Raji: An Ancient Epic Reviews
The lack of difficulty settings makes that a harder proposition, but I don’t want to dismiss the game outright simply because I didn’t have fun with the gameplay, when the core of the game is about celebrating a culture I’m not familiar with.
While this statement may inspire some eye-rolling for some people out there as a life-long gamer I deeply appreciate attempts to expand inclusiveness in video games...
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.
The game plays similarly to the original God of Wars with fixed moving cameras over a 3D world, although the camera feels incredibly far away making Raji almost a speck on the map. Combat is a standard affair with normal/heavy attacks and the dodge button, but Raji can also pull out some Prince of Persia moves with her wall jumps and swinging around poles to attack the beasts that show up.
It has a strong story and is a good adventure game with decent combat but it does play it quite safe and never pushes outside of the safety zone.
Raji: An Ancient Epic manages to bring a distinctly Indian perspective to a conventional action-adventure spectacle.
Nodding Head Games' Raji: An Ancient Epic tells an interesting story but is simply not be functional enough to enjoy.
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: 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.
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 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.
Despite its inspirations and a cool setting, Raji does not live up to a great experience, with frustating segments and many bugs.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
My curiosity about Indian culture was rewarded by a fun title that mixes platform and hack and slash. There are several praises that the game deserves, such as simple controls, challenging combat filled with varied combos and an interesting plot. Even with technical problems and certain decisions that negatively interfere with gameplay, these flaws are not strong enough to overshadow the game's brilliance. Although short, Raji: An Ancient Epic manages to prove that Hindu mythology is a rich source of inspiration ready to be tapped by the gaming market.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
From temple to fortress this journey into mythology is an absolute treat
For such a young studio, still finding its way in 2020’s complex gaming landscape, “Raji” is a strong foundation to build on.
Great art and an intriguing story set a strong premise for Raji: An Ancient Epic. It's backed by some impressive experimental gameplay and combat that has a few flaws, but it is far from broken. Playing as Raji is a joy and many Prince of Persia fans may see some things they liked from that series reflected here. Exploring the mythology and beliefs presented is an experience that only this has provided - a unique premise, if you will. It's in need of some polish but it feels like the developer realised its dream and with this commendable effort it's a shining start for the team. Raji comes recommended to all players looking for a new mythological action title!
More of a rough stone than a dazzling gem, Raji is glimmering with potential in lots of important ways and has some truly wonderful moments, but leaves something to be desired in terms of polish and consistency, especially where player movement is concerned. Overall this is a solid debut effort from a new developers and I suspect that the Steam version might be the one to play when it comes out later this year. Still, even with its flaws, Raji: An Ancient Epic offers a unique experience and a great story that are worth seeing, if you can get past the rough edges.
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.”
Few 3D action games feature the level of finesse and originality that Raji: An Ancient Epic boasts and it's quite captivating, too.