Rainbite's Playstation Indie "Reverie" Blends Two Nintendo Favorites While Doing It's Own Thing

As the PR description so boldly stated Rainbite's "Reverie" is inspired by games like "The Legend of Zelda", and "Earthbound". It features the retro dungeon exploring, and village antics that such games harbor. While there is definitely some inspirational elements at play from said games Reverie does good to create it's own unique lore via a story unfolding within a story. What I mean by that is that the game at hand begins by telling a tale akin to a Hawaiian fable regarding brothers who set out to sea to catch some fish. One of which fished up an island leaving the other brothers to be envious. In their jealousy the unlucky brothers drowned the brother who had found the island, and in that moment became bound by a curse on the very island that was discovered. Once this tale is established via story panels, and told through a textual conversation between two off screen characters we find out that the protagonist is a young boy named Tai who is aboard a ship bound for that very fabled locale. He is there to visit his Grandfather, and it is through that meeting of different generations that what once was considered legend comes to life in the form of an epic adventure. Tai ultimately sets out to calm the cursed brothers, and bring stability to the island community after an unusual earthquake shakes the land around them. He faces many worldly, and otherworldly threats along the way as he collects the relics needed to put all of the brothers to rest.

Gameplay in "Reverie" is fairly simple. You will begin Tai's adventure to calm the cursed brothers by talking with the village residents, squaring away some initial errands that will get you your first tools for traversing the more challenging parts of the island. Your first discovered weapon will be a cricket bat, and with that weapon in hand you will be able to dispatch the various critters and creatures keeping you from completing the first dungeon's puzzles. As you progress you will pick up other items or tools of interest that will help in further dungeon exploration. Very much like the old "Legend of Zelda" games. Each dungeon is maze-like with doors that are both locked/blocked, and open for searching. You'll find a map, and a boss key in each dungeon as well. Getting from dungeon to dungeon is done by traveling through the equally puzzle laden paths of the overhead island area. Each area on the main island is visually distinguishable, and different with signs basically pointing you where you need to go, and where it is you should be.

Along your journey of discovery you will not only be collecting the tools needed to battle bosses, and deal with obstacles, but you will also be collecting five relics tied to the game's several bosses. That, and hidden items in the form of bird feathers that will be added to your collector's book. The tools, of which I spoke, can be assigned to three buttons for ease of access by bringing up the "L1" menu, and assigning them accordingly. Each area, and dungeon usually only requires that you assign a weapon, and two other tools for quick use. Learning what you need, and where isn't too difficult as the tools that are needed usually become available through side quests either in the dungeons themselves or prior to entering the dungeon. The five relics, on the other hand, are end game items meant to be used towards the end of your adventure when you face the disgruntled spirit of Heke. The previously mentioned brother who was wronged by his other brothers from the start. As far as navigation goes within the dungeons you'll find that pressing the "Touchpad" will bring up a floor map with various rooms highlighted for obvious purposes. This includes the boss room location, and any locked doors you might happen upon. At some points in dungeon playthroughs you'll unlock a portal for getting from the entrance to the boss room instantaneously. Pressing "X" on the red or green disc shaped platforms will transport you back and forth. This is especially handy if you die during the boss fight as you will respawn at the entrance of the dungeon.

Going from dungeon to dungeon, and besting the bosses will be your main focal point in Reverie while tool, and feather collecting will come in a close second place of importance. I will say that the puzzles in the game grow more complex, and more involved as you progress. You will have to think some along the ways in order to solve some of the more challenging puzzles. Puzzles of course come in the old sliding, target hitting, pressure plate using, and switch flipping variety. It's nothing extremely off putting, but some of it is definitely tricky.

The Presentation ...

Visually "Reverie" looks like an old Nintendo game in the vein of "Earthbound" with very similar looking character designs. Moving characters themselves, including Tai, can visually rotate in all directions, and use the tools in all directions. It changes up the traditional cardinal directions usage of games like "The Legend of Zelda" ever so slightly. As far as the soundtrack goes it sounds more orchestral, and modern. Not like the heavy chiptunes you'd find in the retro cartridge based games.The soundtrack is quite nice regardless.

The Verdict ...

I enjoyed 'Reverie' for the short lived adventure that it is. I thought the lore was established enough, and that the gameplay wasn't bad. My only complaint, if any, is that the game felt rushed. It felt short lived in the way of story development, plot points, and dungeon exploration. If this game were on scale with one of the more recent top down "Legend of Zelda" titles this game would easily have become a cult classic. Much akin to the 'Earthbound" adventure it inspired to be. Had the developer built more upon the lore, added more RPG elements, made grander dungeons, and an overall larger island map this game could truly have entered the "Triple A" territory. That being said it is still not bad in it's indie budget state. Hopefully the game sells well enough so that Rainbite can create a retro masterpiece that will earn them a proper place in big game development history. They have the vision and the know how. I think with a bigger budget in hand they could do just that. Btw, it is cross buy with the PS Vita meaning if you buy it for the PS4 you can get it on the PS Vita and vice versa!

VERDICT: Hell Yeah!!!