Publisher: Tale of Tales
Developer: Tale of Tales
Minimum requirements: Windows XP or Vista; 2 GHz CPU; 2 GB RAM; 256 MB Radeon or Geforce video card of at least x6xx type (integrated video cards are not supported)
Genre: Action/Horror
Release date: Available now

It’s not too often that one finds a game so quick to lie to you from the outset. We’re accustomed to following some sort of rule-set in games, so when you play one that issues a failing grade for just doing what you’re told; you rear back a bit in surprise. This is exactly what happened to me the first time I played The Path, a pseudo horror/action offering from oddball publisher, Tale of Tales.

It begins with a simple command to “Stay on the path”, and make your way to grandmother’s house. After choosing from one of 6 different, red riding hood-esque girls of different ages you are plopped in front of a road. You can garner the theme of the game from what I’ve told you, although this is far from any normal fairytale and much farther from the conventional “game as usual”. You see, you’re supposed to break the cardinal rule in The Path, otherwise you’ll never see the veiled, disturbing imagery and allegory the game has to offer. You won’t get a passing grade at endgame, either.

It is an action game as much as it is a horror game. There’s no hacking and slashing, no zombie dogs jumping through windows; it’s just an exploration of the woods at a leisurely pace. Controls are courtesy of Philip Glass (in other words, minimalist). Arrow keys move and shift sprints. All other actions are done by just walking up to the subject of interest and letting the game do the rest. It’s a bit creepy, (although not as whimsical) in a Tim Burton kind of way, which makes for great atmosphere. Just don’t expect any Evil Dead style outright frights in this wilderness. Simply take a look around, collect some stuff, drink some beers and hope you don’t cross the “Wolf”. Or better yet, do.

That’s the point of the fairy tale, or so I remember, yet walking around the forest aimlessly in search of a point of interest might turn off those accustomed to constant stimulation. I’ll freely admit that I belong to that classification, but I can also see the merits of a game that doesn’t require anything more than a little attention and a shred of imagination to play. This makes it difficult to actually grade The Path on gameplay. It isn’t something you can be good at, it’s not something friends will enjoy watching and it certainly isn’t for those who are in a hurry. It just is what it is.

What I can rate, however, is the decent construction, a unique, albeit subliminal, GUI and swooning piano/vocal combo that makes your ears tingle. The visuals aren’t half-bad either; making use of a subtle film grain effect and some well placed fog and sun rays. Conversely, control can feel like it’s a little out of the player’s hands sometimes, and in some places where you expect to be able to run, a forced walk is put into effect. I understand that this mechanic is used for highlighting special areas, but if you’ve already been to a site two or three times you should have the option to get by a little faster.

Let the Path be known as an experience, not a game. If Tale of Tales was going for the whole “games as art” argument, then they’ve got a decent attempt here. In the areas of horror and action, though, I’d have to disagree wholeheartedly. Still, for $10, there’s some consideration to be given. If you’re on the fence, there is a demo available that will give you a decent idea of what’s in store. Which path will you choose?

Our Score:

Our Recommendation: