Flint Treasure of Oblivion Review

Flint Treasure of Oblivion is an ambitious turn-based tactical RPG that immerses players in the perilous world of the Golden Age of piracy. Developed by Savage Level and published by Microids, the game offers a bold take on pirate lore, blending strategy, exploration, and storytelling elements. Despite its potential, the execution falters in some areas.

Developer & Publisher //  Savage Level, Microids

Platforms // Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

MSRP & Release Date // $24.99, November 14, 2024

Reviewed On // PC

Visual and Audio Design

One of the things I look forward to most when checking a game out is the aesthetic, visuals, and art style. This, in addition to the audio design, are two of my favorite things about the game. Flint Treasure of Oblivion employs a unique comic book-style aesthetic for its cutscenes and dialogue. The hand-drawn panels are visually striking, capturing the gritty, atmospheric tone of the pirate setting. However, this artistic choice comes at a cost.

The lack of animation or dynamic elements in these scenes makes them feel static, diminishing their impact. For example, when in the prison area and having to escape you get into a tussle with the “big dog” of the area. The comic book scenes that play out are cool, but I wasn’t drawn into feeling this guy was intimidating.

In-game graphics are a mixed bag. While the environments range from bustling port towns to eerie, treasure-laden caverns are thematically appropriate, they lack the detail and polish expected of modern RPGs. Character models are serviceable but uninspired, and the repetitive design of NPCs further detracts from immersion. I keep mentioning the prison, but the cronies of the main “thug” all have the same model and look identical to me.

The soundtrack is one of the game’s stronger elements, featuring empowering sea shanties and atmospheric orchestral pieces that enhance the pirate theme. As soon as the game boots up and the soundtrack kicked in it was powerful and instantly perked me up once I began. No doubt the sea shanties made me crave to be a part of the crew. However, the overall sound design is underwhelming. Battles lack impactful audio cues, and the absence of voice acting during key moments significantly reduces the story’s emotional weight.

Narrative and Characters

At its core, Flint Treasure of Oblivion tells the story of Captain James Flint, a ruthless and morally ambiguous pirate who embarks on a quest to uncover a legendary treasure. The captain’s character is unapologetically driven by greed and self-interest, painting a vivid picture of the darker side of piracy. The treasure itself serves as a multifaceted motivation for Flint. While he is primarily driven by greed and ambition, the treasure also symbolizes vindication and revenge. Flint is haunted by a personal vendetta against a rival pirate captain who once humiliated him, and he views the legendary prize as his ultimate chance to outshine his adversary and solidify his legacy. There are also lighter sides to Flint’s personality. For example, Flint trying to eat his crewmate at the beginning of the game did give me a pretty good chuckle.

This reminds me of several roleplaying moments I’ve had while playing Dungeons & Dragons over the years because I predominantly play rogue-type characters. Unfortunately, while this archetype initially feels compelling, the lack of meaningful character development undermines its potential.

More on the Characters

Flint remains static throughout the story, and his abrasive personality can alienate players looking for nuance or redemption arcs. Supporting characters, including the loyal first mate Sarah Claymore and the enigmatic navigator Ezekiel Black, add some depth but fail to escape their clichéd roles. The dialogue, delivered through the silent comic book-style panels (which I did enjoy), is serviceable but lacks the dynamism needed to bring these personalities to life. Without voice acting or significant sound design though to accompany these moments, the narrative often feels detached. Hearing the emotion in a character’s voice helps with the immersion. For instance, when Flint tried to eat his friend, if we heard Billy’s voice scream out in pain we could have felt it more so to speak.

The story’s pacing is uneven. Early chapters are bogged down by predictable cliché moments. Early in the game when Captain Flint and his crew are betrayed by an NPC ally who had seemed overly trustworthy from the start. The character’s exaggerated friendliness and insistence on guiding the crew to a hidden treasure are telegraphed so obviously that the betrayal feels inevitable. This lack of subtlety in storytelling diminishes the emotional impact and surprise of the scene, making it feel formulaic rather than engaging.

