Alta, the creative minds behind A Township Tale (2021), recently unveiled progress on their much-anticipated dungeon-crawler, REAVE. Although still in its developmental phase, the studio provided a sneak peek into the game’s distinct elements, highlighting a brand-new dungeon and a host of menacing foes.
In their latest dev log, the team showcased several fresh updates. The star of these new areas is indisputably ‘The Fallen Bastion’—a colossal space, currently the largest in the game. Lead environment artist Sean Ellis elaborates, "We’ve integrated diverse elements here—spacious open areas, confined corridors, and a mix of brightly lit and shadowy zones perfect for sneaky ambushes or eluding your enemies."
One intriguing feature in the heart of this vast room is a magical pedestal. Players can use it to initiate a boss encounter. Currently, a giant spider serves this purpose, primarily for testing. While this arachnid won’t remain forever, the developers assure that it offers a practical framework for impending boss engagements.
Throughout the game’s development, previously displayed areas have undergone significant tweaks, with Alta making it clear that these modifications are ongoing. As the dev log states, "Some regions might evolve dramatically or be entirely revamped in the future."
In an exciting twist, Alta revealed a fresh enemy design to phase out the current placeholder skeleton models. These adversaries come with varying degrees of difficulty, influenced by their weaponry and armor.
As an extraction game, REAVE leverages an in-world currency called ‘Echoes’—though this name might change by release. Players accumulate Echoes by vanquishing enemies or discovering them hidden within the environment. This currency is essential not just for accessing loot chambers, but also for extracting from dungeons, allowing a return to the social hub where loot can be traded.
For those eager to dive into this developing adventure, there’s a chance to be a part of it. By joining the game’s Discord community, participants can occasionally snag a testing slot, though these are limited. As of now, there’s no fixed release date. However, fans can look forward to REAVE being available on Quest 2 and newer models, as well as on PC VR headsets.
