Summary
- Hades and Ravenswatch are both roguelike games with challenging gameplay and dynamic dungeons that have captivated players.
- Ravenswatch offers a unique twist on beloved folklore characters, incorporating gory gameplay elements and a dark theme.
- Despite its current lack of depth in content, Ravenswatch's Early Access phase allows for regular updates to improve the game and make it a compelling alternative to Hades.
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, Hades represents 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 2 finally got confirmation last year, and while players wait for the Hades sequel's launch, other titles like Ravenswatch could provide a perfect alternative for Hades fans.
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 St to return to the depths of the underworld to progress a little further with each playthrough. Hades kept 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. Ravenswatch follows a similar mythological theme, and there's plenty of fun monster hunting to satisfy the thirst of Hades fans.
Ravenswatch's Character Composition Offers a Unique Dynamic
Combining some of the most beloved folktale characters like Aladdin and Little Red Riding Hood with gory gameplay elements isn't something players see every day, and Ravenswatch gives 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.
Each playable character in Ravenswatch comes 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, and Ravenswatch tasks 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 in Ravenswatch, 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 like Assassin's Creed's viewpoints, Ravenswatch has 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 in Ravenswatch'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 of Hades, Baldur's Gate 3, and more. Although its core gameplay differs in plenty of ways, Ravenswatch remains a compelling roguelike with folklore-inspired trappings much like Hades. As fans anticipate Melinoe's battles with Chronos in Hades 2, Ravenswatch could be a worthy roguelike substitute for the Supergiant Games megastar franchise.
Ravenswatch is now available in Early Access on PC. PS4 and PS5 versions will release sometime in 2024.