PLATFORM: PC, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Based on the Persian romantic epic, Khosrow and Shirin, Tale of Bistun is the story of a stone-carver who must climb Mount Bistun to regain his lost memories. There’s slightly more to it than that, of course, but in an effort to keep things as spoiler-free as possible it’s probably best not to delve too far into the whole warring deities / blighted land / fissure-sealing talismans side of things. Very much within Starburst‘s remit, it’s an engaging story that might at times be a touch predictable but nevertheless remains engaging thanks to some decent voice acting on the part of the narrator, whose soothing timbre accompanies your every move.

The linear path that you follow offers very little chance for deviation. A few collectibles can be found by straying slightly from the main route, but it’s never possible to go too far away from where the game wants you to go. Combat is similarly straightforward – you’ll encounter a handful of different enemies that are all dealt with by one single basic attack and a handful of special abilities which are learned throughout the game.

Tale of Bistun‘s short running time (around 3 hours) and slow-paced no-fuss story-driven gameplay make it ideal for passing a few stress-free hours with. Some might prefer the action to be just a little bit more involved to make progressing through the game feel more rewarding, but what it lacks in action is compensated by its narrative – taken as more of an action-heavy (in relative terms, at least) visual novel rather than a full-blown adventure game, it makes for a really pleasant way to spend a quiet evening.