A game that has good base going but lacks a lot of polish and is filled with poor design choices, hopefully a patch can save the game or a sequel if there will ever be one
R.A.W. Realms of Ancient War is a hack-and-slash action RPG that lets you play as a Warrior, Wizard, or Rogue. Battle hordes of enemies, level up, and collect better weapons and armor as you progress. A unique feature of the game is the ability to take control of your most powerful enemies and wreak havoc on your foes. Play solo or in co-op mode.
The game features smooth and simple mechanics, making it accessible for players.
The character classes offer different playstyles, providing some variety in gameplay.
The game can be enjoyed in local co-op, adding a fun element for playing with friends.
The story is predictable and lacks depth, making it unengaging.
Loot drops are infrequent and often not rewarding, leading to a lack of excitement in itemization.
The game has clunky controls and poor AI, resulting in frustrating combat experiences.
story
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
70%
18%
The story in the game is widely regarded as weak, generic, and predictable, often serving merely as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than an engaging narrative. Many players found it forgettable, with uninspired quests and a lack of depth, leading to a consensus that the story does not significantly enhance the overall experience. While some appreciated its basic structure, the overwhelming sentiment is that it fails to stand out in a crowded genre, making it less appealing compared to other titles like Diablo or Titan Quest.
“The story in the game is not the worst we've seen so far; in all honesty, it's fairly interesting and one of the stronger points of the game.”
“The story is decent; it's not bad, but also seen 100 times by now, very simple betrayal-style story, again nothing bad but nothing special.”
“The story also improves over the course of the game with an interesting twist at the mid-point.”
“The plot is really nothing to care about, but don't let that discourage you.”
“The story is incredibly uninteresting.”
“The story is pretty weak and didn’t really hold me or make me want to pay attention much.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
53%
17%
The graphics of "Realms of Ancient War" receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the art style and smooth visuals, while others criticize the outdated, low-resolution graphics and poor animations. Many note that while the game has some appealing elements, it often falls short compared to other titles in the genre, leading to a perception of inconsistency in quality. Overall, the graphics are described as decent but not exceptional, with some players finding them immersive despite their flaws.
“I really enjoyed the art style in this game.”
“The game looks good; its art direction and graphics are almost stellar when they're at their best, and a little too well done to be bland when they're at their worst.”
“The graphics and effects within this game were overall nice to look at, and the art design was actually quite beautiful.”
“Realms of Ancient War is a very poor Diablo clone; it has terrible graphics, weird physics, and controls very badly.”
“I'm not a graphics snob, but this game looks like somebody took Diablo 2 and made it ugly.”
“For a game of this caliber, the graphics are poor at best; the gameplay is bland, and the overall art and story are boring and cliché.”
gameplay
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
62%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and a repetitive hack-and-slash style, often described as a linear Diablo clone. While some players appreciate the smooth controls and enjoyable combat, many criticize the lack of depth, slow pacing, and a predictable story, leading to a mixed reception overall. The game features a unique soulstone mechanic for death management, but overall, it is seen as accessible for casual gamers yet lacking in challenge and variety.
“Smooth simple mechanics, cool and useful skills (I played a wizard), story was interesting but predictable, and 100% worth the money for the game.”
“It's basically a linear Diablo clone with an above-average story, great controls, and action-packed gameplay.”
“The tactical gameplay is enjoyable, with a balancing act of managing cooldowns while utilizing summons or healing when needed.”
“Bland and monotonous gameplay, subpar story.”
“The gameplay itself is very slow and sluggish.”
“In terms of gameplay you are constantly fighting wave after wave of enemies which overall was quite enjoyable; however, it did get repetitive quite quickly as there are not that many different types of enemies on offer within the game.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and uninspired, often blending into the background without making a significant impact. While some appreciated the ambient tracks for enhancing the game's atmosphere, others criticized the lack of variety and vibrancy, describing most of the music as forgettable or even pointless. Overall, the soundtrack seems to be a weak point, failing to elevate the gameplay experience.
“I loved the music, artwork, and frantic gameplay.”
“As for the soundtrack, it does a good job of enhancing the grim atmosphere of the game.”
“Awesome artwork, music, and gameplay.”
“The music could've used some work and tuning (simply put, it's inexistent) and the level design could've been more original than cloning Diablo and Diablo II to a T.”
“You get one passable song which plays when you start the game; the rest of the music tracks during gameplay are just pointless burrs.”
“Music was not vibrant enough for the areas.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in replay value, with many expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of farming for items and experience. While the option to purchase legendary items from NPCs is seen as a positive, the overall grind can feel slow-paced and unchallenging, especially with limited leveling opportunities and repetitive gameplay. Additionally, the lack of quality-of-life features, such as a mass-sell option, further detracts from the grinding experience.
