The Ultimate Dark Fantasy Experience: Ravenswatch Delivers Much More Than Just an Alternative for Hades Fans!

Highlights

Hades and Ravenswatch are both roguelike games with challenging gameplay and dynamic dungeons that have captivated players.

Ravenswatch offers a captivating spin on well-known mythical figures by infusing graphic gameplay elements and a sinister atmosphere. While its current content may be lacking in depth, the Early Access phase of Ravenswatch allows for frequent updates, aiming to enhance the game and present it as a truly captivating alternative to Hades.

The Soulslike genre is often associated with repeated death in gaming, as players continuously fail in their pursuit of ultimate glory. However, Hades, a roguelike game released in 2018 by Supergiant Games, also utilizes this gameplay loop. This title captivated players with its dynamic dungeons and challenging gameplay. In 2020, the confirmation of Hades 2 delighted fans, but as they eagerly await its release, other games like Ravenswatch offer a superb alternative for Hades enthusiasts.

In the debut installment of Hades, players followed Zagreus, the immortal son of Hades, on his noble quest to reunite Persephone with the rest of his family. Despite the countless journeys to the River Styx and back to the depths of the underworld, players were motivated to progress further with each playthrough. Hades kept its gameplay engaging by introducing fresh dungeons and a unique storytelling approach that gradually unraveled an enthralling narrative. Ravenswatch shares a similar mythological theme and offers plenty of exciting monster hunting to quench the thirst of Hades fans.

Ravenswatch's Character Composition Offers a Unique Dynamic

Combining beloved folktale characters such as Aladdin and Little Red Riding Hood with gruesome gameplay elements is a rare sight in the gaming world. However, Ravenswatch takes these familiar personas and gives them dark twists to match the theme of the Dream Realm. For instance, Little Red Riding Hood, now known as Scarlet, acquires lycanthropy after being bitten by the Big Bad Wolf. This grants her the power to transform into a werewolf at night and unleash chaos upon her enemies.

Each playable character in Ravenswatch comes with a range of upgrades that enhance cooperative gameplay. Some of these upgrades, like the dual compositions of Little Red Riding Hood, add replay value to the game. The fictional staging area is under constant attack from Nightmare, and players must work together to free the world from its corrupted influence. To further intensify the experience, developer Passtech Games incorporates a timer that drives the events of the game. Once the five-day time limit expires, players must confront Master Nightmare, armed with the skills they have acquired, for a final reckoning.

Consequently, in Ravenswatch, there is a race to quickly maximize abilities by defeating monsters or collecting treasure chests scattered across the map. The game offers a variety of missions that range from searching for artifacts to rescuing individuals, and akin to Assassin's Creed, there are raven-like statues that, when activated, provide players with an overview of the minimap. Some areas in the game could benefit from improvements, given that there are only seven characters, one map, and one final boss called Master Nightmare. However, the limited content in Ravenswatch is a result of its Early Access phase, which Passtech Games continues to enhance with regular updates.

The significance of Early Access cannot be overstated, as demonstrated by the remarkable successes of games such as Hades and Baldur's Gate 3. Although Ravenswatch offers a different gameplay experience, it remains an engaging roguelike game with elements inspired by folklore, similar to Hades. For fans eagerly awaiting Hades 2 and the epic battles between Melinoe and Chronos, Ravenswatch could serve as a worthy substitute in the roguelike genre, capturing the essence of Supergiant Games' popular franchise.

Ravenswatch is now available in Early Access on PC. PS4 and PS5 versions will release sometime in 2024.