Raventhorne (XBLIG): "Norse Mythology For The New Age"

Milkstone Studios, a very well known XBLIG developer recently released 'Raventhorne' on the Xbox Live Marketplace. This very unique, and beautifully rendered game is based on the Norse mythology surrounding the event called Ragnarok. For those of you who have never read or heard of Ragnarok, it is basically an end of the world scenario where all the Norse Gods will die in a battle against some mythological dieties/creatures. It's an all out war to until the very end. If you ever get a chance to visit the library I definitely suggest checking out some literature on the subject. It makes for some very fun reading. Milkstone's version of the event isn't a direct literature to game translation, but I found this to only enhance the quality of the game. Copying an old myth would only make things dull. Milkstone brings this Norse tale to life in an epic way that's worthy of the mythology it's based on.

Raventhorne begins in a manner that's different than most end of the world types of games. The hero 'Raventhorne' who looks a lot like Thor finds himself in the realm of the dead suffering from amnesia, and not understanding how he got there. Three norns (Females/Witches in Norse mythology that decide men's fate) greet our hero as he awakens in Niflheim (The Land of Mist/Fallen Warriors). They inform him that he must make a perilous journey to Asgard to join the Norse Gods in their final stand. Along the way he is also greeted, and guided by a mysterious character who calls himself 'Loptr'. Raventhorne must figure out who he can trust before he reaches his final destination, or fail in the process of doing so.

The graphics in Raventhorne are amazing, and unique. If I had to compare them to any game I had ever played it would be 'Muramasa: The Demon Blades (Wii)'. The game is practically artwork that has been brought to life through digital animation. The backgrounds are layered in a way that gives each area/level depth. The misty colors of Niflheim reflect the locations eerie, and haunting background story. As you venture along you will face evil creatures who were once brave warriors. There are also several special effects in the game that add to it's brilliant, and vivid quality. As you battle your way closer to Asgard you won't be able to help admiring the fine details that Milkstone has incorporated in this masterpiece of a game.

Gameplay in Raventhorne can seem a little intimidating at times, and the pack mentalitity of the enemies may cut your journey short on occasion. Playing through the game is worth it definitely worth it though. I did find the game to be a little more involved than most XBLIG titles out there, but this is not a bad thing. The game eases you into the controls as you play along. There are stone markers that will give you hints, tips, and gameplay controls as you progress. As Raventhorne you can unleash combos, block attacks, and even cast spells on your enemies. There are also spells that can help you regain life, enhance your defense, and even enhance your attacks. Unlike most hack 'n slash games though, Raventhorne balances combat and requires you to use your skills sparringly. If you perform too many combos Raventhorne will become tired, and vulnerable for attacks. Your stamina meter lets you know when to hold off on the attacks, and when you can wail away at your foes. There's also a spell meter that must be filled by defeating enemies, or gathering blue crystals. Crystals in the game come in three colors. Green crystals will refill health, pink crystals will level your character up, and the blue crystals will fill up your spell meter. You can only use a spell when the spell meter is full though, so using the right spell at the right time is very necessary.

I found no actual/literal difficulty setting in Raventhorne. The difficulty level is decided by which stance you decide to use. There are three stances you can choose from in the game. The first stance (sword w/shield) is a defensive stance which is suggested for beginners. The second stance (sword w/yellow circle) is for medium style/semi-offensive gameplay, and the third stance (crossed swords w/ red circle) is for the more aggressive style of gameplay. The enemies also play a huge part in the game's difficulty. You'll find that a lot of the enemies will gather, and attack in groups. Defeating them as quickly as possible is necessary for surviving to each levels end. Every type of enemy gets progressively hard as you venture further into the game. The more difficult enemies will have red accents while the milder ones will have yellow markings or no markings at all. Each enemy also has different attack patterns. Learning these attack patterns will help you make it through easier.

I found Raventhorne to be a fun yet challenging game. The controls were easy to learn, but the pack mentality of the game's creatures did get a bit unbearable at times. Your success is decided by how well you are able to defend against enemy attacks, and how wisely you spend your spells. The artwork, and haunting soundtrack of the game was truly impressive. I was actually surprised that this game didn't make it as an XBLA game seeing how well developed it was. Perhaps the length of the game had a role to play in that? You're probably wondering by now do I recommend this game? I think Milkstone did a great job with Raventhorne, and the quality is greater than a lot of the XBLIG titles out there. The only issue I had with it was that it seemed a bit short. There is a reason for this that you will discover if you play through it though. The game is definitely worth the microsoft points in my opinion. You will get an epic, quality experience worthy of the price.