Setting sail on the seven seas is quite a journey in itself, but manage feuds via turn-based CRPG combat This is something I didn't expect a hacker to do. Flint: treasure of oblivion is a new adventure that put me in the shoes of the titular James Flint and had plenty of twists and turns along the way. Its unique comic book aesthetic is a major selling point, and its complicated but easy-to-understand gameplay makes it a great choice for a beginner or expert.
Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum (this uses two action points though)
The idea of a pirate-themed CRPG was something I had personally never considered. After experiencing the joy of CRPGs for the first time with those of 2023 Baldur's Gate 3entering Flint: treasure of oblivion seemed intimidating. While BG3 is a phenomenal game, it's also a challenging stepping stone for those who have never experienced the genre before. I would consider Flint: treasure of oblivion be a great entry point, as it offers all the features of its contemporaries while making things a little less brutal overall.
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With comic book panels that come to life during cutscenes and a delightfully semi-cellular aesthetic, Flint is a joy to live. As I explored each area, I couldn't help but check every corner of these finely detailed levels. I always wanted to see what awaited me around every corner. Without the aid of a mini-map – or a standard map, for that matter – I had to explore and experience everything without additional help.
The navigation was certainly tricky at first. Especially since I wouldn't be able to talk to NPC characters again if I had already talked to them once before. This meant that if I stopped the game for a while and came back, there was a chance I wouldn't remember what I was working on before taking my break. I would recommend stopping at a place where you know exactly what you're doing if you plan to wander off for a bit.
Learning to balance my AP, as well as improving my characters, allowed me Flint: treasure of oblivion an exciting time. Some additional steps need to be refined, but the base package is excellent.
Battles can be massive in “Flint: Treasure of Oblivion”
Careful planning before engaging an enemy is important in any CRPG. Considering my only reference before this was Baldur's GateI was happy to see how exciting the battles could be here as well. I had to make sure I took my time, planned carefully, and thought things through before engaging my enemies.
The environment can make or break an attack, and I enjoyed always being first. This gave me enough time to plan, think and proceed. I strongly suggest consulting the “Rules” section before entering into combat. Mainly to make the cluttered HUD make a little more sense. After a while, however, everything started to click and I found myself becoming a master of the combat system.
While the random dice rolling system can be both useful and annoying? Careful planning before a fight can lead to a better outcome. I didn't realize that I could equip characters with multiple weapons, in case a sword broke in the middle of a battle. Once I realized this, things became much more manageable.
Some battles were also absolutely massive. I would order up to almost 20 characters during a round. It was intimidating, but seeing them march on their enemies with surgical precision was extremely satisfying. It was also surprisingly easy to understand, even with my limited CRPG experience.
Unique characters combine with magnificent portraits
One of the most shocking parts of Flint: treasure of oblivion that was how good the art was. Of course, I may have already liked the art style it displayed. But his in-game portraits are striking. They give each character a sense of individuality, and losing them during a battle has a huge impact. Yes, if you lose a character during a fight and don't revive them before the end, they disappear.
I learned this lesson the hard way. During a battle on a barge with the English, I lost one of my strongest swordsmen. I thought, like any other game, that they would be revived after the battle and I could continue with them. Unfortunately, I was wrong and she is gone forever. I could always save scum and reload if I wanted, but I needed the real experience before anything else.
All of the game's elements are paired with masterful artwork that seems fitting for the era. Something as simple as a bandage, for example, features beautiful artwork. It’s truly mind-blowing and was a huge surprise when I was exploring the menus.
Although there are no romance options available in Flint: treasure of oblivionI couldn't help but fall in love with these portraits. They are impressive and would lend themselves well to a gold frame in my office walls. Its comic book-inspired cutscenes were also magnificent.
prepare for a bit of confusion at the start in “Flint: Treasure of Oblivion”
Sometimes navigation can be a bit tedious Flint: treasure of oblivion. After entering a new area, such as a ship, the objective is simply to “take possession of its quarters”. Who is he? The navigation cues, especially since there is no map or mini-map, could be refined further to avoid confusion. The same also applies to battles, especially in the early parts of the game.
By switching from keyboard to mouse, as well as controller, I got into the game much quicker with the controller and enjoyed the combat system much more while using it. There are many different options and sometimes it seems unintuitive. When switching between characters, for example, you press either the B/Circle button or the RB/R1 button and select the character to control. It's not too bad, all things considered.
But if I wanted to attack, I could either try to push/tackle my enemies or attack them with a weapon. If I wasn't paying enough attention, I could easily confuse the weapon attack prompt with the alternate action prompt. I should hit X/Square before engaging an enemy to ensure I hit them. Contextual clues, such as the color of the attack radius, however, made this easier to understand in future battles.
Be prepared to learn a lot if you want to get the most out of Flint: treasure of oblivion. After the initial haze of controlling my characters in combat cleared, I found myself captivated by the combat system. The same could be said of exploration. Once I finally got the lay of the land, there was no stopping Flint on this journey.
An interesting take on the CRPG formula
Since I'm not very familiar with CRPGs, Flint: treasure of oblivion took me by surprise. It really captivated me from the start, with great storytelling and exciting combat. Flint himself is perhaps a little rough around the edges. Much like some aspects of this adventure, it's a diamond in the rough. Fans of the CRPG genre will have another reason to immerse themselves in their favorite genre. And those who aren't familiar have a great first stepping stone.
There’s an interesting narrative that takes place in uncharted territory. Even though I'm sad that I never got to pilot the ship, it doesn't change anything. Flint: treasure of oblivion is nonetheless a great addition to an already fantastic genre. If you're looking for a fun new pirate game after a year of disappointing entries, be sure to check this one out.
Verdict: recommended
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion will be released on December 17, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC. Code was provided by the publisher for review purposes. Reviewed on PC.
