Raji: An Ancient Epic
- February 13, 2021
- Nodding Heads Games
- 5h median play time
Raji: An Ancient Epic manages to bring a distinctly Indian perspective to a conventional action-adventure spectacle.
In "Raji: An Ancient Epic," a new war between demons and gods begins, and the main character, Raji, is chosen by the gods to be their champion. Raji must use her combat skills and the guidance of the gods to avenge their past defeat and save her brother, who has been kidnapped by the demon lord Mahabalasura. The game is set in ancient India and features intricate environments and epic battles based on Indian mythology.
Reviews
- Visually stunning with beautiful graphics and art style.
- Engaging story that introduces players to Indian mythology.
- Decent combat mechanics with a variety of weapons and elemental upgrades.
- Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, leading to a button-mashing experience.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-6 hours.
- Ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving players wanting more.
- story656 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Raji: An Ancient Epic" is primarily centered around a young girl, Raji, on a quest to rescue her kidnapped brother, drawing heavily from Hindu mythology. While the narrative is praised for its unique storytelling methods, such as shadow puppetry and engaging voiceovers, many reviewers noted that the plot feels simplistic and occasionally anticlimactic, with an ending that leaves much to be desired. Overall, the game's rich visuals and cultural elements enhance the experience, making it a worthwhile journey despite its narrative shortcomings.
“The story is well crafted, based on Hindu mythology.”
“The story unfolds through beautifully narrated cutscenes and intricate shadow puppetry sequences that serve as a perfect storytelling medium.”
“The ongoing storytelling between Vishnu, Durga, and the murals of Indian myths and epics throughout the game is a highlight.”
“The story is awful, the gameplay is repetitive (platforming and combat again and again in predictable sequences), the dialogues are just bad and the background story is told by the worst exposition ever.”
“The story was extremely lackluster from start to end, with an abrupt ending.”
“The story is basic but it has a lot of insights into Hindu mythology.”
- graphics479 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, which effectively showcase Indian mythology and culture. Many reviewers highlighted the beautiful environments, intricate details, and the unique aesthetic inspired by traditional Indian art forms, making the game visually captivating. However, some noted that while the graphics are impressive, the gameplay mechanics and combat could use improvement, occasionally overshadowing the visual experience.
“The visuals are stunning, the music is beautiful, and the gameplay is a lot of fun!”
“Raji: an ancient epic is a breathtaking journey through rich mythology and stunning visuals that captivate from the very beginning.”
“The graphics are amazing: so much Indian lore and culture jam-packed in every frame!”
“Bland combat, bad graphics, poor platforming.”
“The games seems to have framerate related issues, graphical glitches and also gameplay related bugs that make some areas of the game really frustrating to deal with.”
“The graphics, while pretty, are also missing some of the improvements I've come to expect - Raji looks like she glides across the ground instead of walking or running.”
- gameplay344 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Raji: An Ancient Epic" is a blend of combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving, drawing inspiration from classic titles like "Prince of Persia." While the visuals and storytelling are praised for their beauty and cultural depth, many players find the combat mechanics clunky and repetitive, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a unique experience that highlights Indian mythology, making it worth a try for those interested in its artistic presentation.
“The gameplay in Raji is an engaging mix of platforming, combat, and puzzle-solving.”
“Its stunning visuals, compelling narrative, and engaging gameplay make it a must-play for those who crave unique and culturally rich gaming experiences.”
“The gameplay is a classic example of 'easy to learn but hard to master'.”
“The only con is that since it's a 2.5D game, it created issues with movement and combat mechanics.”
“Trash tier gameplay though, the combat and movement is slow and doesn't feel responsive.”
“The gameplay is absolutely tedious instead of being fun.”
- music275 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its enchanting and culturally rich soundtrack, featuring traditional Indian instruments that enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Reviewers noted that the music complements the stunning visuals and unique art style, creating an immersive experience that draws players into the game's world. While some found the battle music lacking, the majority agree that the soundtrack is a standout feature, making the game a memorable experience.
“The music is mesmerizing, and the cutscenes adorned in the style of pahari paintings are a unique style never before seen in video games.”
“From soothing melodies to epic orchestrations, the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere and draws players deeper into the world of the game.”
“The soundtrack, featuring traditional Indian instruments and melodies, sets the mood and elevates the emotional impact of the story.”
“The music is my big complaint, because I keep hearing like ~8 second loops constantly and they drill into my head like a TV commercial in the most negative way possible.”
“The death music is very annoying though.”
“Combat is really bad and a lot of it is just the same sequence repeated, camera is god awful and the music is so stereotypical it's annoying.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant visuals, captivating soundtrack, and rich cultural setting, particularly its authentic representation of Indian themes and mythology. Players appreciate how the music and art direction enhance the overall experience, creating a beautiful and immersive world, despite some criticism regarding simplistic gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is described as enchanting and emotionally resonant, making it a standout feature of the game.
“From soothing melodies to epic orchestrations, the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere and draws players deeper into the world of the game.”
“The vibrant colors and the locations really give each area a unique atmosphere, and it is such a breath of fresh air to experience a game set in India as that is such an unexplored gold mine of a setting.”
“The game's atmosphere, art style, and theme all create this wonderful mysterious element to it that begs for having secret bonus areas and stuff, but it feels like a missed opportunity by the devs.”
