Cococucumber is the developer and publisher of “Ravenlok” alongside several acclaimed indie games especially for such a small team of 10 developers. Moreover, this small team of video game developers are truly diamonds amongst the rest as they have created a stellar game in “Ravenlok.” The game itself is fun with the gameplay having the bare basics of an action game with some elements borrowed from others of the same genre. In order for the game to stand out the story is well written and exceptional taking cues from various fairy tales with Alice in Wonderland being front and center. While having exciting gameplay and a good story are key, the in-game graphics can enhance both making the player be more engrossed in the game. While the game is made from such a small team, they showcase such a beautiful aesthetic that can rival other triple A studios dominating the medium. “Ravenlok” is an exceptional game and a good starting point for anyone interested in the action-based games and veterans of the genre can even be enticed with the unique gameplay, interesting story, and stunning graphics
Certain gameplay mechanics can make or break a game allowing a game to make it or break it. However, in the case of “Ravenlok,” the development team produced a high-quality action, role playing game, with some queues taken from other video game series. The action presented to the player is not genre changing to the medium, it is a more of a return to basics for gaming veterans and a good start for new people to enjoy the medium. By making the action more basic this allows for a wider general audience to play the game and enjoy the experience. Moreover, to go in-depth on the action it is combat based similar to other action games, yet the closest game to draw a comparison to is from the Souls series. A series known for its difficulty, yet the controls an important aspect of the game have been taken as there is a dodge, mid fight healing, and leveling up by using items acquired from felling enemies. While this makes the game a Souls like it is nevertheless fun as it changes up the formula as to be unique in its gameplay. The main reason as to why it is different from the Souls series is how it keeps the game linear in its design where there is very little back tracking between areas to complete quests. Another example is the customization as in Ravenlok the player is stuck with the same sword and shield for the entire game with hats being the main customization feature which is purely cosmetic. While this lack of customization can be off putting for some people there is some charm to it as the reason why can be related to the story of the game. There is one aspect of the game that can make it feel dated is the fact that the camera is limited preventing the player to fully explore the world around them. While this can be attributed to a small team and them focusing on the artistic aspect of the game it nevertheless can impact some players who are more inclined to explore. After all, gameplay can only entice the audience for so long through replay value the story is what allows players to delve into the themes the developers want the player to answer.
Inspiration can come from various places and for writing a story it has to grip the reader’s attention pulling them into the world by the writer. The same can be said for writing a story for video games and “Ravenlok” is among the best when utilizing the various inspirations to lift the game to greater heights. A major influence on the game can be seen in the game’s starting menu where there is a castle adorned with the various suits in playing cards hinting at the game referring to Alice in Wonderland. While this is a subtle hint to a major theme of the game only keen observers will notice such a clue out and in the open. This makes the story a, retelling of the literature through the developer’s lens allowing the game to have a life of its own. By doing so the developers not only get to focus on writing a story that they want players to experience, but also honor the work that inspired them to make such a game. While Alice and Wonderland is one of the key inspirations for the structure of the story there are overarching themes that are in play to inform the player. A major theme introduced to the player is exploration as the game can be seen as a metaphor for those who are trying to adjust to new settings and meeting new friends. This is evident in the opening of the game where the player-controlled character has just recently moved into a new home in the country side and it is evident in that they miss their previous home. This culminates into feelings of anxiety towards the unknown and the need to push on despite the troubles in order to acclimate to new surroundings. It is from those feelings that allow for creativity when molding the game’s initial design and themes.
Graphically, the game is impressive as a whole using what resources available to them to make a good game. Knowing that it was such a small team working on the game really goes to show that the developers have put in a lot of effort to make a great game. The game itself is made through a good use of vibrant and dim colors to highlight certain key features in the environments and enemies. Without going into spoiler territory examples of the team’s art direction is put on full display in the opening where the player can see a pristine farmland complimented by a red barn that is a bit old but retains its former glory. The intricate details such as 16-bit retro items allow the player to know something is off about certain things providing a hint into the other world. The other world takes up a majority of the game and each area is stunningly charming, filled with various colors making each environment unique from each other. Furthermore, the shading is perfectly filled for each area making certain colors pop out more in an appealing way to the players’ eyes. These choices allow for some experimentation with the 16-bit retro themed items in the environment which stand out due to their blocky nature in a more polygonal world which makes certain things stand out more. By doing this each area’s theme is more prominent and sticks in the mind of the player allowing for a memorable experience.
“Ravenlok,” by Cococucumber, has made a fantastical game that was made with love and care for the medium. This game really sets a precedence for this indie game developer as a whole showcasing that large scale companies can make a fun game with barely added features. Moreover, this stands out as a whole where various game companies often rely on downloadable content to enhance replay value or artificially inflate the game’s lifetime. The gameplay while basic in its control scheme is fun and does not need to it up too much as the core playstyle is built on a solid foundation. With a strong baseline for its gameplay the story’s charms can uplift to the player through environmental details and interactions with non-player characters. In regard to the graphics, the game is stunning and beautiful with a mixture of retro stylistic choices for certain items in the environment that complement the more realistic environments. The game overall has a score of 9/10 as it is a good game for the general wide audience and the fact that you can pet the dog at the beginning aids its score too. Moreover, this perfectly balances the gameplay, graphics, and story tying them into a well-rounded game that wants a large general player base. Cococucumber is a game studio to look out for in the future for the games they can make.
Ravenlok heads to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Xbox Game Pass, and Epic Games Store tomorrow, May 4, 2023.
Related: Reviews by Kyle Manila
I would describe myself when interacting with games as a strategist with a pension for stealth and loud explosions.
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