While the market for roguelike games is vast, multiplayer options within the genre are few and far between. Passtech Games has recognized this market gap and developed a game called Ravenswatch to address this issue.
What sets Ravenswatch apart is its inclusion of a multiplayer mode, a rare feature in other roguelike games. Notably, the same team responsible for creating Curse of the Dead Gods, another popular roguelike game, are the developers behind Ravenswatch.
The game Ravenswatch presents players with the option to play individually or collaboratively with others, selecting from six different characters based on famous storybook legends or heroic figures. Nonetheless, it remains unknown which of these characters is the most powerful during the game’s Early Access stage.
The ranking of the Pied Piper character as the weakest among the six options in Ravenswatch may surprise some. Unlike the other characters, the Pied Piper’s gameplay mechanics are more akin to those of a twin-stick shooter rather than a typical roguelike character. Players can fire a continuous stream of musical notes from the flute by holding down the Attack button or manipulating the right stick on a controller, distinguishing the Pied Piper from the rest in gameplay style.
Because of the Pied Piper’s unique gameplay style in Ravenswatch, he is considered one of the safest characters to play, as he can attack from a distance without engaging in close-quarters combat. This advantage, however, comes at the expense of lower default damage output compared to the other characters. In a multiplayer setting, the Pied Piper’s strengths are amplified as he can inflict the Vulnerable Status Ailment with his Special attack while also dealing consistent damage without exposing himself to undue risk.
While playing Ravenswatch alone, the Pied Piper character may seem less exciting than the other characters, especially after players have had the opportunity to experiment with them. It could be because the Pied Piper’s Magical Object buffs cannot significantly boost his damage output or modify his gameplay loop. As a result, his abilities may feel less impressive compared to the other characters.
Beowulf is a character in Ravenswatch that many players consider the best choice, owing to his exceptional abilities. Beowulf is based on the legendary hero from the English epic poem. Beowulf is primarily designed to be a close-range damage dealer who values high damage output and versatility in his build over speed and safety, which sets him apart from the Pied Piper. His unique Trait, Last Wyrm, empowers him to enhance the next Power, Special, or Defense he uses, each of which has particular strengths for dealing with single targets, groups, or general enemies.
In Ravenswatch, Beowulf is considered a beginner-friendly character due to his straightforward mechanics. His kit includes a standard sword attack, a linear power shockwave, an area-of-effect spinning special, and a blocking defense option. Despite his simplicity, Beowulf is ranked lower on the list because he requires proximity to enemies to deal optimal damage, making him vulnerable in multiplayer settings. Additionally, some of his Magical Object upgrades can open him to enemy attacks while the animations play out, increasing his susceptibility to harm.
Scarlet, also known as Little ReRiding Hood, is ranked in the middle of the game’s characters due to her potential for extreme power and sudden weakness, depending on the enemy’s strength and the success of their attack. She is considered the game’s “glass cannon” due to her low Defense and health but high critical chance and powerful attacks after building up her Combo Points. Scarlet accumulates points by attacking, displayed under her health bar as three daggers, and can use these points for her Power attack in both her human and wolf forms to deliver significant damage.
Red, also known as Scarlet or Little Red Riding Hood, has a unique gameplay mechanic that allows her to switch between human and wolf forms. In her wolf form, she becomes more durable and robust. However, Scarlet’s damage output heavily relies on a buildup of low-damage attacks, and she can easily defeat during the day. Despite this, with the right combination of player skill and Magical Objects, Scarlet can become extremely powerful and surpass the game’s top three characters.
The next character on the list is the Snow Queen, a surprising addition to the game inspired by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s collection of fairy tales. As a mage character, she specializes in area-of-effect attacks, has a primary Magic Missile-like projectile, and focuses entirely on inflicting the Chilled status ailment on her enemies. At first glance, her abilities may seem lackluster as only a few deal significant damage, and her most powerful move, her Special, requires her first to inflict the Chilled status ailment on her opponents.
Indeed, the article talks about the game Ravenswatch, a cooperative action game that features several fairytale-inspired characters. It describes the gameplay of five characters: the Pied Piper, Beowulf, Scarlet, the Snow Queen, and the Gingerbread Man. The article provides detailed descriptions of each character’s abilities and playstyle, as well as their ranking in terms of effectiveness. The report concludes that while all the characters are fun to play, the Snow Queen is the most effective for dealing with groups of enemies and excels in one-on-one scenarios due to her ability to slow enemies.
The game is relatively new and has yet to gain much popularity in Early Access. Therefore, the rankings have been chiefly based on single-player experience than multiplayer. Melusine, however, has secured the second position mainly due to her effectiveness in multiplayer. While she is still a solid solo character, her abilities can be enhanced in multiplayer with the right Magical Objects, allowing her to act as an unstoppable healer or a support that grants shields, making her allies nearly invincible.
The main challenge with Melusine lies in adjusting to her playstyle that depends on Stances. When she uses her Attack or Power, she automatically enters Sing Stance, which restricts her movement and creates a large circle around her that indicates the maximum range of her Wisp. In Sing Stance, Melusine cannot move, leaving her vulnerable, but she can defend herself with the Wisp, repel enemies with her Special, or even evade entirely using her Defense. However, it takes some practice to become comfortable with this mechanic.
Aladdin may have seemed less robust initially, and his appearance may not match the game’s overall art style and some other heroes. Still, he quickly becomes the most overpowered character once players understand how his Trait and abilities work together. His Trait, which allows him to start with three Magical Objects right from the beginning, gives him a massive advantage that can be further enhanced through luck or using his Ultimate. Aladdin also has a well-rounded set of abilities that make him a strong fighter, including an excellent Defense option, fast Attacks, a decisive Power move, and an interesting Special that can be used in multiple ways. What makes him stand out, though, is his ability to generate items, heal fully, or deal significant damage in a wide area, which adds even more to his already impressive arsenal and secures him the top spot on the list.