Folklore (video game)

Lore & Background

Folklore was announced at E3 2006 and originally titled Monster Kingdom: Unknown Realms, intended as a companion piece to Gaia's Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner. Disappointing sales of Jewel Summoner led to the retitling, though Gaia contributed monster designs. The game was co-directed by Yoshiki Okamoto, a veteran designer who worked on Resident Evil. A playable demo was released on the Japanese PlayStation Network in May 2007, followed by English-speech demos in Europe and North America in August 2007.

The gameplay alternates between exploration in the real-world village of Doolin and action-adventure combat in the Netherworld. Players can choose to play as Ellen or Keats, each with distinct play styles: Ellen specializes in defense and folk powers, while Keats uses brute-force attacks. Folk, creatures and spirits, can be absorbed when near defeat using the Sixaxis controller's motion controls. The plot involves Ellen recovering her lost memories and Keats investigating occult phenomena, leading to revelations about their pasts and the nature of the Netherworld.

The soundtrack, composed by Kenji Kawai, Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, and Hiroto Saitoh, was released on June 27, 2007. The end credits feature the song 'Nephilim' by Japanese band Abingdon Boys School. Game Republic proposed two sequels to Sony, but they were not greenlit due to low sales.

Reader's Guide

Folklore is significant as a PlayStation 3 exclusive that attempted to blend action role-playing with a rich Celtic mythological setting. Its use of the Sixaxis motion controls for absorbing folk was a distinctive feature of the era. The game's narrative, which intertwines the stories of two protagonists with themes of memory, sacrifice, and the separation of worlds, was praised for its compelling storytelling. Despite generally favorable reviews on Metacritic, the game's commercial performance was insufficient to secure sequels, leaving its story as a standalone entry. The game's art design and fairy-tale atmosphere were frequently highlighted by critics, though technical graphics received less acclaim. Folklore remains a cult title among PlayStation 3 owners, remembered for its unique setting and dual-character gameplay. Its legacy includes the reuse of monster designs in Gaia's later PSP game Coded Soul: Uketsugareshi Idea, which also featured connectivity with Folklore.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally titled Monster Kingdom: Unknown Realms and was intended as a companion piece to Gaia's Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner.
• The soundtrack was composed by Kenji Kawai, Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, and Hiroto Saitoh, with the end credits song 'Nephilim' by Abingdon Boys School.
• Game Republic proposed two sequels to Sony, but they were not greenlit due to low sales.
• The playable demo was first released on the Japanese PlayStation Network in May 2007, with English demos following in August 2007.