The Forgotten City RPG is a title by Modern Storyteller. What started as a mere Skyrim mod has evolved into a full-fledged game. The time-travel murder mystery has been in the works for some time. Now, players can enjoy the title as its own full-length story. What mysteries lie in this prison? And how will you escape? There’s only one way to find out.
The title is available for PC through Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
The Forgotten City RPG Story
On its surface, the story for the game seems simple, which I feel works very well in the game’s favor. As I met each new character, an intricate story was woven together. This time-travel murder mystery title places emphasis on character interaction. Having to interact with others does wonders for the story itself. And the further I get into the game, the more intricate the entire storyline is. Despite how seemingly insignificant the character, they each had a backstory worth telling. Having minor characters with any story always helps. It is exciting to see so much thought placed on a backstory for NPCs, as it shows the major attention to detail.
Time loops have been done before. But in The Forgotten City RPG, it feels different. 2,000 years into the past, one must solve a mind-bending mystery. But, will solving it come at a cost? Or will all the souls trapped within perish?
Gameplay
Those familiar with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will recognize the game as a mod. But aside from a few role-playing elements, The Forgotten City RPG plays like its own game. Starting the game was pretty hard, as I had never played the mod before. But I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get the hang of things. Controls were pretty standard for a title in this genre. Before starting the game, I had the option to choose from a list of skills:
- Archaeologist – Years of studying give you occasional insights into the world.
- Soldier – Equipped with a pistol, you are limited to ten bullets. Don’t expect The Forgotten City RPG to provide more.
- Fugitive – Running from the authorities has granted you 25% increased movement speed.
- Amnesiac – Previous head trauma grants you an increased pain threshold, making you 50% harder to take down.
In this time-travel murder mystery title, it isn’t brute force that will win friends. It can be done, but every time I tried, I doomed the city to destruction. While it’s easy to get into stealing stuff, it is not always the answer. It is precisely the reason I chose the Archaeologist skill. Sometimes simply asking the right questions bore more fruit. Some gamers might find it a little bothersome, but having to talk my way through many situations provided excellent depth. And it made the experience that much more enjoyable.
There are also a few zip lines provided throughout the city. They aren’t necessary but can make short work of completing important tasks first. But one must also be careful. While they were fun, I did not enjoy plummeting directly into a rock. And at times, I had to purposely break The Golden Rule and exploit the time loop.
The Sights and Sounds of The Forgotten City RPG
I went in expecting a run-of-the-mill music selection. And I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. While the music can be overbearing at times, that’s what settings are for. After slightly adjusting the music volume, it complemented my journey through the streets and tunnels very well. While the music was repetitive, it wasn’t hard to get used to. And each change in a certain environment would change the score that was playing. During my exploration of the city, a grandiose sound played as I moved about. And when I descended under the city, only ominous chords of music played as I attempted to escape the catacombs.
The Forgotten City RPGÂ had a wonderfully rendered environment. It appeared that the environment artist took great care with their work. While certainly embellished a small bit, it felt like genuine time-travel into the past. Seeing the temples were an amazing sight. My only issue was that there weren’t more temples to visit. And it could have benefitted from a whole quest line just about temples themselves. It’s a great title for history aficionados, even if a little embellished for entertainment.
Conclusion
I knew when I started The Forgotten City RPG, that I’d have fun. Time travel, when done well, can be absolutely amazing. And I feel that is what Modern Storyteller did here. Trust me when I say this is not what you expect going in. When you know what you’re doing, it’s easy to get through the game. This is why the time loop is so fun to exploit. Whether you’re a Skyrim veteran or new to the idea of the mod, I’m sure it’ll be an amazing experience. But be ready to have your mind thrown for a loop.
[review]