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Ravensword: The Fallen King (iPhone)

That Rev Chap — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:36:00 +0000

So, I had to go to Sytheria to kill some demon or something. I wasn’t sure where in Sytheria to go, so after trekking all the way there I went into some caves and wandered through them until I found myself out in the mountains area, miles away. I turned to go back, but the door I’d just come through was now locked and I needed an item I didn’t have to open it again. So I made my way through the mountains, past the cliffs, back into town, through the forest, through the dungeon, back to Sytheria, to the tower I should have found first time, up the stairs, found the demon, wasn’t quite sure what to do, the controls, which are normally fine, failed me completely and I died, finding myself back in town again.

I haven’t played it since. Mind you, although it sounds awful, the part where I got lost was actually brilliant. Real exploration, not knowing what was around the next corner, fighting off enemies and making my way through unknown lands. Great stuff; it made me fall in love with the game all over again.

And then it all fell apart fighting the demon and I got all pouty. When it’s good, it’s great, but sometimes it’s the most exceptionally annoying gaming I’ve played in… well, days, probably. Maybe even weeks, but that’s pushing it.

Ravensword: The Fallen King (iPhone)

That Rev Chap — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:12:00 +0000

Oh, for pity’s sake. I trekked all the back to Sytheria to kill that ogre. This time I managed it with ease, felling the big idiot with a few blast arrows to the chest. I grabbed the item he was guarding, then took it back to one guy in town, who told me to go see another chap.

So I went through the graveyard (killing a zombie on the way), talked to this other chap, who told me to go back to Sytheria to kill someone else. Now, maybe I’ve missed a fast travel option somewhere, but this is getting beyond a joke.

It’s a great game in many – most – ways, but it doesn’t half feel like a slog sometimes. Of course, it should be noted that getting back to Sytheria would probably only take somewhere between five and ten minutes, but that doesn’t stop it feeling like a chore.

Ravensword: The Fallen King (iPhone)

That Rev Chap — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:31:00 +0000

So, I had to go kill an ogre. I walked through town. I trekked through the forest, killing boars and goblins aplenty. I made my way through the dark, dank dungeon where I’d killed the orc. I got to the new area where the ogre lived. I fought off an attack from a terrible lizard. I found the ogre. I unloaded explosive arrows into him, but he managed to get close to me and…

I didn’t try again. How I long for some fast travel options.

Ravensword: The Fallen King (iPhone)

That Rev Chap — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:04:00 +0000

Guess what? Would you like it if you were in a dungeon trying to find an orc after killing loads of wolves to level up enough to survive the dungeon but you couldn’t find the orc and then it turned out you had to jump through burning hot lava to get to the orc?

Anyway, things are back on track now. I’ve rescued the girl from the orc, finally, and I’ve got a new quest to do.

Also, it turns out that zombies are surprisingly wealthy.

Ravensword: The Fallen King (iPhone)

That Rev Chap — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:31:00 +0000

After killing Nazi zombies I thought I’d wind down with a bit of fantasy adventuring. The controls, which felt fine yesterday, felt a bit awkward after Call of Duty, but I adjusted quickly enough as I walked through town. As soon as I was out of town, though, I got killed by a wolf. Bother.

To make myself feel better I bought a nice hat with wings. Wings!

Lovely, ain’t it?

Anyway, I’m a bit stuck right now. I’ve only got one quest, which involves rescuing someone trapped in a dungeon. Unfortunately there are a couple of high level skeletons in my way and they keep killing me, so I think I’ll have to go hunting for a while to level up. Mind you, there’s a mace for sale at the blacksmith’s shop. I wonder if that would be better against zombies than a sword? There’s no stats for weapons to let me know whether it would be any better or worse than the sword I’m using, which is a bit of an issue.

Ravensword: The Fallen King (iPhone)

That Rev Chap — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:28:00 +0000

It’s Oblivion on the iPhone, basically. A lot smaller, yes, and the lack of character customisation means it’s more of an action adventure than an RPG, but it’s set in an open fantasy world and lets you get on with things. There are quests to take, different areas to explore, treasure to find, monsters to kill, all that good stuff.

I’ve spent an hour with it, which has seen me killing rats for a restaurant to serve up for dinner, getting on a horse and herding some sheep, killing thieving goblin scum and venturing into a dungeon to rescue someone’s daughter.

And I’ve had a great time doing all of it. I changed the sensitivity of the controls to maximum before I even left the first room, then I was away. There’s a decent interface – though the map could maybe use a bit more work, even if only to show the direction you’re facing – and lots to do. It may not be as long or as deep as a real Elder Scrolls adventure, but it’ll do me fine, I think.

Oh, but I’ve been “dying” a lot and if Beatrice gives me her patronising speech one more time I may have to kill her… except I can’t, because you can’t attack NPCs. Probably for the best, eh?