Graven

It feels like there were some very specific ideas the creators of Graven wanted to communicate. But while those ideas sometimes weave together with the game’s dark fantasy, old-school shooter style to form some immaculate vibes, that’s about as deep as it gets. The game seems confused about whether or not it wants to be an awesome action game, a thoughtful explorative puzzler, or some kind of mutant Soulslike gimmick. It sputters across the finish line not really achieving anything but a cool look, undermined constantly by boredom. It’s a shame, because Graven has a hell of a vibe. But there’s simply too much bonkin’ and not enough bangin’.

GRAVEN ultimately succeeds in creating a rich and immersive world that harkens back to an era when first-person dark fantasy adventures were at their peak. The combination of retro aesthetics with a modern lighting system and particle effects, engaging (if slightly repetitive in longer game sessions) combat, and a good variety of enemies, puzzles, and environmental explorations succeed in offering an experience that is as fresh and immersive as it needs to be. However, the game's sometimes disconnected narrative and some somewhat articulate puzzles in addition to minor technical problems mar the overall experience.

Graven is an old-school dark fantasy first-person shooter that somehow feels like no other, taking cues not only from classics like Hexen but also throwing in elements of RPG, immersive sim, and more, creating a mix that feels unique and engaging. The game’s lengthy campaign does feature some questionable progression at times, with somewhat needless soulslike elements, time-consuming puzzles, and an uneven balance, but none of these flaws could ruin the game for me. Graven is not just a mechanically fun FPS, it’s also a great journey worth experiencing for yourself – but next to spellbooks, metal swords, and medieval armor, do remember to pack a healthy dose of patience, as its often convoluted design can cause some frustration.

It's clear from the very first hour into the dark fantasy world of GRAVEN that this retro-flavoured FPS was not a victim of an incompetent developer, but one more example of internal problems that didn't let the team behind it complete its homage to titles like HeXen. The end result remains fun despite its many issues, like its unnecessary long length and unbalanced mechanics. Sadly, it's also very likely that players might stumble upon a game-breaking bug that will ruin hours upon hours of gameplay.

Graven is a retro aesthetic FPS with great aspirations through which it intends to pay tribute to the mythical Hexen, Heretic or Blood, but it fails when it comes down to it. You can see the love and effort that Slipgate Ironworks put into developing a title inspired by classics from the '90s. However, there are several elements that work against it, making it difficult to recommend.

Graven is a quality addition to the FPS offering, it gives a fair challenge and will especially please fans of fantasy horror games and the dark ages.

Graven tries to swim against the market stream and offer something new, resembling games like Hexen and Heretic, but that's pretty much all it does and eventually falls short in almost every other department.

GRAVEN aims for an intriguing combination of exploration, combat, and puzzle solving. All are decent, neither is truly good and the game cannot seem to decide what kind of experience it wants to create. I really wanted to use the spells, especially fire, to kill enemies, without resorting to blades or arrows.

GRAVEN's shortcomings will hold you back from really enjoying it. Although the design and atmosphere are great, it's not enough to overcome the frustrating gameplay loop. Fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy, but for most, the overall experience is likely to tip more into the frustrating than the exciting.

Graven tries a little too hard to bring back the glories of early 90s shooters and gets the look right, but doesn't seem to realize the gameplay's retrograde complications dampen the potential enthusiasm.