The Tale of Bistun is a modest but earnest attempt to bring Persian mythology to life through interactive storytelling
The Tale of Bistun transports you into a dreamlike interpretation of ancient Persian mythology, telling a tale of love, loss, and memory through the eyes of Farhad, a stone carver who awakens with no recollection of his past. This narrative-driven action-adventure game from Black Cube Games offers an intriguing glimpse into Persian folklore, even if its gameplay mechanics don't quite match the ambition of its storytelling.
At its heart, The Tale of Bistun is an intimate retelling of a portion of the classic Persian poem "Khosrow and Shirin,". As Farhad, you navigate between the earthly realm of a mystical mountain and a surreal dream world called the Revelations Realm, slowly piecing together fragments of lost memories.
The narrative is elevated significantly by its stellar narrator, whose rich, commanding voice brings gravitas and emotion to every scene. The narration doesn't just describe events - it breathes life into the world, commenting on Farhad's actions and thoughts in a way that makes the journey feel more personal and immediate. This storytelling approach helps maintain engagement even when the gameplay itself becomes repetitive. I don't know who the dude is, but he does an exceptional job. It reminded me of experiencing Bastion back in 2011. It's that good!
The tale unfolds through a combination of narrated sequences, memory fragments revealed through carved statues, and discovered tablets that provide additional lore. The story touches on themes of unrequited love, sacrifice, and the price of ambition, all wrapped in the mystical trappings of Persian mythology. While the plot can occasionally be hard to follow for those unfamiliar with the source material, the emotional core of the narrative remains compelling throughout.
Where The Tale of Bistun stumbles is in its fairly basic gameplay mechanics. The game follows a linear structure, where you traverse atmospheric environments until you reach designated combat arenas. These encounters follow a predictable pattern: enter an area, defeat waves of enemies, and move on to the next story beat.
Combat is particularly simplistic, relying heavily on basic attack combinations that can be executed by repeatedly pressing the attack button. While you eventually gain access to three different weapons - including dual axes and a mighty hammer - the fundamental approach to combat remains largely unchanged. Most encounters can be overcome through aggressive attack spamming, as enemies are easily stun-locked and posed little threat.
The game does attempt to add variety through special abilities tied to each weapon, but these feel more like occasional flourishes than essential tactical options. Only during the final boss encounter does the game require you to engage with its full mechanical toolset, including the dodge roll that feels somewhat superfluous in earlier fights.
Despite its gameplay limitations, The Tale of Bistun manages to create an engaging atmosphere through its visual and audio design. The game world shifts between two distinct visual styles - the earthly mountain realm with its natural beauty and cursed corruption, and the ethereal dream world filled with surreal imagery and cosmic symbolism.
The environmental design effectively conveys the mystical nature of the story, with ancient architecture, magical effects, and symbolic imagery woven throughout. While not technically groundbreaking, the art direction serves the narrative well, creating memorable scenes that enhance the storytelling.
The audio design deserves special mention, with a soundtrack that incorporates traditional Persian instruments and melodies to create an authentic atmosphere. Combined with the excellent narration, the audio package helps elevate the overall experience beyond its mechanical limitations.
The Tale of Bistun can be completed in roughly two hours, which feels appropriate given its limited gameplay systems. Rather than overstaying its welcome, the game maintains a steady pace that keeps you engaged through its conclusion. The brevity works in its favor, as the simple combat mechanics might have become tedious in a longer experience. The game offers some minimal exploration opportunities, with hidden tablets and statues to discover, but remains largely linear throughout. This focused approach helps maintain narrative momentum, even if it limits replay value.
The Tale of Bistun is a modest but earnest attempt to bring Persian mythology to life through interactive storytelling. Its greatest strength lies in its narrative presentation, particularly its excellent narrator who guides players through this tale of love and loss. While the gameplay mechanics are basic and the combat system lacks depth, the game's brief runtime prevents these limitations from becoming too problematic.
At full price, it might be difficult to recommend given its short length and simple gameplay. However, if interested in experiencing a well-told story steeped in Persian mythology, The Tale of Bistun offers a unique and atmospheric journey that's worth considering when it goes on sale or becomes available through subscription services like GamePass, PS Plus or Epic / Prime Gaming decides to give it away. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 via a code provided by the developer. The Tale Of Bistun is available on PS5, Xbox, Switch and PC.
