Alta, the creators known for A Township Tale (2021), recently offered a sneak peek into their upcoming dungeon-crawler titled REAVE. This time, they introduced a fresh dungeon, along with some of the mechanics in the pipeline, although everything is still under development.
In their latest developer update, they showcased the largest area designed so far in the game, named ‘The Fallen Bastion’. Sean Ellis, the lead environment artist, described it as having a balance of wide-open spaces and narrow, confined zones. Some parts are brightly lit, while others are shrouded in darkness, perfect for planning player ambushes or avoiding enemies.
A notable feature of this central area is a mystical pedestal where testers can trigger a boss fight. Currently, players face off against a giant spider, used primarily to test the game’s combat dynamics. The development team reassures us that this spider is just a temporary placeholder, aiding in the creation of more tailored boss encounters.
As the game evolves, previously revealed sections are receiving significant updates, with some areas possibly being overhauled entirely. A glimpse was also given of a newly designed enemy model set to replace the placeholder skeleton model. Expect these new foes to have varying levels of difficulty, influenced by their gear and weapon choices.
REAVE introduces players to an economy driven by ‘Echoes’, the in-world currency that players gather over time. Combat isn’t the only way to collect Echoes; exploring the environment offers its own rewards. When collected, Echoes can be used to open loot rooms or facilitate a player’s escape from dungeons, returning them with collected treasures to the game’s social hub. Here, players have the opportunity to trade their loot.
For those eager to get hands-on experience, the game is occasionally seeking testers through their Discord community, so keep an eye out for limited slots. While there’s no confirmed release date yet, the developers plan to roll out the game for Quest 2 and newer VR headsets, along with PC VR platforms.
