Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion Strategy Adventure RPG Review (Preview Game Code Sent For Review) Age 16+ on PS5, Steam, XBox, Switch

Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion is released today by Savage Level, and we were invited to take a preview look over the weekend. Available on Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and X Box (Series X and Series S), Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion is a single player strategy adventure RPG, where you take the role of Captain Flint - high seas pirate on the search for a mysterious treasure. 

Action plays out through an isometric (almost overhead) view, as Flint, Billy Bones and the rest of the crew navigate a really varied 3D environment. You can interact with scenery and objects, solving puzzles, picking up items and defeating enemies to make your way through the game. 

There are no distinct levels as such, the game is played through as a story, with the characters moving through time and locations as the tale unwinds. One of the really neat features of Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion is pop up graphic novel style panels. They are used for all of the conversation and character interactions, giving emotion and genuine personality to the characters, and as a narrative they let you know more about the storyline and scene you are playing through in a much more clever way than lines of text or pauses while a narrator reads aloud. 

The backdrop and settings are really lush. Without giving too much away, at the very start of the game you are on a raft at sea, you're captured and taken to jail, then have to escape from jail and get away without being recaptured. Later in the game scenery includes such diverse settings as towns and cities, jungles and caves, and what we've seen so far is really beautifully rendered and varied. There is a sense of that huge open water in the sea, oppressive captivity in jail, and ominous danger around the corner in the town at night. There's real attention to detail in the vessels, costumes and behaviours of the characters. It makes for a very immersive adventure, a true RPG experience, and a genuine desire to get to the treasure. 

This is an age 16 rated game, and as you'd expect there is some swashbuckling violence. Combat is turn-based along with your crew, with moves taken on a hexagonal mat, and it's far less graphic than a lot of games. Different characters have their own attributes, or special moves, so you decide who is best to take on each opponent. Characters can also have complimentary skills, so you build a team with an improved chance of winning, and protect any weaker links. Cards give special powers and advantages, and dice rolls are used to decide outcomes. This familiar RPG system works really well within Flint. It is much more about tactics and good preparation for battle than many console games, and far less about random events or just 'levelling up' until you can defeat an opponent. 

Players can enhance and add to their crew members skills by collecting cards. There is loads of loot to spot and pick up right from the start, and once you are fairly established into the storyline there is a shop. Having a good look around can line your pockets with really useful items and cards, including some that won't be available in the shop. You can choose to race through and head straight to the treasure, but it can pay to take it more slowly and build your character's abilities and your luck as you go. Different styles of gameplay are very much catered for. 

Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion is great, it really pulls you in and is fun to play, with very intuitive gameplay and controls. There are a couple of battles you might have to repeat more than once, but generally it lacks frustration, and is suitable for someone new to this style of console or PC gaming, as well as seasoned old-timers (like my partner). This will also be a game that role playing board gamers will appreciate, as the combat style (think Dungeons and Dragons) is very familiar and won't take long to grasp, and the immersive nature of the pirating world really is something you can get your (probably black and rotten) teeth into. 

We only got the game in time for the weekend, and it's so close to Christmas that everyone is busy, but still managed about 6 hours of gameplay. In that time we didn't repeat much, but didn't even reach the shop or get onto a ship, let alone see sight of the treasure, so there's longevity in this game, you will definitely get your money's worth. 

Flint: Treasure Of Oblivion is out now on PlayStation 5, Steam for PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch and X Box (Series X and Series S). Developed by Savage Level and published by Microïds it runs on Unreal Engine 5. Prices vary and there are some release offers, rrp up to £44.99 (X Box). 

We were sent a pre-release game code for Steam in order to review before release. Screenshots courtesy of Savage Level.