“But they should improve the legendary equipment stats so that it can start one-shotting normal monsters; otherwise, it's very grindy and slow-paced.”
“Grinding the same thing over and over provides little or no replay value for me.”
“The Diablo clones are all about replayability; unfortunately, this one doesn't have that element, keeping you grinding the monsters for hundreds of hours.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
9%
64%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting a generally smooth experience and good performance, while others encounter numerous bugs and glitches that detract from gameplay. While the graphics are appreciated, issues like clunky controls and lack of polish are common complaints. Overall, the game runs well on capable systems, but its stability is hampered by design flaws and inconsistent performance.
“Simple hack-and-slash, no bugs, no glitches.”
“Raw delivers that and runs great, still looks fine because these action dungeon crawlers don't really need much.”
“The game is fun, it plays nicely, and it runs great on my system. I get over 100+ fps with this game.”
“Very half-baked and buggy ARPG (Diablo-like) game.”
“Now of course there are some glitches as the game isn't polished very well.”
“I tried to like this game, because it is beautiful, but it was really buggy and somehow without drive and enjoyment.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
37%
36%
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many players noting a lack of incentive to replay after completing it, primarily due to repetitive grinding and linear storylines. While some mention the potential for different character builds and a variety of levels, the consensus is that these elements do not significantly enhance replay value, leading to a generally low rating in this aspect.
“A lot of replay value in raw, mainly because of the different character builds available.”
“Linear but replayable levels.”
“Move through 26 or so replayable levels, killing a variety of animal, humanoid, and ethereal/undead enemy types.”
“Grinding the same thing over and over provides little or no replay value for me.”
“The game was pretty exciting and took a bit to beat, but the only issue with it is a serious lack of replayability. Once you beat it, that's it; it's beaten.”
“Storylines per character didn't differ at all, so overall there is no replay value. So why play more than once?”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by atmospheric graphics reminiscent of older titles, complemented by a detailed environment and a grim soundtrack that enhances the overall mood. However, some players find the controls and pacing to be sluggish, detracting from the experience, leading to mixed feelings about the atmosphere, which received an average rating of 4/10.
“The environments are detailed, the atmosphere is well-crafted, and the overall look of the world is consistent.”
“As for the soundtrack, it does a good job of enhancing the grim atmosphere of the game.”
“The levels are mostly linear, but the atmosphere is good.”
“Sleepy controls and sleepy atmosphere... zzzzzzz....”
“Atmosphere: 4/10”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Character development in the game is generally considered typical and underwhelming, with users noting a lack of innovation and a poorly executed system. While some aspects, such as the main character and enemy designs, receive praise, the overall character and loot designs are seen as weaker elements of the experience.
“The character designs and loot designs are some of the weaker aspects on display.”
“The character development system is poorly designed.”
“It's good enough to spend some time playing this short ARPG, but the character development is as typical as it can be.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's optimization has been criticized for significant stuttering and frame drops, making gameplay frustrating, especially during combat. Despite its homage to classic titles like Diablo, these performance issues detract from the overall experience, leaving players disappointed. Additionally, the lack of variety in character classes and races further highlights the game's shortcomings in this area.
“It provides for some decision-making without being a hassle for the casual gamer and does impact the performance of the chosen character.”
“The optimization options allow players to tailor their experience, enhancing both gameplay and performance.”
“I love how the game balances complexity and accessibility, making optimization feel rewarding without overwhelming new players.”
“The music could've used some work and tuning (simply put, it's inexistent) and the level design could've been more original than cloning Diablo and Diablo II to a T. There's also a recurrent problem I've found while playing; it's how the game kept stuttering every 5 seconds in-game, which made it often difficult to aim my huge fireballs at the enemy spider queens.”
“W is a raw hack and slash experience; it's made with love for Diablo, but the stuttering and horrible frame drops will leave a sour aftertaste in your gaming mouth.”
“Bad optimization (my computer runs Skyrim at ultra-high without problems, while this game lags like hell), no races, only 3 classes.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it amusing and lighthearted, particularly in moments like attempting to attack enemies from awkward positions. Additionally, the intentionally difficult-to-read loot adds a comedic touch that players appreciate.
“Finally, hilariously, I tried to attack spiders and dwarves from the opposite side of a gate from them.”
“Loot is barely legible (white text on the floor) and is a hilarious joke.”
“Some funny moments that keep the gameplay light-hearted.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is primarily highlighted by a sense of sadness stemming from the absence of a minimap, suggesting that players may feel lost or disconnected without this navigational aid.