is a new game plus for replayability which is always nice for those who wish, however I am a one and done kind of guy.

Solid 7/10

I would still buy this game even when not on sale, even better if it is. Give it a go!

PS I've played a lot of Souls-like games and this is definitely high up in my personal list

Every couple of years i come back and play this game. It has that same Jank feeling as a Gothic game. It has interesting lore and a black hole mechanic that makes enemies more difficult while also opening new pathways/secrets to explore.

Overall 7/10
Would love to see a part 2.

This is a great game that has a few different RPG elements combined. The combat system has enough depth to have build variations, the visuals are top tier and the story has unfolded nicely with consistent pacing.

In my personal opinion, it feels as if the developers are trying to counteract "Tik Tok" brain as It forces you to memorize locations and symbology while thinking critically about what you've read in notes and other found items. It reminds me of a time where as a kid (90's early 2000's) you had to ring what was called the "Cheat Hotline" to find out where to go or find a specific item or npc (looking at you Zelda: Ocarina of Time) if you had gotten stuck. The internet really does spoil a lot of things these days with min/maxing, 100% achievement and boss strategy guides. Taking out natural exploration, wonder and progression in replace of OCD completionism.

The Killing Antidote has interesting puzzles with labrynthian style level design and will keep you on edge in the campaign. Looking forward to the full story. Wasn't too interested in the dress-up part, however it's a great feature for anyone that does.