Ravenbound Review - The Final Verdict
418As I said at the beginning, I wanted to like Ravenbound, and there are certain endearing things about it. Alas, it's just a list of “could've” and “should've”. The Hatred system could have been a fun risk and reward mechanic. Combat should have been a fun amalgamation of dodging, parrying and slashing. The world could have been full of life and unique secrets to uncover. I should have been able to fly anywhere at the drop of a hat.
Instead, I just remembered there's a janky grappling hook, such is its impact on the gameplay. Unless grappling up mountains is a game-changer for you, that is.
Ravenbound could still very well live up to its potential as a rogue-lite-hack-and-slash-meets-3D-open-world. However, its combat, world design, enemy variety, Hatred system, towns, NPCs, performance, environmental effects and more still need some serious work, and that's before adding any new mechanics or variety to the gameplay.