Posted in: Games, Video Games | Tagged: GDC, Nodding Head Games, Raji, Raji: an Ancient Epic
Raji: An Ancient Epic at GDC
Raji: An Ancient Epic is an action adventure game by Nodding Head Games. Raji is set in ancient India and puts players in the role of Raji, a young girl who is chosen by the gods to stand against a demonic invasion. Her destiny is to rescue her younger brother and face the demon lord Mahabalasura.
The standout feature of Raji is the hand painted environment, as each and every part of the game wolrd was crafted by hand. The environment is inspired by the medieval architecture of Rajasthan, which was the pinnacle of architectural achievement during the medieval era of India. So, naturally the game needed to match.
The character designs don't fall behind either, as the character art style was inspired by the mythology and background of Bali, Indonesia.
As for the story, this is the official plot synopsis:
Raji: An Ancient Epic takes you through an intense and emotional story of Raji, who is determined to find her brother and bring peace to the human realm. The story of Raji: An Ancient Epic is a witness of how Raji evolves through the atrocities of war and the loss of loved ones. She takes upon herself to find an end to this reckless war, which can only happen if she manages to break down the might and the stratagem devised by the great lord of demons, Mahabalasura.
The story is heavily inspired by Hindu and Indonesian mythology. The story takes players through various levels inspired by medieval forts built by the Rajput kings of Rajasthan. Those forts are massive in scale, come with secret rooms, and even some Mandala puzzles designed to give players a break from the combat.
The game's combat is rather fluid and Raji can utlize several weapons with the power of a demigod, but she is a bit squishy as she's just a human girl. Every demon Raji encounters has a rank in the demonic army and so higher ranks equal more difficult demons. Their rank can often be denoted by their gear.
The fort levels are designed to provide tight combat encounters, making the game a bit of a challenge.
That said, the beauty of Raji is that it's a game by Indian developers that shows off the beauty and mythology of India. It's got that kind of homemade touch that really speaks to how passionately the dev team love their own history.
Raji is set to release next year for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.