Raji has turned out to be one of the more interesting indie titles in recent memory for me. Unique characteristics and gorgeous art make it a striking title that is hard to not be awed by, yet there are some clear flaws to the game which to some might become a deal breaker. What makes this game different, is that players will need to choose wisely when purchasing the game about what their intentions are, because you can be both disappointed and yet blown away at the same time.
STORYLINE
Raji is set during ancient times in India and is directly influenced by Hindu history and mythology. You play as Raji, a unbelievably talented gymnast who is thrown into the chaos of warring demons and gods, and strives for nothing more than to rescue her little brother who has been kidnapped. You work your way through striking environments, platforming and battling your way past puzzles and enemies, and take on epic boss encounters to push the story forwards, as you continue the search for the missing brother.
Raji story line is directly integrated with Hindu storytelling. You have the gods narrating the story, which is done so well and I have to give my congratulations to the voice acting, to the different mandala and portraits that you find along the way that share the tale of the gods and demons. I must say that, as someone from outside India looking in, this rich depth of culture and storytelling is the reason I jumped in and bought the game on release day, which is currently exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. I can’t say that I have gone searching too far and wide, but this is the first time I’ve seen a game that looks to be so inherently Indian. Not only to use a beautiful backdrop, but to tell a story in a style so different to the way the rest of the world might do it. I have read that there is no localised language options in the game, which would be a curious decision, but might make sense due to the Indian gaming scene which is still early in it’s evolution towards indie gaming and PC gaming in general.
CRITICISMS
So I’ll backtrack to a previous point here and I think that there are some pretty true criticisms of the game that can become frustrating at times during the play through. If you jump into Raji: An Ancient Epic with the expectation to find a fully crafted and engaging fighting game, you might leave disappointed. The fighting in the game, which is a big part and continually interrupts the story line, is fine without ever being amazing. The ability to climb pillars to do aerial stunts is very cool, although in fights it can be frustrating when missing the pillars, and how hard it can be to attack enemies due to an inconsistent targeting system. Enemies are quite repetitive and can become somewhat annoying with their insistent attacks, and whilst I liked the different weapons that you find along the way, I never really found my self enjoying the fights outside of the first few encounters.
I can see why they are put in there. It’s a clear way to add some challenge, to build up to boss fights, and also extend the time required to finish the game. I just don’t love it and it’s clear to me that the fighting mechanics are the weakest part of Raji. You will spend your fair amount of time platforming in Raji, which I enjoyed a lot more than the fighting, although I can see why people would be critical of the lack of diversity of platforming and how linear the game runs with this. In terms of challenge, there is not a lot there beyond tapping the jump at the right time and the puzzles become pretty repetitive. Don’t stop reading here though! I’ll share my perspective!
PASSION PROJECT
I am a big believer in context when it comes to reviewing games. If you compare every indie platformer made to Hollow Knight, then it’s going to be really hard for them to live up to expectations. So to revisit why I was so excited to play Raji: An Ancient Epic, the drawing factor was amazing art design mixed with a rich and vibrant cultural story telling experience. I can’t think of any game I’ve played that would have ticked these boxes more than this game. Even the pace of the game suits, with extended periods of narration and story telling which strikes the notion of Raji being a story to experience, not just an action game to play.
The backdrops of the game are stunning, and the level designs are very creative with the way you make your way through different areas. I am very curious about whether the game has been changed in terms of graphics quality to be optimised on the Nintendo Switch, though that is something we will find out once it launches on the competing consoles. The music is enjoyable and suits the atmosphere of the game, although can be repetitive with obvious loops when spending too much time in one areas if you get stuck.
LAST WORDS
Often we buy new games and can be disappointed by our expectations not being met. When considering to buy Raji: An Ancient Epic, my advice to you is to think about what kind of game you’re buying into here. If your looking for triple A quality action and platforming then perhaps it’s best to miss this one, as there will be obvious frustrations that you will encounter. If you’re in it for the story telling, art and cultural experience, I can’t see how you wouldn’t be enjoying your play through, and learn a thing or two about Indian culture… Did I mention the voice acting it stellar?
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