The Warlock of Firetop Mountain Reviews
Firetop Mountain itself becomes a little 3D board, rather than the hulking, ominous sprawl of fond imagining.
An inspired adaptation of the old Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, that’s also one of the most unique and fun roguelikes of recent years.
Warlock of Firetop Mountain is a unique experience that takes a single-player adventure book and translates it into a digital experience. While fun at times, this title is bogged down by delayed controls in spots and long load times.
Replayability is great if you don't mind grinding a little.
Choose your own adventure meets D & D without the ability to keep your finger in the choice page to find out if you want to take back your move.
Charming tabletop presentation, let down by boring combat.
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is an excellent adaptation. Like Sorcery, it never really transcends the cheesy sword-and-board adventure-fantasy of the original adventure gamebook it sources from, but that’s not really the point is it? Hell, the archetypal characters and straightforward questing are part of the charm. Tin Man’s lovingly reshaped Steve Jackson’s work into a relaxing and lightweight RPG, perfect to run once or twice in a night and hope this time you avoid all Zagor’s traps and make it to the end.
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain has clearly been a success for Tin Man Games, and perhaps the neatest thing about it is that the modular nature of the game allows Tin Man Games to build on it from here.
I would still recommend Warlock of Firetop Mountain if titles inspired by board games or adventure books is your jam, just be warned that after three or four runs (which is likely about five hours) you may not feel as compelled to steal the Warlock's treasure consecutive times.
All in all, if you are a fan of the “choose your own adventure” genre, tabletops, and the RPG and/or fantasy genres, then this is definitely a title you don't want to pass on. And if you're a fan of the book the game is based on, then you definitely have to pick this one up on Nintendo Switch!
As someone who grew up playing a ton of choose your own adventure books, it's been great getting a chance to experience this particular story in what feels like a 3D board game come to life with fun turn-based battle mechanics in a release that both pays homage to the source material while doing its own thing.
The straight-from-gamebook-to-board-game and from-board-game-to-video-game style that The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is flawlessly going for makes this as niche as an RPG can get, and thus, isn't for everyone. Those who can turn on their imagination, "get into" this treacherous world, and actually do some mental role-playing in a role-playing game (gasp!), however, are in for quite the delicious treat.
By adhering so closely to the source material and old school conventions, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain will inevitably rub some people the wrong way due to uneven difficulty and some unfair demises that seem harsh when compared to something like the Souls titles, which are renowned for their challenges but also for their fairness in teaching you how to play the game better.
Aside from the pacing and lack of things like active combat that may not be for everyone the up and down of being at the mercy of the RNG gods would probably be the most frustrating aspect of the experience. While you can get on a hot streak one critical skill roll missed can also snowball into disaster. You will have the opportunity to resurrect your character 3 times at least, spawning at the last bench you sat and rested at, though in the latter half of the game you’ll find their frequency gets to be pretty limited. If you’re down for a challenge, and find the prospect of exploring the many branching paths the mountain offers across various characters, each altering the experience a bit, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain delivers an authentic digital tabletop experience.
Firetop Mountain is a quaint title. Straightforward and simple like the series it was based upon, its tone is never too serious that it breaks the illusion of playing a tabletop game. There are several moments of genuine humor to be found, and there is a consistent sense of whimsical, swashbuckling adventure throughout. There’s nothing here that is particularly offensive, rather a few elements that an attentive player must keep their eyes upon. The result is a satisfying experience that features loads of variety in a deceptive manner, encouraging experimentation just as often as it pulls the rug out from underneath the player. While the combat is never too deep, it makes sense as the kind of mechanic one might see in a physical game. The writing is never too grandiose, nor does it need to be, but the loads of text and the illusion of verbal storytelling is a huge drawing point. If one prefers gameplay and active exploration over a more passive and strategic title, this likely won’t be the best fit. If you’re looking for an RPG that is approachable and entertaining, however, there are very few other options on the Switch that present as faithful and fundamental a look at the genre as The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.
Warlock of Firetop Mountain is a fun, challenging RPG with a twist. Whether you’re a fan of traditional RPGs, read the books as a kid or have no history with the series whatsoever, the game will draw you into the adventure. The variety of player options will keep you returning to the mountain for a long time to come.
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain may not be a perfect game, but speaking from the heart it manages to create something special and unique in a world full of overblown AAA fantasy titles. Warlock has tons of heart and style and comes highly recommended.
Fans of the franchise will love rediscovering Firetop Mountain in this adaptation, bringing the world to life in a gorgeous and interesting new way. Players unfamiliar with the gamebooks will still likely enjoy the game in its own right, though retracing steps and repetition can be a little problematic.