King's Field games always set you down in a degraded, myopic environment from some long lost civilization or some forgotten island or forest. There is lots of backstory - usually found in the booklet or the opening scenes - that set the pace and tone of the story, and then you're stranded alone. You don't speak either. But it's fine, because the music is usually haunting and symphonic with lots of dark colors and fog and never any sunlight.
You have to explore ruined areas - usually massive, and open world, with none of that "invisible barrier" shit that prevents under leveled characters from entering - and you can discover what destroyed the civilization or what ancient rituals used to take place in this area as you explore. The end result is usually very similiar - find the Moonlight Sword, and kill some dragon or god.
You'll find some old races or some other stranded citizens along the way that you can help do quests for. Usually they are depressed, lonely, lost, and missing an herb or something. Many die, but you usually get a crystal flask from their corpse. Hell, you can kill NPCs if you want for some gold
You get experience and level. All battles are first person real time combat. Usually you fire a windcutter, charge in for a katana slash, circle strafe to the back, and hack away at a Mantrap with a mace till it dies.
Then you wander around for awhile, hoping not to end up in a zone you are waaaaaaaay too weak to be in. Maybe grab a weapon lying around and high tail your ass out of there till you are strong enough to proceed. It really is brilliant.
Oh did I mention THE SECRETS?! T
here are absolutely *no hints* at all where hidden walls and booby traps are. You just walk up to every wall you see and press XXXXXXX constantly and get super excited when the wall suddenly slides up to reveal a hidden chest. Usually contains a skeleton. Or a spear through your chest. Cue death scream. Ahh, good memories.
Man I miss King's Field.
