ITFO is not your typical fantasy medieval tale. It’s a game which explores the difficult realities of the medieval world, as well as the brutality of war. The game touches upon some really dark issues, such as the deeper psychological consequences of the harshness of the setting on the player character’s mind.
All in all, the writing here is strong, going into deep detail on the medieval world around you and its impact on the people who live within. Playing this game really allowed me to feel the grim reality of the setting. There are also some battles in the game which do a good job of conveying the nature of warfare which take place in the setting, and which allow you to strategize and determine the best way to win.
It’s set in a largely patriarchal society, although you get to play as male or female, with the game detailing the differences in your formative experiences and how it eventually brings you to the current point in the story. There are some romance options, and while romance isn’t a very big part of the game, I enjoyed it and liked the characters.
The game is largely linear, although there is some branching at critical points in the story, including a very important one when you reach the end, where you can decide to play along with your given role, or seize power for yourself. Still, it’s more of a linear tale than a branching sandbox.
The story and writing here is definitely one of the strongest I’ve seen, and I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. Even if you’re not a fan of the genre, I recommend taking a look.