Alta, the creative minds behind the popular game A Township Tale (2021), have been busy teasing their latest project, a dungeon-crawling extraction game called REAVE. Recently, the team pulled back the curtain just a bit more, sharing insights into the game’s evolving systems, a brand-new dungeon, and fresh enemy designs. It’s important to note that these elements are all still under active development.
In their most recent development log, they highlighted some major updates, including the introduction of what they describe as the largest area in the game so far, known as ‘The Fallen Bastion.’ Lead environment artist Sean Ellis offered some insight, saying, “We’ve created a mix of spacious and more confined areas, complete with a balance of well-lit and dark zones. This design allows players to either ambush opponents or strategically avoid enemies.”
At the heart of this setup is a magical pedestal. Here, players can trigger boss battles, currently featuring a giant spider that’s being used for testing. Rest assured, this arachnid is just a placeholder intended to simulate authentic boss encounters while the team refines the final boss design.
The developers are actively refining previously revealed areas, making substantial alterations and improvements. Alta has hinted that some sections might see complete redesigns as development progresses.
The studio also introduced gamers to a new enemy model. This new adversary will take the place of the old skeleton models. Depending on their gear and armor, these foes will offer varying levels of challenge to players.
In REAVE, players will make good use of in-game currency called ‘Echoes’—a name likely subject to change. These can be gathered as you progress and fill up over time. Slaying enemies releases Echoes, which can also be discovered throughout the play area. This pushes players to both explore and engage in combat to amass Echoes, which are crucial for unlocking loot rooms or escaping dungeons. Successfully extracting from a dungeon returns you to the social hub, where you can trade your loot.
Those eager to get an early taste of REAVE might want to join the game’s Discord server. Slots for testers are limited, but from time to time, opportunities open up. As for the official release date, that’s still a mystery. However, Alta has confirmed they are developing the game for Quest 2 and newer models, as well as PC VR headsets. Stay tuned!
