Blacktail is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to gameplay. Movement feels smooth and responsive, with running, jumping, dashing, and teleport stones making exploration fast and enjoyable. Unfortunately, combat isn’t nearly as fluid. Equipping your bow comes with a hefty movement speed penalty, making movement feel sluggish and clunky during the moments it matters most.

The game also introduces several progression systems that add depth on paper. A talent tree, unlockable abilities, and a morality system that lets you choose between a light or dark path are all interesting ideas. I also appreciated that the game creates a separate save before the final boss, allowing you to return and complete any remaining side content afterward. Where the gameplay started to lose me was its heavy focus on gathering and crafting. Sticks, feathers, herbs, and other materials are constantly needed, and whenever I focused on the story instead of collecting resources, I eventually had to stop and farm before I could continue. Rather than supporting the adventure, the crafting system often disrupted its pacing.

My biggest issue, however, was the overall difficulty. The game felt far too easy, which reduced both the challenge and immersion. I would have loved to see additional difficulty options for players looking for a more demanding experience. Because of this, unlocking new talents and abilities often felt like a requirement for progression rather than meaningful upgrades that changed how I approached combat, making the progression system feel like a missed opportunity.