“Short-ish, strange floaty combat, curious bugs, and absolutely oozing with atmosphere, art direction, and style.”
“One of the main things I look for in a game is atmosphere, and this one sets it very well from the start.”
- stability25 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with numerous players reporting frustrating glitches, particularly with enemy AI, level selection, and character controls, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to restarts. While some users experienced minimal issues and found the game generally smooth, others highlighted significant bugs that detracted from the overall experience, indicating a need for urgent patches and improvements. Overall, the game's stability is inconsistent, with many players calling for better optimization.
“The game sure is beautiful, looks great, runs great.”
“This game is bug-free, well optimized, and offers smooth gameplay.”
“Selecting levels after completing the game is buggy, so achievement/trophy cleaning becomes annoying.”
“The game has good intentions but has too many glitches, especially during jump and grab actions while climbing.”
“The game is buggy and not optimized, which significantly affects the overall experience.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 35 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers little incentive to play again after completing it. While some appreciate the initial experience and easy achievements, the consensus is that the game is relatively short and linear, leading to a perception of minimal replay value unless future updates or additional content are introduced.
“Replayability factor is pretty decent.”
“But if a game is combat and platforming based, I definitely believe that the replay value can be increased a lot without any new game+ etc., just by having the gameplay be worth revisiting.”
“Replay value doesn't seem a lot unless they add things like new game+ or more difficulties.”
“Basically no replayability, so far as I can tell.”
“The game is relatively short, which is fine, but the replayability is pretty much nonexistent.”
“Raji – an ancient epic is a rather short game with no replay value.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is inconsistent, with some players experiencing stuttering cutscenes and lag, while others report smooth gameplay without noticeable bugs. While it runs adequately on various hardware, including lower-end systems, there is a consensus that there is significant room for performance improvements.
“It did run smoothly though without any noticeable bugs.”
“The gameplay was smooth and I didn't see any lag or bugs, and my PC is of medium performance from 2015.”
“The game will run well on most machines, but there's room for performance optimizations.”
“Even the cutscenes are stuttering, like what the heck!”
“The game can be played on keyboard and mouse or controller, but it doesn't feel optimized for either.”
“The game is buggy and not optimized.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, particularly during boss battles that lack depth and become repetitive. Many reviewers noted that the combat feels drawn out and overly simplistic, leading to a frustrating experience rather than an enjoyable challenge. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the fun, making battles feel like a chore rather than an exciting part of the gameplay.
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Platforming is not that tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This is an action that is extremely tedious as there is no lock-on function, forcing you to clumsily dodge towards the enemies you need to kill.”
“The gameplay is absolutely tedious instead of being fun.”
- character development11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that while the character designs in the game are visually appealing and the protagonist is well-received, there is a notable lack of character development throughout the story. Players find the narrative to be linear, with minimal growth or depth for the characters, which detracts from their investment in the game.
“The art direction, character designs, and the various realms you explore all combine to create a visually stunning and culturally immersive experience.”
“This game, the story of Raji, has better arc and character development than Star Wars episodes 7-9. It's a testament to the depth of the characters and their journeys.”
“Raji is truly a worthy protagonist, showcasing impressive character design that enhances the overall narrative.”
“There is no character development and just a few weapons you can upgrade a little.”
“The story is very linear, there is hardly any character development.”
“Maybe have a bit more character development/improvement so you get invested more.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through its heartfelt narrative, which follows a young girl's quest to save her brother, enriched by a culturally resonant soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players express a deep emotional connection to the story and its representation of their culture, noting moments that are both touching and relatable, despite some shortcomings typical of indie games. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful art design and the emotional depth it brings to the player's journey.
“Raji's narrative is a heartfelt tale of a young girl's journey to rescue her brother from the clutches of demonic forces.”
“The soundtrack, featuring traditional Indian instruments and melodies, sets the mood and elevates the emotional impact of the story.”
“Having followed the development of the game for about three years, I already formed something of an emotional attachment to the game - and I am enchanted that the final game exceeded my expectations in every respect.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely criticized, particularly due to the poor quality of Raji's voice acting, which detracts from the overall storytelling experience.
“The humor in this game is spot on, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
“I love the quirky characters and their hilarious interactions; they really add to the game's charm.”
“The game is filled with witty one-liners and funny situations that make every playthrough enjoyable.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics like acrobatic combat and wall-running. Therefore, no relevant summary can be drawn regarding monetization.
Critic Reviews
Review – Raji: An Ancient Epic
The appeal of a beautiful environment and unique theme saves Raji: An Ancient Epic from being little more than a latent bore.
60%Raji: An Ancient Epic Review
Raji: An Ancient Epic is a strong debut for Nodding Head Games but it’s just a shame there isn’t more of it. It brings a respectful take on Hindu and Balinese mythology, one which has a strong narrative hook that invests you in Raji’s personal adventure whilst offering enjoying gameplay. Though it suffers from some unfortunate technical issues, this is one journey we still recommend experiencing, especially if you're a fan of the genre.
70%Raji: An Ancient Epic (Switch) REVIEW – Not Quite Epic
While certainly rough around the edges, Raji: An Ancient Epic is an earnest swing that shows a ton of heart and some great ideas.
70%