GC: Euro Folklore PSN demo

By Robert Purchese Published 23 August, 2007

Available until end of August.

Sony has released a demo for Folklore up on the European PlayStation Network, which will be available to download until 31st August.

It will give you all a chance to play the same version of the game being shown in Leipzig, and make your mind up whether you want to buy the full version on 12th October - a date not set in stone.

Folklore is a role-playing adventure from Japanese developer Game Republic, the same team responsible for the Genji series.

The story revolves around a supernatural theme of a Netherworld hiding in the Irish village of Doolin. You'll play as Keats or Ellen, each with different reasons for venturing in to this nightmarish realm occupied by magical beasties called Folks. These monsters hold powers you can claim for you own by shaking around your Sixaxis controller and literally yanking their magic from them.

It sounds very promising, but proved otherwise when we got our hands on the full Japanese version in July. While it displayed lots of technical polish and wonderful environments to explore, the gameplay fell into the unfortunate realms of mundane. Head over to our review of Folklore to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (21) Latest comment 5 years ago

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  • allen #1 5 years ago

    /zooms to dl

    tried the jap version but kanji played with my mind

  • Dizzy #2 5 years ago

    5/10? :)

    Ok ok.. I am leaving ;)

  • SBfistfun #3 5 years ago

    I hear by rename it Folkpour

  • Beano #4 5 years ago

    Tried the JAP demo which was very unimpressive (stiff animations, old-gen in HD) but I never reached any battles due to the language barrier. Will try the EU demo though ;)

  • Steroyd #5 5 years ago

    Demo skips most of the bullcrap walking around in the Japaneese version, cuts down the number cutscenes to about 3, and way way longer gameplay time.

    I really like how the book is used to find weaknesses of enemies (i tried reading the text lol) enjoyable game, but the damn game music irates me for some reason.

  • Salvia #6 5 years ago

    "I hear by rename it Folkpour!

    What exactly are you trying to say here?

  • mrhand #7 5 years ago

    I got bored with the whole game very quickly.
    Decent sized demo though, which only serves to lengthen the bordom.
    Interesting use of the Sixaxis controller, in a we've run out of buttons on the controller way.
    Will be avoiding this when it's released.

  • light&shadow #8 5 years ago

    Oldgen in HD for sure, not much happening at the pixel level, but it looks good overall and framerate is smooth. Took me a while to get into the crazy universe but enjoyed it in the end. The girl's part is prettier imo, don't like much the guy's one. Don't think i'll buy it though.

  • MrGilder #9 5 years ago

    Played the demo last night - it was mediocre.. But the downfall for me was the camera controls - they seemed to be flipped for me which i found really off-putting..

  • drumbaby #10 5 years ago

    Nice moody different take on the genre. Liked the Sixaxis bits. Bit disappointed at the lack of exploration opportunities, especially seeing as how gorgeous and complex the landscapes seem to be....So very linear when you can't wander off the path into the woods. The art direction and music is brilliant....very creepy and original. The atmosphere really suckered me in.

    Just read that 6 free mission packs are in the planning for PSN, so it's well supported. I'll certainly get this, but perhaps after Heavenly Sword.

  • Les #11 5 years ago

    "Bit disappointed at the lack of exploration opportunities, especially seeing as how gorgeous and complex the landscapes seem to be..."

    Very true. You'd think developers would use the available power to enhance more than just the graphics. But as in all 'next gen' games they don't...

  • SeesThroughAll #12 5 years ago

    It really is shit, innit?

  • GamesConnoisseur #13 5 years ago

    So another Sony much vaunted Exclusive title, that turned out not to be that great, based on the demo.

    I was hoping for more and get annoyed at having to jerk my sixaxis, and thought strange that we still have speech bubble and statisic cartoon in HD era. Same as you would get from Enchanted Arm!

    Got bored after 20 mins of rinse, wash and repeat from each monster filled clearings.

    Still hoping that it will turn out better than that.
    Edited by 1 at 23/08/07 @ 14:39

  • ZuluHero #14 5 years ago

    I borrow a ps3 occasionally from work to check out the demos on the PSN, and the standard of games are just poor. This and Heavenly Sword were both hugely disappointing. I feel really vindicated for riding out the initial launch hype and I'm so glad that i didn't splash out on one. Don't get me wrong, i like the console (it was the only one i haven't bought at launch...in like ever) but the price tag in no way justifies the games that we are getting.

    I do see the PS3 purchase as an inevitable purchase, however, and hopefully we'll get the games worthy of it. (MGS I’m looking at you)

    But this was just boring, mindless, unpolished tosh. Not to put to fine a point on it ofc ;)

  • GuitarWolf #15 5 years ago

    Are all PS3 demos only available for a limited time because that's bullshit by the time i eventually get a ps3 I'll have missed so much ='(

  • Les #16 5 years ago

    "So another Sony much vaunted Exclusive title, that turned out not to be that great, based on the demo."

    SIXAXIS bits are well done IMO. But like any 360 or PS3 game around, it uses a PS2/Xbox game template and adds some bells and a whistle or two. Nothing revolutinary.

    So if you don't mind playing ancient games with nice graphics you can consider this. If not, just stick with your PS2 RGPs. There's plenty of 'em.

  • AOFanboi #17 5 years ago

    It "borrowed" heavily from Phantasy Star Online when it comes to world implementation and aspects of the interface, but I liked it - though perhaps not enough to buy it at release. The idea of leveling up spirits you launch as your weapons is a cool idea.

    Sure beats the Armored Core 4 demo in the playability stakes.

  • muftak #18 5 years ago

    this demo was alot better than the jap one i love JRPGs so its on the list

  • GamesConnoisseur #19 5 years ago

    Les

    "So another Sony much vaunted Exclusive title, that turned out not to be that great, based on the demo."

    SIXAXIS bits are well done IMO. But like any 360 or PS3 game around, it uses a PS2/Xbox game template and adds some bells and a whistle or two. Nothing revolutinary.

    So if you don't mind playing ancient games with nice graphics you can consider this. If not, just stick with your PS2 RGPs. There's plenty of 'em.

    This game was hyped in some quarter as must have AAA title, I did not enjoy my first go via Ellen but have to say second go was much better with Keats. I have torn shoulder liagment so I winced every time I had to pull out the blasted spirit and more so with the bosses (Hence why Wii is very much neglected and maybe should just stick with BioShock on X360 for next few weeks!).

    However I also said that I had hoped for more and basically would wait on the final verdict and at present not enough to be added my most wanted! Fair points though.

  • Scimarad #20 5 years ago

    "...the gameplay fell into the unfortunate realms of mundane."

    From my point of view the review fell into the realms of the inaccurate...

  • DrunKao #21 5 years ago

    Why does the European demo have a time limit when the Japanese version doesn't? I'm pretty sure the Japanese version has been up longer than a few weeks. That's bullshit.