Regular readers have probably gotten familiar with my particular strengths and weaknesses as a player over the years. For those who aren’t quite so knowledgeable about Shaun-Pros and Shaun-Cons, I’m pretty lousy at rhythm games. That doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy them, because I do. But my reflexes that serve me so well in action games for whatever reason take a complete vacation when it’s time to tap to the beat. That’s why Ravon, and upcoming game from developer Synthnova, completely kicked my teeth in. This game is really fast, but it’s also really fun.
You can play on four difficulty settings, and I suppose I should have been more careful because for the embedded video I took on the game’s second-highest level, Core. Notes appear from all sides of the screen according to the beat, and you need to tap or hold accordingly. Orange notes are on their own, while blue notes are in pairs. You’ve got to work fast to hit them as they appear from the top and sides of the screen. Like most rhythm games, your score depends on your accuracy and how long you can go without making mistakes, and you’re given a grade to go with your points at the end. Spoiler: I did pretty badly.
The music is all drawn from rave-style electronic tunes from a variety of different musicians. I can’t say I know any of them, but the point is that there’s quite a few tunes to play around with here. Add in the multiple difficulty settings and you have a game that will last you for a little while. Ravon will be releasing worldwide later this year, so keep your eyes peeled if you like good music and tough challenges.