Overview – developed by Retrotainment Games and published by 8-Bit Legit, Full Quiet is an open world adventure game, set in a sprawling wilderness where a grizzled survival expert seeks to find his son. Engage in battle with the monsters of the wilds, explore varied areas and solve puzzles to proceed. This title is available for the NES, Nintendo Switch, Steam and Xbox platforms, with a link to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review (including the special physical NES version).
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank 8-Bit Legit for providing the copy of Full Quiet that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment as I feel this narrative is best experienced first-hand. Please note, when discussing the gameplay, I will only be covering the core aspects of this title, as there is so much in this title to discover and I want to avoid spoilers.
Gameplay – Full Quiet is an adventure title taking place in an 8-Bit open world, where the player must traverse dangerous environments, battling monsters and solving puzzles to progress. When starting the game, the player will be dropped right into the forest, exploring a starting area, where they can get to grips with the mechanics and features of the game. There are simple tutorials to uncover, but for everything else there is an in-depth manual provided in game.
During the opening portion of this title, the player will be able to learn how each of the mechanics will work, with platforming, combat and the different puzzle systems introduced over time. There is also a strong focus on exploration, with hidden objects to find that will aid the player in their mission. In the starting area of the game, the most important and unique mechanics of the game are introduced, the radio and Morse code system.
These are the most important elements of progression in this release, meaning players will need to take note of the different codes and the radio transmissions they receive. At different points during the exploration, ham radios will appear that need to be tuned, which will give the player codes for the relays. But the codes won’t always be in the traditional Morse code format, replacing the letters needed with colors that players need to input.
Throughout the forest there will even be Morse code technology hidden in the environment itself, with rocks that will show a dot or dash when passing. When discovered they are often tied to unlocking something nearby, like a door or item, making it important for players to try to figure out the patterns they have. There will also be power grids that need to be restored, with wire puzzles to solve to get them up and running again.
These wire puzzles can be very challenging, as there is a time limit to them, which will result in the player taking damage if the timer runs out. The player must connect one end of the circuit to the other, with random pieces that will appear, but there will be broken panels and short circuits. The pieces used for the circuit can be rotated, allowing players to adapt quickly to the puzzle, with a special heart panel to heal the player if the circuit goes through them.
Fixing the different power grids will restore power to other areas, allowing players to interact with other power points and even open up safe havens for the player to rest. The safe houses will be very important, as they are the only place for players to save the game. They also provide a very important function, allowing the player to sleep until the morning. This is important as there is a day/night cycle, where enemies will become stronger at night.
Speaking of enemies, the player will encounter a relatively simple group of monsters during the start of the mission. These will help the player get used to the weapon they have, along with the evasive maneuvers they can use. With the entire opening area functioning as a comprehensive tutorial, players can get themselves a taste of what to expect, because this is just the start. Once the opening area is cleared, the real challenge begins.
Once the player has opened the gate out of the starting area the Plateau, they will experience the true scope of the game. The wilderness the player will encounter consists of a large open world map, where the player will be able to travel between different locations. The map becomes an essential part of the player inventory, alongside the resources that they collect during their adventure. But care must be taken as the capacity that can be carried is limited.
The items that can be collected include fuses for radios, ropes to climb different areas and food/aid items to restore lost health. As the game progresses, the player will be able to expand their inventory, but before that time, it is possible to recollect used ropes and food items will respawn. There is also the capability to refill supplies while in the safe houses, with boxes to resupply from if the right items are in the inventory.
Aside from the standard items in the inventory, there are also additional tools and equipment that can be located as the player explores further. There are tools that can assist the player in their quest, like a grappling hook to climb areas and lures that will draw out some creatures. There is also an arsenal of weapons that can be collected during the mission, including a shotgun that has limited range, but a wide spread to it.
These weapons are more powerful than the starting pistol, but the ammunition that they have is limited to them. This means it can be very important to make every shot count with these weapons, as the weapons are limited in the ammo that they can hold. This adds to the tactical survivalist feel of the game, as players need to decide what weapon to use and where the further they get, as the only known way to resupply is the safe house.
The stronger weapons will come into handy the deeper the player gets, especially when it comes to the more powerful monsters that appear. The deeper the player gets, the stronger the creatures will get, regardless of the time it is and they will pose a true threat to the player. Luckily the monsters will stay defeated for a time, but will respawn. There are even boss monsters that can appear, with the player locked in a desperate struggle for survival against these beasts.
Due to the large scale of the map, with different areas connected together, there will be times where players need to backtrack. This is where the map will come in handy, as the player will see notes for the different points that they can go to. These include flags for Morse code relays and safe houses, allowing players to easily find their way back to where they need to go. However, players must be careful as they can still get lost in the wilds.
There is a non-linear feel to this title, as the player is free to explore the wilderness and move between areas as they open up. This allows players to complete challenges out of sequence, coming back to previous areas when they are stronger or have gained new clues. This also adds to the replay value of the game, as players can approach the challenges differently each time. But the clock must always be kept in mind, as there is something out there, something terrible that comes out at night.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to cover the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – while this was initially developed for the NES, with the two button controller in mind, this version of the game fully utilizes all of the buttons on the Switch controller. This provides an intuitive experience that is responsive and enjoyable, regardless of the controller that is used. When playing in either docked or handheld, the game is comfortable to play, with support for a range of controllers including the NES classic from the NSO service.
Difficulty – this title can be very difficult, due to the open ended nature of the game, leading players to get lost within the wilderness and unprepared for the deadly enemies that can appear. This can be made more challenging due to the cryptic clue systems and circuit puzzles, which can delay returns to safety or even result in death if the circuits are failed. There is also an optional Hard Mode which players can stumble upon by complete accident.
Presentation – as an NES game, the visuals of this title have some excellent sprite work that looks like it was made in the systems prime, while also having a modern look. The backgrounds and visual elements for radio, maps and other aspects of this game are pleasing to the eye. There is sprite flicker, but it doesn’t affect the overall experience. The sound for this title really pushes the NES sound chip to its limit, with a soundtrack and effects that perfectly compliment the mysterious setting of the wilderness.
Final Thoughts – I hadn’t heard of this title until the publisher reached out to me, which surprised me as this title is something different compared to other recent NES homebrew releases. The narrative is solid and really pulled me in, with platforming, combat and exploration that brought everything in this title together. There is a haunting and eerie feel to the world, with the music complimenting the setting of the wilderness that players can get lost in.
The cryptic nature of the puzzles can be a source of frustration, which may be off-putting for players who want a straight forward adventure. However, I really enjoyed having to move between areas, take notes of the different clues and have to figure out what to do with the clues I had. There was a lot of back tracking to restock on ammo, which could be time consuming but got easier over time, as I learned the different routes and the best approach to take.
During my first attempt at this game, I did accidentally enable the Hard mode by experimenting with the Morse code system, because the manual gives players a full Morse code guide. I soon learned from that mistake, but it was humorous to me that I stumbled upon it. I am happy to recommend this title to those who want sink their teeth into a tough, but satisfying adventure that would fit perfectly during the glory days of the NES system.
In the end, I give Full Quiet a final score of 3.75/5 which is a first in the 200+reviews I have done. This is a truly great adventure that fully maximized the limitations of the hardware it was designed for, with a haunting wilderness to explore, monsters to battle and puzzles to solve. However, there are puzzles that can be so cryptic and difficult that it may sour the experience for some players. If you want to check this game out, a link to each version including the physical release will be below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to Xbox version (HERE)
Link to Steam version (HERE)
Link to NES physical (HERE)
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