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Review of The Forgotten City on Xbox Series X/S

by Chucky Chucky photo Jul 2021
Cover image of The Forgotten City on Xbox Series X/S
Gamefings Score: 8.5
Released: 28 Jul 2021
Genre: Adventure
Developer: Modern Storyteller
Publisher: Dear Villagers

Introduction

Welcome to The Forgotten City, where your biggest challenge isn't the puzzles or the time loops; it's surviving conversations with Roman-era citizens who seem to have skipped all of history class. Strap on your sandals, grab your toga, and let's take a look at this game that soared from humble mod to critically acclaimed indie darling faster than you can say 'perpetual time loop'!

Gameplay

The game kicks off with you-an unsuspecting (and decidedly unqualified) hero-waking up beside the Tiber River, probably wishing you'd had one less slice of that questionable pizza the night before. Your goal? Find a missing person. Spoiler: They did not take a wrong turn at Rome. Once you start exploring, you'll find that this city has a nasty little law: *the Golden Rule*. Break it, and everyone in town turns into inanimate gold statues, which, let's be real, would make for a pretty rough dinner party. You'll navigate a plethora of characters, each of whom is worth more than your last Tinder date due to their fascinating backstories. Every conversation counts, and your choices have real consequences. The *time loop mechanic* allows you to reset if everything goes horribly wrong, which is basically a get-out-of-jail-free card that should probably be banned in real life. Solving quests feels like piecing together a giant jigsaw puzzle where some of the pieces were left in last year's dumpster. The exploration element is deeply satisfying; even if you feel like a confused tourist wandering through an ancient city, the characters you meet come alive with details that could rival your most adventurous daydreams. All this begs one question: Why did no one tell the Romans that group chats were a thing? Better communication could have avoided a few tragedies. At least the constant loop of time-breaking sin reminds us that choices matter-unless you forget to save, then it's back to the Roman grind, my friend.

Graphics

Graphically, the game is a hit or miss-think of it as that breathtaking Instagram filter you never quite manage to recreate in real life. While the aspects of the city and the ambiance draw you into this old-world charm, some character models remind me of my art project in 7th grade-*inspired* but ultimately a bit... off. Despite these hiccups, the lighting is gorgeous, making sure your experience is certainly brighter than last week's 11-hour Netflix binge. The animation can be a tad janky-the characters might not be contenders for the next big-screen drama, but hey, they're still better than that awkward relative at family reunions.

Conclusion

The Forgotten City is simultaneously a captivating mystery and a philosophical deep dive into morality that will make you think more than your last existential crisis. It's a game that encourages you to rethink your approach to choices; because if you're not careful, you might end up literally turning everyone into gold statues-seriously, that's a thing. So, if you enjoy adventure, drama, and the history equivalent of a soap opera-complete with gods and golden statues-this is a must-play. Just remember, next time you think about breaking the rules, ask yourself if you fancy becoming a permanent lawn decoration in a Roman backyard. Spoiler: It's not as glamorous as it sounds!

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