Crash and Burn: Ravine game review by Jennifer Weigel
Dear Haunted MTL Readers,
It’s been a long and crazy ride this year. I’ve been posting a tabletop game review every month (and a few extras), all listed below in case you want to read them. But this is my last hurrah, at least for now (seeing as how I’ve pretty much reviewed most all the games I own that are suited to here except for a few stragglers). It’s crash and burn time. So for my final episode, here’s Ravine.
Ravine is a crafty and cooperative card game by Stellar Factory.
You can find Ravine pretty much anywhere including Amazon and even Walmart… The art is simple and the line drawings bring just enough focus to story around. Essentially, the luck of the draw tells the story of what happened. Everything is based on cards drawn at random, which creates a lot of different scenarios and stories to be woven. Some of the situations are adult themed and the win conditions can be challenging depending on what cards you draw, so the game is not recommended for players under 10.
Each character is drawn based on a deck of airline passengers, and each has something they can use. Some are better equipped than others, as expected. Since characters are drawn randomly you aren’t super invested in them, so the focus of Ravine is a bit more about the story of their survival.
After the crash, the big question is how will your band of survivors make it through the night in the Ravine? During the day, you look for useful items, but at night you may be attacked by animals or harrowing weather conditions or slowly go insane. You have to try to equip yourself against whatever dangers may come your way until you are rescued. You need to forage for food and materials to make crude baskets, spears and shelter as well as keep a fire going to thwart some of the threats. There is a somewhat magical bent as well, with good and bad powers granted by certain cards if you find them. Once you are reduced to one heart, or as specified in a scenario, you begin to succumb to madness which takes many different forms, again depending on what is drawn.
We played two games recently, and the outcomes were very very different. The first band of survivors perished in a gruesome end while the second actually managed to thrive. Planning things through can certainly help offset the randomness, and building useful items is always a boon, but honestly a lot of this really comes down to luck. Does your group find enough food? What threats are encountered? What are the conditions in which they find themselves? The two scenarios couldn’t have been more different. In fact, we did so well during the second scenario that many members of the group were rescued in better health than they were at the time of the crash.
Because of the variability, I will give Ravine 3.5 Cthulus.
(3.5 / 5)
Some games are great, others are just kind of shitty. Some are too easy; others are nigh impossible even if you are totally on top of it. Fortunately the game plays fast and you’re not so invested to want to just flip the table when things aren’t going well. And you can collect bones. They can even talk to you, whispering in some ancient mystical island language. Just don’t lose hope that you can find them again when the island tries to take them back…
And as promised, here is a list of my tabletop game reviews to date:
Horrified: Universal Studios Monsters are on the loose
Pocket Paragons: One, Two, Three, Now Fight
Sub Terra: We’re going down… down…
The Grizzled: Can you all survive the war together?
Twilight 2000 Campaign: Series of RPG gaming logs and review
Mysterium: Connect the dots across The Void
Elder Sign: It opened up my mind…
Nevermore: Pecketh the raven
Flash Point: Rage against the inferno
Dead of Winter: Get your zombie apocalypse on
Revisiting The Grizzled: Campaign edition
Sentinels of the Multiverse: Comic relief
Making Christmas: Twas the nightmare before
Gaming
Lovecraft Meets Junji Ito in WORLD OF HORROR
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games.
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games. The game is available on macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. This review will cover the Steam (Windows) version of the game.
You must explore the strange goings on around Shiokawa, Japan. It appears that eldritch forces have influenced the town in incomprehensible ways. So, attempt to comprehend these forces and maintain your sanity to save the town. Plan your investigations, choose between cases, and fight for your life.
There are a few game modes but three difficulty spikes. The easiest is a specific case with some random events. This mode teaches you the basic mechanics of the game. The harder difficulties give you access to an apartment and choices on which case you investigate. Completing objectives earns you customization options for the customized mode.
