Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Review

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The Elder Scrolls series, specifically Skyrim and Oblivion, is one of the most famous and beloved video game series ever made. It’s clear that the creators of Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon were heavily influenced by this franchise, as this inspiration becomes evident from the moment you start playing the game.

If you haven’t played the game yet, it’s been close to two years in its pre-release phase called Early Access. During this time, the developers have made numerous updates based on player feedback, continually refining their work to make it ready for a full launch.

Initially, early access offered just one chapter, but with the arrival of version 1.0, the full game, I’ve got three captivating acts and an epilogue to explore! The journey has been tripled in size compared to the early access, brimming with fresh content to uncover.

While a lengthy journey can be rewarding if the game itself is enjoyable, let me tell you straight up, this Elder Scrolls-style game, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, is a real treat. This review explores why this game stands out despite some apparent flaws.

Combat Feels Weighty and Strategic

Striving to be on par with games like Oblivion and Skyrim is no small feat, but Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon aspires to achieve just that. In many aspects, it succeeds, particularly in its combat system which is remarkably similar to Bethesda’s popular series and Questline’s latest adventure.

The battle system in Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon bears a striking resemblance to that of Oblivion, but it offers a deeper, richer experience. This is particularly noticeable in its magical aspect, as each spell in Tainted Grail has not just one, but two effects.

Each magic ability has both a Light Action and a Heavy Action. The Light Action can be triggered with a simple press of the button, whereas the Heavy Action requires holding it down. For instance, the Blood Transfusion spell launches a projectile that inflicts Bleed, but when you hold down the button, it continuously drains health from the target and restores your own health instead.

This means that each spell essentially doubles in power, giving players a broader range of abilities to choose from. From a construction perspective, this is beneficial, but it also adds a strategic depth to combat. Choosing when to use Light and Heavy casts during a fight against numerous enemies increases the tension, making each encounter more thrilling.

In discussing adversaries, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon boasts numerous ones, each with distinct fighting styles. As you progress through the game’s more advanced zones, you’ll come across tougher opponents whose movesets need to be carefully studied in order to be defeated successfully.

Reflecting on the Souls series, it’s clear that discerning when to evade or attack decisively is essential. This becomes even more vital during encounters with elite enemies and boss fights, as these situations can be incredibly difficult and require a tactful approach rather than reckless assault.

Endless Build Variety Allows Experimentation

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon effectively offers a multitude of options in its construction. It boasts an impressive array of weapons and armor, many of which come with unique enhancements, totaling over 50 enchantments. Furthermore, the game provides Amulet and Ring slots to further customize your character’s abilities. This enables players to craft a truly personalized build.

If you prefer to delve into pure magic, you can achieve this by selecting appropriate armor, rings, and amulets that boost Mana regeneration or Spell Power. You also have the option to wield two spells simultaneously, enabling you to become a Fire and Ice mage, for instance.

In this game, players can carry various weapon configurations, enabling them to quickly change weapons during battle action.

If you prefer a combat style centered around melee and an assassin-like role, consider using two daggers while enhancing abilities that decrease stamina usage and boost speed. To make this approach more versatile, think about including a bow in your equipment, enabling you to eliminate enemies from a distance.

In Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, there are countless ways to tailor your gameplay experience through customization. The game offers players the flexibility to carry various weapon setups, enabling them to adapt swiftly during battle when they face enemies resistant to their current magical approach.

This is indeed promising, yet there’s a significant aspect I haven’t touched on – the extensive skill tree for your character. Players don’t just put points into attributes; each attribute also unlocks its unique skill tree, which amplifies the impacts of those specific attributes.

Each time you advance a level, you’ll receive one Attribute Point and one Skill Tree Point. Using these Attribute Points can boost your fundamental abilities, whereas allocating points to the Skill Tree introduces extra capabilities.

For instance, the ‘Strength’ stat affects three aspects: Melee Damage, Maximum Stamina, and Armor Weight Multiplier. By investing a skill point in the ‘Strength’ skill tree, players can boost their one-handed weapon attacks by 20%. Each of the six stats has an intricate skill tree with numerous nodes, providing countless opportunities to enhance gameplay.

A Lack of Exploration Options

Given that Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon bears a strong resemblance to the Elder Scrolls series, it’s crucial to delve into the topic of exploration. Although the game offers a vast map for each region, one could say that the exploration aspect leaves much to be desired and might even be considered its main flaw.

I don’t think exploration is inherently negative, but I can’t shake the feeling that Questline could have delved deeper into this aspect. Despite the game’s captivating dark fantasy atmosphere, there are moments when the world appears underdeveloped, with fewer hidden corners or secret locations to uncover.

In simpler terms, while there are hidden caves and mines waiting to be found, they’re quite rare. The unfortunate part is that many of them aren’t valuable because they’re tiny and lack any treasures or insights to enrich the storyline.

Across the main game world, players may encounter bandit camps which appear as simple tent settlements or dilapidated buildings with no intriguing contents. Additionally, they will find vast, open areas.

As a dedicated gamer, I must admit that I’m thoroughly enjoying the abundance of side quests in this game. Even though some might argue that it limits exploration, I find myself constantly engaged because there’s always something new to discover. Plus, these side quests often lead me to fascinating locations that I wouldn’t have found otherwise!

That Early Access Feeling

As a passionate admirer of Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, I can’t deny its strengths, but there are certain aspects that hold it back from truly shining. The challenges in enemy AI, character design, and occasional crashes on the PlayStation 5 seem to be the hurdles that need to be overcome for the game to reach its optimal level of enjoyment.

Initially, the artificial intelligence of adversaries might be either effective or less than satisfactory. During my gaming session, I encountered instances where enemies didn’t react promptly when I assaulted them and instead seemed lost in thought, gazing blankly. Alternatively, upon reacting, they would find themselves in unusual positions, sometimes even getting stuck. Although it’s not common, it occurs too frequently to be disregarded entirely.

Even though the game is no longer in early access, the problems discussed seem to indicate that it still appears to be in its developmental stage.

One significant drawback is that certain Non-Player Characters (NPCs) encountered during your journey appear somewhat dated, reminiscent of PS3 graphics, which seems disappointing given the stunning appearance of the game’s overworld. However, it should be noted that not all characters suffer from this issue; it appears that some received more attention during development compared to others.

Personally speaking as a gamer immersed in Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, the game’s performance has been a bit uneven. Unfortunately, I encountered around 10 instances where the game crashed, mostly when performing multiple actions swiftly. For instance, opening a door right after igniting a bonfire or perishing and then reloading a save file. This has been quite disruptive to my gaming experience.

Although Questline developers have stated their intention to regularly update the 1.0 version of the game, some persistent issues give the impression that the game is still in its preliminary stages, despite having left early access.

Closing Comments:

Exploring Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is an unmissable adventure, particularly for fans of Oblivion and Skyrim. Packed with endless building possibilities, a captivating dark fantasy setting, an engaging narrative, and combat that feels substantial, this game is a must-play for RPG enthusiasts. While the game may seem to be in its early stages in certain aspects, such as its enemy AI, outdated character designs, and areas that can feel somewhat sparse, these flaws do not detract from what makes Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon exceptional. It’s a project that showcases genuine passion, and I eagerly anticipate seeing what Questline will create next.

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2025-05-22 18:09