Raji: An Ancient Epic Reviews
From temple to fortress this journey into mythology is an absolute treat
Raji: An Ancient Epic is a strong debut for Nodding Head Games but it's just a shame there isn't more of it. It brings a respectful take on Hindu and Balinese mythology, one which has a strong narrative hook that invests you in Raji's personal adventure whilst offering enjoying gameplay. Though it suffers from some unfortunate technical issues, this is one journey we still recommend experiencing, especially if you're a fan of the genre.
A confident first game from Indian studio Nodding Heads Games. Raji: An Ancient Epic features a thematically appropriate player viewpoint, which unfortunately hampers some of the platforming elements, but a simple and surprisingly versatile combat system keeps things interesting.
Raji: An Ancient Epic is a solid first attempt for Nodding Head Games, but there are issues that will need to be addressed for future games. The Indian setting and use of Hindu mythology differentiates Raji from similar titles, lending it a fast-paced story and interesting protagonist, but the presentation, quality of voice acting and platforming all need improvement.
Raji: An Ancient Epic can offer you some scenic locations, plenty of platforming, and a rather boring combat system. The main selling point here is not Raji herself, but the godlike beings, telling the tales of the Indian mythology, heavily intertwined with with the game's overall storyline.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Raji was a decent experience. While it never stood out from the combat focused platformer crowd, it never buried itself in the crowd either. It’s fine game that I think fans of this style of game will enjoy even with the issues I had. If only the loading screen wasn’t so long, I wouldn’t have had as many issues with failing at my jumps and at the combat with several enemies. In the end, this is a different take on a familiar style of game that is just fine, but doesn’t stand out.
Raji: An Ancient Epic is an incredible experience delivered through a short and vibrant story. You can feel the passion and the talent from the developers come through in each moment of the game. Though it may not be as polished around the edges as I'd like, the issues do not outweigh the high points.
Raji: An Ancient Epic is an incredible adventure that carries the soul of the famed Prince of Persia. Although there are some technical issues, its intriguing narrative, immense world and core gameplay will keep you hooked.
A beautiful and wonderfully executed story, Raji: An Ancient Epic is definitely an enjoyable way to spend a few hours of your time. Its combat mechanics are functional and fine, but rarely stray into the realm of “fun.”
Unparalleled presentation and atmosphere spoiled by unwieldly combat and clumsy level design. The most memorable moments happen when your hands are off the controls.
The theme, gameplay, and the excellent visuals in Raji: An Ancient Epic make for a fun session every time you fire it up. The limitations are minimal, and the very few critiques I might have are not major detractors. This is a good game and worth a playthrough.
Raji: An Ancient Epic manages to bring a distinctly Indian perspective to a conventional action-adventure spectacle.
Raji; An Ancient Epic has a lot of potential and a unique style and story, but seems to be actively working against the player's enjoyment in many ways. While the first level is enjoyable, the rest of the game is plagued with performance issues and incomprehensible design decisions.
Nodding Head Games' Raji: An Ancient Epic tells an interesting story but is simply not be functional enough to enjoy.
Hot on the trail of the demons who kidnapped her little brother, brave Raji finds herself drawn into an adventure where the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Can you help her and her divine patrons thwart the plans of the evil Mahabalasura in this beautiful celebration of Indian culture and mythology?
Raji: An Ancient Epic is an action, adventure platforming puzzler that draws you in with its deep storyline built upon the foundation of Hindu and Balinese mythology. The action elements are diverse, challenging, and fun. While there are slower story focused interspaced between the action it's in these lulls that players can enjoy the beautiful aesthetics. With light exploration features and jumping/platforming mechanics that pay homage to the early Prince Of Persia games, you'll find a lot to like in this cultural gem!
Nodding Head Games clearly have a lot of passion for the subject material, and you can see that they definitely put a lot of heart and soul into Raji. With more experience and a better budget, they could probably make a game that is every bit as fun to actually play as it is to immerse yourself in. The abrupt ending teases at a potential sequel, so hopefully they’ll have another chance to improve upon what they have created thus far.
For a debut effort, ... it's proof that Indian studios with the right push can deliver titles for major consoles, and not be stuck in the free-to-play mobile mess that dominates Indian game development.
Raji tells us a lovely tale embellished with Indian mythology; a tale that I enjoy listening to, watching and being a part of, except for a few flaws that leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
It's worth noting the developer announced a bugfix update is in the works, but tread with caution if you decide to buy-in beforehand. But all that said, those demerits weren't enough to sour my experience with Raji: An Ancient Epic. The well-worn game structure is adorned with a decorative style that's wholly unique in video games; a striking soundtrack with heavy sitar notes and an ancient Hindu history lesson compel you to see this personal story of sister and brother to its conclusion. Even with performance caveats in mind, there's a lot of beauty to uncover here if you give it a chance.