What I Like About WORLD OF HORROR
Running on GameMaker Studios, the pixelated aesthetic shows influences from Lovecraft and Junji Ito, though the latter more so than the former. WORLD OF HORROR haunts its viewers with its aesthetic, allowing the pixels to evoke those horror legends.
Random generation remains a key feature of the game, with various options and choices giving a massive variety. Your character also has some limited customization to access perks and further development. I will bring up some weaknesses later, but it is surprisingly vast. Adding to this variety, WORLD OF HORROR provides mod accessibility.
The combat allows for a great deal of thought and planning. You select your character’s actions within an action bar and perform the tasks (or combos) to beat an opponent. This JRPG style provides variety in action that makes it engaging and unique.
- Hardcover Book
- Ito, Junji (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The random generation and variety make each playthrough different. You might acquire a devastating katana in one playthrough only to bleed out unceremoniously in another.
While not a terrifying gaming experience, WORLD OF HORROR strives to provide an eerie and intense experience. At this, the game is a success. The weird and unnerving collide to invest the player in this strange world.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
Body horror deserves a mention, but the aesthetic and pixels doesn’t particularly evoke realism. Regardless, many designs evoke body horror.
Aside from this, here are some points of consideration. First, WORLD OF HORROR uses JRPG turn-based combat, which seems a point of division among some gamers. However, there are enough interesting mechanics and complexities beyond clicking an action and waiting your turn.
- Hardcover Book
- Ito, Junji (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Second, WORLD OF HORROR isn’t a cult detective. You’re experiencing events and choosing how your character responds. Some sage wisdom I heard for WORLD OF HORROR is to focus on the whole campaign instead of a single case. Failing a case isn’t a game over, so prioritize your character’s longevity.
What I Dislike About WORLD OF HORROR
Only a few issues hindered my experience. Some scenarios replay on a single case, let alone a playthrough, which becomes repetitive. Some scenarios have multiple solutions to add variety or require perks to access new options, but that’s not always true. This issue makes the randomization taxing at times.
This next issue is likely a bug or an oversight. After losing my reason (sanity), I found myself still able to investigate despite the game claiming that means death. An unrelated event finished me off, but I can’t help but assume this is a bug.
Final Thoughts
WORLD OF HORROR has its quirks but earns massive replay value and surprising depth. It’s a unique and ambitious indie title worth the price. If Junji Ito’s style or cosmic horror is your particular brand of horror, WORLD OF HORROR delivers an experience you’ll likely enjoy. Though this combination synergizes well, few games combine these elements successfully.
(4.5 / 5)
Step into the mind-bending world of Eldritch Automata as we sit down with Game Designer Nick Francia at GenCon 2024!
Uncover the secrets behind this Lovecraftian mecha-masterpiece and get a glimpse of what’s to come.
In this exclusive interview, Nick Francia shares:
• The intricate game development process • Inspirations behind the eerie Lovecraftian elements
• Unique mecha-infused gameplay mechanics Calling all Lovecraft fans! Dive into a world where eldritch horrors meet steam-powered marvels.
Eldritch Automata promises an unforgettable gaming experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
👉 Ready to embrace the madness? Check out our playable demo at a con near you! #EldritchAutomata #GenCon2024 #LovecraftianGaming #IndieGameDev
Prepare for a spine-chilling experience as Jim Phoenix delves into the shadows with Trick or Treat Studios at GenCon 2024!
In this exclusive interview, we uncover the terrifying secrets behind their latest bone-chilling creations: “House of 1000 Corpses” and “Halloween II” board games.
These games aren’t just about rolling dice – they’re about immersing yourself in the blood-curdling atmosphere of beloved horror films. With unique survival (and kill!) horror mechanics and cooperative gameplay, you’ll feel the terror coursing through your veins with every move!
But wait, there’s more! With the Kickstarter to House of 1000 Corpses shipping soon, we have an in-depth review coming up for that game, Halloween II–AND…Chucky. BOOMMM!!!
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