However, I will say later segments introduce intriguing twists but I feel they might come too late to fully redeem the experience for some. Themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the cost of ambition are explored but lack the emotional resonance to leave a lasting impact.

Flint Treasure of Oblivion Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay in Flint Treasure of Oblivion is rooted in turn-based tactical combat, combined with elements of exploration and resource management. Players command a crew of pirates across various environments, battling rival factions, monsters, and naval authorities. While the foundation of these mechanics is sound, their execution leaves much to be desired.

Combat is governed by a card-based mechanic, with players drawing from a deck of abilities, items, and environmental effects. abilities and items used in combat are shared among the crew. The card-based system draws from a communal deck that includes all abilities, items, and environmental effects available to the group. This system adds a layer of strategy, forcing players to adapt to the cards in their hands. However, the deck-building aspect is underdeveloped. The limited variety of cards and lack of meaningful customization options hinder replayability. Battles often devolve into repetitive sequences, as the AI lacks adaptability, which makes encounters predictable after the initial novelty wears off.

Additionally, the game’s difficulty curve is inconsistent. Some encounters are overly punishing due to poor balancing, while others feel trivial. Some encounters you might feel you have planned for correctly but then numbers might be overwhelming or the presence of stronger characters deter progress. The absence of difficulty settings exacerbates this issue, potentially alienating both newcomers and seasoned tactical RPG enthusiasts.

Exploration and Progression

The game’s linear progression is one of its most significant weaknesses. While players can visit various islands and interact with NPCs, the lack of meaningful side quests or alternate paths makes the world feel restrictive and confined. Exploration is further hindered by unclear objectives and poor signposting, leading to frequent instances of aimless wandering. Even during the beginning of the game, players will wander through the prison aimlessly and have no sense of direction, despite knowing that they have to be there for the quest.

Character progression involves leveling up crew members and acquiring new abilities, but the system lacks depth. Skill trees are simplistic, offering minimal variation in play style. The lack of a robust crafting or equipment system also detracts from the sense of player control.

The Lack of a Tutorial and Accessibility Options are Apparent

One of the most glaring issues is the game’s lack of accessibility features. It normally doesn’t affect my playthrough, but this time there were no accessibility features at all. New players are thrown into the deep end without a proper tutorial. Instead, a rule book buried in the pause menu serves as the primary source of guidance. This design choice feels outdated, especially for a game released in 2024.

Flawless Performance in Flint Treasure of Oblivion

Flint Treasure of Oblivion performed flawlessly. I played with everything on the highest possible settings on my laptop. The resolution was set to 2560 x 1440, with the refresh rate set to unlimited and never dropping frames. I also had a graphics setting that I had set on high while playing the game. Even though the game wasn’t overly demanding, it was a breath of fresh air to see a game’s “flawless performance” for once these days.

Final Verdict on Flint Treasure of Oblivion

Flint Treasure of Oblivion is a game with ambitious ideas that are undermined by uneven execution. Its blend of tactical combat, exploration, and storytelling has the potential to shine, but the lack of depth, polish, and accessibility hold it back. The visuals and soundtrack do add some glimmer of hope at times and fans of pirate-themed adventures may find moments of enjoyment. So if that is you, then I may give the game a whirl. But for new players to this style of play, it might be better to walk the plank.

Final Score 6.6/10

Pros

• Unique Presentation: The comic book-style cutscenes add a distinctive visual flair.
• Atmospheric Music: The pirate-themed soundtrack effectively sets the mood.
• Strategic Combat Potential: The card-based combat system offers moments of tactical depth.
• Flawless Performance

Cons

• Shallow Narrative: Predictable plot and one-dimensional characters fail to engage.
• Unpolished Gameplay: Linear progression, repetitive combat, and limited customization hinder replayability.
• Accessibility Issues: Poor tutorials and lack of difficulty settings create a steep learning curve.
• Visual and Audio Shortcomings: Static visuals and minimal sound design reduce immersion.