Ravenlok – Review
There is no medium that Alice in Wonderland hasn’t influenced. The works of Lewis Carroll have been adapted in numerous media, from film and television to art and video games. I was curious to see how Cococucumber would update a classic tale when they unveiled Ravenlok. Will this exciting new experience leave Ravenlok feeling empty? Okay, let’s start exploring this.
You start out as a little girl whose family has recently relocated to the quiet countryside. A mysterious mirror she finds while assisting with housework whisks her away to a fantastical land rendered in stunning pixel graphics. Finn, a talking rabbit, says that the player is the legendary hero “Ravenlok,” who will defeat the corrupt Caterpillar Queen and save the land. Since she has Raven-black hair and enjoys exciting new experiences, our protagonist agrees casually.
While Ravenlok’s story contains many of the elements necessary to create a memorable adventure, it lacks the depth necessary to fully engage the reader. The story is driven by ideas of liberty and corruption, yet the characters are shallow. For instance, the Caterpillar Queen is wicked because she is evil, our protagonist faces no personal challenges, and his allies undergo minimal development as a result of their experiences. It’s a shame, because if the world and its people had continued to advance, Ravenlok would have reached wonderful new heights.
You’ll need to complete a variety of objectives across the kingdom’s three distinct themes before you can face off against the queen. Visually, each section is stunning. Ravenlok’s magical theme works wonderfully with the pixelart aesthetic. The nonplayer characters you talk to have no real role in the story beyond providing you with clues about how to further the quest.
One of Ravenlok’s best features is the quest system, which is unique in that it doesn’t explicitly specify the location-specific objects and tasks required to continue. The system relies on the player exploring the environment and recalling certain conversations with various NPCs in order to solve puzzles. In contrast to other games, where side tasks are presented as meaningless chores for stuff and awards, every quest in this one feels integral to the overall goal.
What I’ve said about the story is also true of the gameplay. Despite its merits, Ravenlok is ultimately let down by its shallow content. In addition to his sword and shield, Ravenlok can learn four unique skills as you progress through the game. Special powers have cooldowns, but you can attack as often as you like with your sword. The shield can absorb some damage before it hits you, but it drains your stamina in the process, and you can use your dash at any time with no cooldown.
Players may easily stun-lock every enemy in Ravenlok (apart from bosses) by repeatedly using their sword. The monotony of engagements can set very rapidly. Sword attacks and magical ability synergy lay the groundwork for an interesting system, but the shield’s inefficiency and the limitless dash’s superiority cause problems with equilibrium.
Only health potions and bombs are available as consumables and throwables in Ravenlok. These may be purchased with in-game currency and, considering the advantages they offer, are quite cheap. Like in The Legend of Zelda, you can collect coins by smashing the countless pots that dot each level. However, the economy is flawed due to the ease with which players can repeatedly visit the same location using quick travel to “farm” coins. Because I never had to worry about running out of items, fighting bosses was a breeze.
As a whole, Ravenlok is a welcome diversion from the modern AAA open world market. About eight hours in, I can confidently label Ravenlok a “weekend title”; that is, a game designed for players without a lot of free time on their hands. Ravenlok isn’t intended to be a time-consuming or financially taxing experience. Despite its flaws, I had fun wandering around the kingdom and figuring out how to get where I needed to go. Xbox GamePass is a great location for it to live, and you can get it there.
