Blacktail
Release Date: December 15, 2022
Action, FPP, fantasy, RPG elements, Polish, a fairy tale, indie games, action adventure, Slavic mythology, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
FPP action adventure game in which we play as a young witch - Yaga. In Blacktail we wander through the picturesque forest and face enemies, completing various tasks and gradually growing in strength. The game was developed by the Polish studio The Parasight.
Blacktail is an action adventure game with RPG elements, inspired by legends about Baba Yaga. The game was developed by The Parasight studio from Cracow.
Plot
The main protagonist of the game Blacktail is Yaga - a sixteen-year-old girl, who was accused of witchcraft and banished from her settlement. The protagonist found a shelter in the forest, but she didn't enjoy relative safety for long, as the thicket quickly became haunted by ghosts from her past. When her old friends disappear under mysterious circumstances, Yaga decides to come out of hiding and try to unravel the mystery, confront her own demons and, as a result, gain powers that ordinary mortals never dreamed of. Whether the young witch will become a guardian of the forest or a nightmare that inhabits it depends on our decisions.
Mechanics
In Blacktail we observe the action from a first person perspective (FPP). Wandering through the picturesque, yet full of dangers forest, we complete tasks pushing the plot forward and various side quests. On our way we face numerous enemies, with which Yaga copes by using a bow and an enchanted glove. By defeating some of the phantoms, the girl regains her lost memories, which are presented in the form of simple, side-scrolling mini-games. Our actions are constantly evaluated by the morality system, which affects the protagonist and her abilities, and determines how other characters relate to her.
It is worth remembering about collecting resources used for making arrows and potions. In addition, by collecting Grimoire cards and brewing potions, we gain new skills that are useful in combat. In addition, there are various treasures and fragments of Slavic legends waiting to be found, which deepen our knowledge of the presented world.
Technical aspects
Blacktail features colorful, high-quality graphics. You will especially enjoy the diverse, precisely designed locations, although the visual effects that accompany the use of spells are also impressive.
Videos and Screens
[0:55] Blacktail trailer #5
[1:38] Blacktail launch trailer
TrueAchievements: 9 / 10 by Tom West
Blacktail is beautiful, from the sun-kissed rivers found in its summer-themed areas to its foreboding spider-infested caves, every inch of the world has been a pleasure to explore. While the morality system doesn't offer the impactful experience we had hoped, it's a lovely way to measure your interaction with the world, adding to the game's overarching enjoyability. Combat is fun and well-balanced but sits behind Blacktail's explorative elements as the most exciting feature on offer. It's stunning to look at, exciting to explore, and enjoyable to play... charming.
GameSpace: 8.5 / 10
Blacktail is one of the most unexpected, original and atmospheric games not only of December, but of the entire outgoing year. Of course, the authors still lack experience and skill, but they approached the concept of an adventure about the young Baba Yaga with soul and scope.
Shacknews: 8 / 10 by Nicholas Tan
Originality is a rare quality in games, and Blacktail has this in spades – the Slavic folklore, the surrealist narrative, the unusual plot structure, the craggy yet dreamlike artstyle, the archery-based gameplay. Sure, some of the systems could be simplified and streamlined, but at least they aim to test the boundaries and seek a different point of view. Blacktail may not be a graphical marvel or a masterstroke in action gameplay, but this indie title has a fascinating magic all its own that’s difficult to define and even harder to find in games today.
GAMERS Score
Average score from 30 votes. 7 players anticipated the game.
Blacktail Summary
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: The Parasight
Publisher: Focus Entertainment / Focus Home Interactive
Age restrictions: 16+
Blacktail System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4 GHz / AMD FX-4300 3.8 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 960 / Radeon RX 470 or better, 20 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X 3.5 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1660 Super / 8 GB Radeon RX 590 or better, 20 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
PlayStation 5
Supports: 30 fps @ 4K / 60 fps @ max 4K
Xbox Series X/S
Supports: XSX: 30 fps @ 4K / 60 fps @ max 4K | XSS: 60 fps @ max 1440p
Blacktail Appreciated by Critics; Launch and First Reviews
We lived to see the release of Blacktail, a Polish action game based on Slavic myths. The game is collecting good reviews.
video games
December 15, 2022
Blacktail Looks Intriguing in New Trailer
At the end of gamescom 2022 Opening Light Live, the first-person action adventure game Blacktail from studio The Parasight was presented. The visuals of the game are stunning - at least on the trailer.
video games
August 23, 2022
Action FPP Blacktails Enables us to Play as a Young Witch
Polish team at The Parasight is working on the BLACKTAIL project. It's going to be an action adventure game, an unusual spin on the Slavic folk tale of Baba Yaga.
video games
June 12, 2021