As an avid role-playing game fan, I was glad to get my hands on a copy of Ravensword: The Fallen King for the iPhone/iPod Touch. One thing I enjoy more than anything is a great story immersed in a fantasy world and filled with animated skeletons, giants and wiry little rat-like creatures. I still play Dungeons & Dragons and, of course, every RPG I can get my hands on that is released for console. Ravensword is a great addition to the digital RPGs on the market, but what makes it amazing is that there is so much to explore and the way it has been developed for a mobile device.
The story begins when the hero (you) wakes up in an unknown town by the name of Aven. You don’t know who you are, but a young lass by the name of Beatrice is tending to your wounds. She suggests you take things easy and that you may want to speak to the villagers around town for some information and help with their tasks if need be.
The story leads you through underground caverns, vast mountain ranges, plains and graveyards filled with the undead, hungry to destroy your flesh, all to find out who you are and rid the missing king’s castle of a brooding evil.
The music in Ravensword has a great feel and immerses the player into the fantasy-driven world. The controls for the most part are smooth and easy to use. However, I couldn’t find anything on attacking creatures, so my first encounters with the rats sent me back to Beatrice’s care and made me run back to where I was. Unfortunately, I became way too familiar with the death mechanic before figuring out the attack mechanic. However, once you get the targeting system down — and understand that you need to see the enemy targeted to attack it — you will do fine. There is a first- and third-person perspective in the game, both of which I found quite helpful throughout the game, especially when fighting smaller creatures.
Ultimately, I enjoyed Ravensword, and if you are an RPG fan, you will certainly enjoy it, too. Even those who don’t normally play RPGs may find an interest in Ravensword, as it has a great story to follow and isn’t as in-depth as most console RPGs. You won’t find character customization or a lot of resources to manage, making this a great RPG to get behind for those new to the genre. Fantastic graphics for an iPhone game, an immersive soundtrack and a wonderful story make Ravensword a game you shouldn’t pass up.
