In the Raven Shadow

About

"The Raven Shadow" is a true retro adventure game, originally released in 1999, that takes you on a journey with Severin, a young monk falsely accused of immoral acts. To save his life, Severin jumps out of a window and embarks on a journey from the dark Middle Ages to enlightenment, all while being pursued by his accusers. Starring famous Czech actor Jiri Labus, the game offers an immersive and thought-provoking experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

story6 positive mentions

music1 negative mentions

The game features charming old-school graphics and excellent voice acting by a legendary Czech actor, enhancing the overall experience.
It evokes nostalgia for many players, especially those familiar with Czecho-Slovak gaming history, making it a beloved classic.
The puzzles, while sometimes challenging, are generally reasonable and contribute to an enjoyable point-and-click adventure experience.

The story is often confusing and lacks a coherent plot, with many illogical puzzles that detract from the gameplay.
The humor can be hit-or-miss, with some jokes feeling outdated or inappropriate, which may not resonate with all players.
Technical issues, such as bugs in the intro video and mixed cutscenes, can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The story of the game is widely criticized for lacking a coherent plot and meaningful direction, with many reviewers finding the ending forced and the combination of parody and serious themes ineffective. While some appreciate the interesting elements and reasonable puzzle solutions, the overall narrative is described as confusing and mind-numbing, detracting from the gameplay experience.
- “The story was interesting, and the solutions to the puzzles always seemed reasonable.”
- “In the Raven Shadow (Ve Stínu Havrana) is a point-and-click adventure with a nice goofy art style, great voice acting (Lábus nailed it), and quite a mind-numbing story.”
- “+cool storytelling”
- “The weakest point of the game is paradoxically the story, which doesn’t really have any plot and not much of a point, and the ending felt a bit forced; combining parody elements with serious topics doesn’t really work well here in my opinion.”
- “The plot is confusing, there are illogical puzzles and at some point the gameplay is so poor it's hindering the play.”
- “Also, I still can't wrap my mind around the story.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a mixed bag, featuring charming old-school graphics and classic black humor that appeals to adults, but it often falls flat with reliance on outdated "boomer" jokes instead of clever wit. While the Czech dubbing is praised for its hilarity, the overall comedic execution struggles to consistently deliver laughs, despite some funny gameplay elements.
- “Funny game for adults only from 1999 with charming unique old school graphics and nice classic black humor.”
- “Czech dubbing is hilarious and well performed by Jiří Lábus.”
- “Gameplay elements are funny and surprising.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming old-school style, which, while somewhat outdated by modern standards, still retains a unique appeal. The animation and art direction were considered top-notch at the time of release, contributing to the game's overall whimsical and humorous atmosphere.
- “On the technical side, graphics and animation scored very high in its time, and though they may look a bit outdated nowadays, they still retain their charm.”
- “+ funny game for adults only from 1999 with charming unique old school graphics & nice classic black humour.”
- “In the Raven Shadow (Ve Stínu Havrana) is a point-and-click adventure with a nice goofy art style, great voice acting, and quite a mind-numbing story.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game features single-guitar melodies that create a ballad-like quality, contributing to its overall charm despite the graphics appearing somewhat outdated by today's standards.
- “The music consists entirely of single-guitar melodies, giving the game an almost ballad-like quality.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The gameplay is characterized by its humor and unexpected elements, providing players with an entertaining and engaging experience.
- “The gameplay elements are funny and surprising.”
- “The gameplay mechanics keep me engaged and entertained.”
- “The variety of gameplay features adds depth and excitement to the experience.”