Summary
Repeated death in gaming is often attributed to the Soulslike genre, where it is customary for players to fail again and again in search of ultimate glory. However,Hadesrepresents the roguelike category that also uses this gameplay loop; the 2018 title from Supergiant Games stole hearts with its dynamic dungeons and challenging gameplay.Hades 2finally got confirmation last year, and while players wait fortheHadessequel’s launch, other titles likeRavenswatchcould provide a perfect alternative forHadesfans.
Following Zagreus – the immortal son of Hades – on a noble quest to reunite Persephone with the rest of his family spurred gamers on in the debut installment, despite the countless trips to the River Styx to return to the depths of the underworld to progress a little further with each playthrough.Hadeskept its gameplay fresh with its dungeons and a unique brand of storytelling that teased more and more bits of an enthralling story with every new journey from the underworld to the surface.Ravenswatchfollows a similar mythological theme, and there’s plenty of fun monster hunting to satisfy the thirst ofHadesfans.
RELATED:Hades 2: Every Character Confirmed So Far
Ravenswatch’s Character Composition Offers a Unique Dynamic
Combining some of the most beloved folktale characters likeAladdinand Little Red Riding Hood with gory gameplay elements isn’t something players see every day, andRavenswatchgives these normally gentle personas twists in their tales to suit the dark theme of the Dream Realm. Little Red Riding Hood, for example, goes by the name Scarlet, contracting lycanthropy after suffering a bite from the Big Bad Wolf. Due to this power, she transforms into a werewolf at nightfall, wreaking havoc on her enemies.
Eachplayable character inRavenswatchcomes with a variety of upgrades that enhance its co-op gameplay, some of which have dual compositions like Little Red Riding Hood that add replay value to the title. The fictional staging area is under siege from Nightmare, andRavenswatchtasks players with freeing the world from its corrupted influence. To up the ante even further, developer Passtech Games uses a timer to bring the game’s events to a head, and once the five-day time frame runs out, players must face a reckoning against Master Nightmare with whatever skills they have amassed.
As a result, the race is on to max out as many abilities as possible from the get-go inRavenswatch, gaining power by eliminating monsters or grabbing treasure chests throughout the map. The title’s missions can also vary from artifact hunting to rescue themes, and much likeAssassin’s Creed’s viewpoints,Ravenswatchhas raven-like statues that allow players to survey the minimap when activated. Some areas could use upgrades, as the game sports only seven characters, one map, and one final boss – Master Nightmare – at the end. However, the relative lack of depth inRavenswatch’s content can be attributed to its Early Access phase, which Passtech Games continues to buff up with regular updates.
The importance of Early Access can’t be overstated, thanks to the remarkable successes ofHades,Baldur’s Gate 3, and more. Although its core gameplay differs in plenty of ways,Ravenswatchremains a compelling roguelike with folklore-inspired trappings much likeHades. As fans anticipate Melinoe’s battles withChronos inHades 2,Ravenswatchcould be a worthy roguelike substitute for the Supergiant Games megastar franchise.
Ravenswatchis now available in Early Access on PC. PS4 and PS5 versions will release sometime in 2024.
MORE:Why Hades 2’s Upcoming Early Access is Exactly What It Needs
