My Verdict on Forgive Me Father
Having just completed Forgive Me Father, I must say it is quite an interesting combination of horror, mainstream FPS mechanics, and pixel art reminiscence. It certainly has its plus points and some minuses, nevertheless, in total, it is a very nice title and still a must-try for the genre fans.
Gameplay & Mechanics – 7/10
The key gameplay is really satisfying. Shooting, upgrading guns, and controlling stash of resources were my main sources of enjoyment. The enemy mix and the setting of the play give a good amount of challenge as well as variety. Still, I found the darkbane (or whatever that was called) to be too tightly packed with health—taking a lot of shots and ruining the flow. Battles with bosses are fierce but sometimes seem a little stretched, especially when the difficulty peaks suddenly. I liked that I could reduce the difficulty temporarily to slip past hard spots, which was a nice feature. The madness meter is a unique feature, but I wish it had a countdown clock so that I could know better how much time I had remaining. I did not get it at the beginning but then through some practice and error I learned it.
Graphics & Visuals – 8/10
The pixel art style is nice and builds a dark, gritty mood similar to classic games like Doom. The wicked and horrifying characters are very much in line with the horror theme. The variation in visuals through levels is a good thing since it keeps the game nice and the retro style that was around when old-school shooters are still alive, oozes through the game modes as modern enough to play.
Sound & Music – 8/10
One of the most remarkable aspects of the game was the sound design. The enemies' creepy sounds together with a music score that increased its tension in the presence of danger formed a perpetual feeling of fear. Although voice acting was at times a little awkward, some dialogues sounded too artificial or poorly timed. It did not spoil the overall enjoyment, but it was obvious. On the contrary, the music was powerful and contributed to the general mood, particularly in the heated gunfights.
Story & Atmosphere – 7/10
The plot is not well developed considering that its darkness is inspired by Lovecraft, but it offers enough context to keep me, at least, to some extent, the world, and interested. The ambiance is loaded with tension and fear, the pixel art along with the sound design is the good way to get you into this nightmare world. I would say it's a great mix of horror and action that does not need to be elaborated.
Performance & Bugs – 7/10
I had a couple of small bugs and some rough parts which was kind of expected considering the game had just recently had its full release. The frantic search for ammo in some maps like E5M1 was really annoying but not to the extent of being game-breaking. Better balance and polish could improve the whole game more.
Final Thoughts
Forgive Me Father is a nice, hard game with some imperfections. The frightful ambiance, nasty beasts, and old-style graphics are its main g attractions and make it a worthwhile experience, especially for those who like horror shooters or Lovecraftian tales. It could even become a classic with just a few adjustments—like tweaking of enemy health, simplifying of mechanics, and polishing of voice acting. For now, I will recommend it only for vintage FPS fans and horror lovers who dare to take a dark, pixelated adventure.
Do I recommend it? Yes, but keep in mind it’s a little rough around the edges while having a lot of good value and great moments.
