Is there a gaming industry in India?? I’ve never asked myself this question. There was no reason at all. It turned out that there is, and what kind of! What was unexpected, stunning and exciting for me was the discovery of a product from a small Indian indie studio (I apologize for the taftology, but you can’t erase the words from the song) Nodding Heads Games (less than 10 people, based in Pune, India) – Raji: An Ancient Epic. The game was released on Steam on October 15, 2020, t.e. literally yesterday.
This happens to me extremely rarely, so that from the first minutes (what are there minutes – seconds) the game strikes me with its obvious good quality and then this feeling does not go away throughout the entire game. Raji is the same case. From the very first introductory video, from the moment the first words were spoken and colorful music began to play, it became clear that this was a work of art.
The main characters, brother and sister, lead a carefree life. But that’s just for now
There is a brother and sister. As the story progresses, they find themselves drawn into the struggle between gods, demons and humans. The brother was kidnapped, and the sister, having received a powerful weapon from the local goddess, went to the rescue, it seems, right into the very heart of the demon world.
Third person action game. But, as for me, it’s more of a visual pleasure intertwined with a narrative story, diluted with battles. At the same time, the combat system, although it is relatively simple, does not allow you to relax and has great potential. It’s not for nothing that the heroine girl is a circus performer; she has an impressive arsenal of beautiful attacks and combinations. For example, she can run onto a wall, do a somersault off the wall and hit a bad demon in it. Moreover, even the same movements are animated in different ways, which further adds beauty and variety.
The fight looks something like this
There is no inventory or leveling in the game. We just run forward and overcome. Although, as her mastery of the divine trident improves, the heroine develops more advanced methods of destroying enemies.
The demon world awaits
But, as for me, this game is not about fighting at all. It’s about the amazing flavor of Indian mythology and the player’s contact with it through the game. I liked much more watching simply beautiful views and listening to the stories of this world while studying the bas-reliefs.
During the game, I simply could not https://wilberforceinstitute.uk/what-is-responsible-gambling let go of the F12 button… This is a generator of the coolest screenshots
In addition, the game has a well-made platform part. At the same time, it is pleasant and does not cause irritation, unlike the vast majority of other platformers. The heroine does not fall into every abyss. There is no need to replay the same thing thirty times, which creates the integrity of the passage. This is also facilitated by the convenient location of automatic save points. If you fail, you will not have to replay the last two hours of the game.
We need to jump further along these pillars.
The game may not be amazing, but it pleases with its well-thought-out level design, beautiful general views, and convenient camera movements.
The heroine looks a bit small compared to the general background, but in practice it plays out well.
Let’s move on to a description of the pros and cons of the game.
+ I usually evaluate the visual and audio components of games separately. But in this case, in my opinion, the result is a kind of synergy of graphics and sound, which in symbiosis complement each other and create a unique atmosphere of the game.
+ The graphics in the game are good. But the game also has amazingly beautifully drawn 2D story scenes. I can also only praise their quality of workmanship.
2D scenes are stylish, solid, despite the simplicity of execution.
+ The game takes us back to a long-forgotten time, when you just had to play the game, without being driven by leveling up or collecting equipment. In general, I am a big fan of a good grind, but this game even pleased me with the process. For those who don’t like grinding, this will generally seem ideal.
+ Good price on Steam
+ This is my first time writing this, but I really liked the English voice acting of the game.
+ There is high-quality Russification of titles.
– Most likely this game will end. It will be a pity to leave. I’m still a long way from finishing the game, but I’m already getting a similar feeling.
The game is definitely worth it. It can be safely recommended to players of the widest preferences. Everyone will find something interesting for themselves in it. Art design is magical. I don’t pretend to have some kind of final and comprehensive assessment, but my inner esthete was in ecstasy almost the entire time that I played, 10 out of 10. And taking into account the fact that the game tells about the world of Indian mythology, little known to the general gaming public, this could be even more interesting.
PS: I wrote the review, one might say, in one breath. Therefore, if I missed something important, if there is something worth adding to the review, if I can tell you something in more detail about the game, something that interests you, then I will be glad to do it based on the results and during communication in the comments.
10 out of 10… 10 out of 10.
And a little more beauty… In the game, the aesthetics of moments are felt many times cooler than in the screenshots.
