Reventure (PC) Review

It’s Dangerous To Go Alone.

For many of us, the 8-bit era is where our love of video games started. It introduced groundbreaking franchises that are still being continued to this day. However, while these games re-started the video game market, we tend to idolize things that we would never put up with today. Poor graphics, increasing difficulty rather than content, and a tendency to take themselves far too seriously despite the ridiculous situations they portray are just some of the faults of the games from this time. That being said, many games use this formula to create both modern masterpieces and duds. It’s up to you to decide which is which.

Reventure is a modern 8-bit platformer that provides an entertaining experience with surprising wit. The creators have called this a non-linear adventure, which means you are free to pick your own path in rescuing the princess, of which there are several. Its other main defining characteristic is the fact that there are over one hundred different endings. These endings range from the traditional, i.e. crushed by a rock, to the weird, such as bonding with alien parasites, to ultimately the stupid, when you trip over a stone and land on your face. Each ending is handled with a humorous tone and makes you want to find others. Every ending is considered canon so you will see the effects in each subsequent attempt. Also, your character may change its appearance depending on the results of the previous run, and while not necessarily one hundred, there are enough to keep it interesting.

Gameplay uses a two-button format where one allows you to jump, and the second is used to attack, interact, or to use an item. There are many items to find, but you don’t have an unlimited inventory. Collect too many items and you will trigger an ending where the weight of your own greed crushes you. Also, the more you weigh, the smaller a height you can jump, closing off potential exploration routes and makes the game challenging as you need to pick and choose which items to bring. The two issues that appear with this setup is, first, that item use is intuitive if you are near a feature that interacts with a particular tool you can use it. Otherwise you default to attacking, which can lead to unintended consequences, usually stabbing someone. Second, is that there is no way to drop an item, once you have it, you are stuck with it till the end. This becomes frustrating as you discover new items that you don’t exactly know what they are used for and end up being weighted down for no benefit.

Reventure is designed for those who remember the fun of the early games. It tempers the feelings of nostalgia with a sarcastic wit that makes it very fun to play. Despite not having the best graphics it more than makes up for it with content and humor. If you ever got enjoyment out of the 8-bit games and enjoy a good laugh, then it’s worth giving Reventure a look.