Alta, the creative force behind A Township Tale (2021), has unveiled exciting updates about their latest project, REAVE, showcasing more about its intricate systems, a fresh dungeon, and new adversaries—all of which are still deep in development.
In their most recent developer log, Alta shared insights into newly refreshed systems and locales. The focal point is an expansive room known as ‘The Fallen Bastion,’ the largest room in the game to date.
Lead environment artist Sean Ellis explains, “We’ve crafted a unique mix of vast open areas and cramped tight spots, coupled with brightly lit regions as well as shadowy corners perfect for ambushing other players or evading foes.”
Dominating the center of this setting is a mystical pedestal where players can trigger a boss fight. For now, players face off against a massive spider, serving as a stand-in boss while the developers perfect the core mechanics.
No need to be arachnophobic—this spider won’t be permanent. It’s a temporary feature to help the team refine real boss battle experiences, according to the studio.
Previously disclosed settings within the game are already seeing “significant changes and improvements,” with some potentially undergoing complete overhauls in the future.
Alta has introduced a new enemy model designed to replace the placeholder skeletons. These come with varying difficulty levels depending on the armor and weapons they’re equipped with.
As an extraction game, REAVE heavily incorporates its in-game currency, affectionately dubbed ‘Echoes’ for now, which fills up within a vessel over time. Players collect Echoes by vanquishing enemies and scouring the environment, using them to unlock loot rooms, and eventually extract themselves from dungeons, returning to the communal area to trade their loot.
If you’re keen to try out REAVE before its official release, keep an eye on their Discord server for opportunities. They periodically open limited slots for eager testers. While the release date remains under wraps, the team is focusing on launching the game for Quest 2 and newer devices, as well as PC VR headsets.