Review: Ravenswatch (Nintendo Switch) – Pure Nintendo
Roguelites. Is there anything they can’t do? While this sub-genre of games seems like it’s a dime a dozen, there’s a reason why these tough affairs are so popular. They provide a fun and challenging combat session with rewards and boss fights aplenty. In the case of Ravenswatch, it even uses cool storybook characters to give it a unique flavor. Oh little pig, little pig, let me come in…
In Ravenswatch, a group of heroes band together to save the world from darkness. This crew of fighters comprises dark takes on well-known fairytale characters, such as Little Red Riding Hood and the Pied Piper. It provides a robust cast, each with differing abilities that make it fun to try them all.
You begin with four such characters with more unlocked along the way. One of the neatest aspects of Ravenswatch is the depth given to these heroes. Little Red Riding Hood, for instance, is named Scarlet here. She dons a hood and wields some wicked blades, but what makes her even more special is that she’s a werewolf. In this reality, there’s no wolf stalking Scarlet’s grandmother; she is the wolf.
The more you play as each character, the more their story unfolds. This occurs between runs via text appearing in a storybook coupled with a voice-driven narrative. It’s compelling, well-voiced, and interesting. With multiple characters, it also provides a lot to do.
The story follows this brave troupe of protectors as they enter a dark realm consumed by evil. Monsters roam freely here, from giant orc-like creatures with oversized weapons to robed wizards firing dangerous spells. You’ll also find massive trees, creepy spiders, and many other monsters that defy definition. It’s no walk in the park, either, with a fairly high difficulty level.
Thankfully, you have a few tricks up your own sleeve to keep you in the game. Combat consists of a general attack that can be used any time, along with several other stronger moves with a cooldown. Whether it’s the Pied Piper’s rat attack or the Snow Queen’s icy barrage, each type of attack feels both creative and unique to the character who wields it.
Ravenswatch, like most roguelites, is all about surviving as long as possible over the period of a run. What sets it apart is the countdown to a boss fight. When you first enter the dark realm, a gigantic entity known as a Nightmare slumbers. After three days have passed, it awakens and the battle is on. This gives you about 15 minutes to cover as much of the land as possible before the creature attacks. During this time, you can defeat enemies to earn gold in order to purchase upgrades. You will also level up, earning bonus abilities (known here as Talents). Finally, there are several side quests to distract you (also earning you XP or gold). In short, there’s plenty to do, and the time tends to fly by far too quickly.
Graphically, Ravenswatch sports a dark aesthetic that suits the tone of the story. There’s a day/night cycle along with a countdown that helps you keep track of the three days. When nighttime rolls around, the land becomes even darker. The sprites and environment all look great, in their own twisted way. It’s the fuel of nightmares, but then again, that’s the point.
There’s really only one thing missing from Ravenswatch, and that’s local co-op. While you can play with friends online, each player needs a copy of the game and an invite to your session. This means you can’t simply join a random group, which would be a welcome addition in lieu of couch co-op. But this game is begging for the ability to play with someone locally. It’s got the right pacing for two (or more) to join a run together to take down that pesky Nightmare. While I enjoyed my time with Ravenswatch, I would have enjoyed it much more with some help from the person sitting next to me.
Overall, Ravenswatch has a lot going for it. Cool characters, satisfying combat, and challenging boss fights. The dark tone and twist on classic characters adds value and replayability. If only it had local co-op!
