Drova Forsaken Kin is an old school RPG built to modern standards, and the first thing it reminded me of was the Gothic series.
It only just launched this week, but I was provided a code through PR Hound in advance. Thank you to the devs at JustD and the awesome folks at PR Hound! I have not been able to play as much Drova as I would like due to some time constraints, but Drova is an excellent RPG that has much to offer, and anyone remotely into the genre should give it a look. Consider this a first impression, but I will update it later as I progress!
Drova really is a love letter to older RPGs, and the first thing that stands out is the world design. It takes from celtic mythology in a dark, handcrafted open world brimming with detail. Even with the modest graphics, it is a beautiful game to explore. Even when I get chased by feral beasts eager to make me their next Happy Meal, I find myself taken in by the environment design. The world is expansive and feels lived in, which is a feature many open world games seem to have forgotten.
The story premise is pretty cool. Upon entering a new realm (Drova) and after my companion dies, it is my job to uncover the answers behind this mysterious, dangerous world. In Drova, a society has discovered the power of a dead empire: to capture the spirits that control nature. However, the anger of the remaining spirits has divided mankind into two warring factions, and time is running out. Everyone you meet has ambitions and a reason for existing, and even when side quests come out with the usual ‘kill or collect’ form, there is usually some great lore behind them. I never felt like I was getting bogged down in busy work, and Drova: Forsaken Kin’s world design might be the best I’ve seen in a while.
Drova: Forsaken Kin draws from the classic RPGs in design and scope while taking out most of the bullshit. Combat is challenging with dangerous foes everywhere, but I never felt like I was fighting the controls. Healing takes place over time, so you will want to keep active in battle to keep yourself alive. You are free to save the game at any time, and there are plenty of places to rest and heal up.
This does not mean Drova is an easy game, far from it! I appreciate how much thought they have put into making the challenge organic rather than shoving health sponge enemies down my throat. People might get nervous seeing the ‘Soulslike’ tag on the Steam page, but that is only to emphasise timing when dodging and your attacks. Most of the time, you can muscle through fights without being punished. This isn’t Dark Souls, don’t worry! When I died, I knew it was through my mistakes rather than bullshit. Some enemies are pretty damn powerful, but Drova’s open-ended world gives you freedom to return to it later. Keep exploring, do odd jobs for money and food, and survive.
Hopefully, this little writeup gives a good first impression of Drova: Forsaken Kin. Now my work schedule is easing up a little, I cannot wait to dig back into this game. The worldbuilding is stellar with great characters, and it plays pretty smoothly to boot. The only technical issue I had were a couple of pauses when talking to an NPC for the first time, but this is minor. Drova: Forsaken Kin impressed me.
