R.A.W. Realms of Ancient War

44%
Game Brain Score Based on 319 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
R.A.W. Realms of Ancient War Game Cover
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
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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.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

44%
Audience ScoreBased on 319 reviews
story13 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • Simple hack-and-slash gameplay that is enjoyable and fun, especially in local co-op.
  • Decent graphics and art style that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of older ARPGs.
  • Offers a straightforward experience with three distinct classes, allowing for varied playstyles.
  • Lacks depth in story and character progression, with a weak narrative and uninspired quests.
  • Technical issues such as crashes, poor controls, and a lack of customization options hinder the overall experience.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive and monotonous, with limited enemy variety and simplistic mechanics.
  • story88 mentions

    The game's story is widely criticized for being weak, generic, and uninspired, often described as a simple betrayal narrative that fails to engage players. Many reviewers noted the lack of depth in the lore and character development, with quests feeling trivial and repetitive. Overall, the story does not provide sufficient motivation for players, making it a significant drawback in the gaming experience.

    • “The story also improves over the course of the game with an interesting twist at the mid-point.”
    • “Story was pretty decent and the rogue was mostly what I was hoping for.”
    • “It has an okay story and good pacing, but most of the gameplay aspects feel too simplistic.”
    • “The story was rather weak and provided little to no motivation.”
    • “The story is pretty weak and didn’t really hold me or make me want to pay attention much.”
    • “The storyline was by far the lamest thing I've ever seen.”
  • graphics70 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the art style and atmospheric visuals, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking in resolution. Many note that the graphics are decent for a game of its age, with some appealing environmental designs, but also mention glitches and a lack of customization options. Overall, while the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they are often described as pleasant and immersive, especially for casual gameplay.

    • “I really enjoyed the art style in this game.”
    • “As I was playing the game, I noticed that I was getting more and more attached to it... the graphics are quite flashy (they remind me of Van Helsing, another hack n'slash); I mean they're great for a game that's been out for quite some time now.”
    • “Great game, tons of action, slick graphics, good 5.1 sound, lots of gore.”
    • “The graphics are quite old fashioned, low resolution, but still quite immersive.”
    • “Can't adjust any graphics options and can't make full screen, this game is horrible.”
    • “No full screen option, uninspired graphics, boring barely thought out story and predictable characters and combat.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as simple and repetitive, primarily revolving around clicking on enemies until they are defeated, with some players noting sluggish mechanics and a lack of challenge. While the soulstone mechanic adds an interesting twist to the death system, the overall gameplay feels basic and lacks depth, making it more suitable for casual players. Despite its decent graphics and straightforward controls, many reviewers found the game lacking in customization options and variety, leading to a less engaging experience.

    • “I also loved the soulstone mechanic; how instead of dying you consume one soulstone (gems you find throughout levels, think of them as one-ups) and if you're out of soulstones, your hero permanently dies!”
    • “Decent graphics and gameplay, but it's more arcade-game than RPG (probably because it's a console port).”
    • “+ simple and dynamic gameplay, which allows you to play short sessions.”
    • “The gameplay itself is very slow and sluggish.”
    • “The gameplay itself is basically 'click on enemies until they die' and instead of a reasonable number of hotkeys for all skills, some of them have to be activated via 'key + shift', which doesn't make sense for mouse-focused gameplay.”
    • “Graphics, control, and general gameplay all were severely lacking even for 4 years ago.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the slow pace of leveling and the lack of efficient trading options, such as a mass-sell feature. While the ability to replay levels for extra resources is appreciated, the grind for achievements and the need for improved legendary item stats contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game could benefit from enhancements to reduce the grind and improve player engagement.

    • “But they should improve the legendary equipment stats so that it can one-shot normal monsters; otherwise, it's very grindy and slow-paced.”
    • “Although there's only 12 achievements, it will get grindy if going for 100%.”
    • “You can play a couple of levels per session because it becomes tedious.”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking vibrancy, failing to enhance the gameplay experience. While some appreciated the solid background tracks that adapt to gameplay, others noted that the music felt almost non-existent and did not capture their attention. Overall, the ambient music could benefit from more variety and tuning to better complement the game's atmosphere.

    • “I loved the music, artwork, and frantic gameplay.”
    • “Solid background music track that changes depending on the gameplay taking place.”
    • “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.”
    • “Music was not vibrant enough for the areas.”
    • “The background music did not draw my attention, for better or worse.”
  • stability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many users report a smooth experience with no major bugs or glitches, some have encountered minor graphical issues and clunky controls that affect gameplay. The game runs well and maintains a pleasant visual style, but design flaws, such as the lack of tooltips, detract from the overall experience.

    • “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.”
    • “And it's not buggy or anything; just not well designed in some places (like no tooltips on items; you have to click on the item to have info show up in a section at the bottom).”
    • “Controls are really clunky and buggy; there are also many movement glitches.”
    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and graphical style, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
    • “The game has some stability issues with noticeable glitches.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game has mixed reviews regarding replayability. While it features linear levels that can be replayed and offers some variety through different character abilities, many players feel that the lack of distinct storylines and a definitive end result significantly diminish its replay value.

    • “Move through 26 or so replayable levels, killing a variety of animal, humanoid, and ethereal/undead enemy types.”
    • “Linear but replayable levels.”
    • “The game was pretty exciting and took a bit to beat, 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 no replay value... so why play more than once?”
    • “However, given the decent range of individual character abilities, there is some scope for replayability.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably poor, with frequent stuttering and frame drops that hinder gameplay, particularly during combat. While it captures the essence of classic hack-and-slash titles like Diablo, these performance issues detract significantly from the overall experience. Additionally, the lack of original level design and minimal music further contribute to a less polished feel.

    • “It provides for some decision-making without being a hassle for the casual gamer and does impact the performance of the chosen character.”
    • “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 n'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.”
    • “It provides for some decision making without being a hassle for the casual gamer and does impact the performance of the chosen toon.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by atmospheric graphics that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of older games. Reviewers praise the detailed environments and well-crafted ambiance, noting that while the levels are primarily linear, the overall consistency of the world enhances the immersive experience.

    • “The environments are detailed, the atmosphere is well-crafted, and the overall look of the world is consistent.”
    • “The levels are mostly linear, but the atmosphere is good.”
    • “Atmospheric graphics give you a vibe of older games.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The reviews highlight that while the main character design is praised for its beauty and quality, the enemy character design has received criticism for being unattractive. Overall, the focus on character aesthetics suggests a mixed reception regarding character development in terms of visual appeal.

  • humor2 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be delightfully absurd, often stemming from unexpected interactions, such as attempting to attack enemies from the wrong side of a gate. This comedic element adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.

    • “Finally, hilariously, I tried to attack spiders and dwarves from the opposite side of a gate from them.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is primarily highlighted by a sense of sadness stemming from the absence of a minimap, which seems to detract from the overall experience for players.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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