Eastern European folklore is the home of themes ranging from isolation and loneliness to associations with birds, superstition and the occult - and this upcoming indie title dives into that mysterious world with a reimagining of the famous tale of Baba Yaga.
Advert
Advert
Emberstorm Entertainment
Much like the original tales of Baba Yaga, an enigmatic character originating from Slavic folklore, the infamous chicken-legged house is the basis ofREKAas we perform the ritual that brings it to life in the opening hour of the game.
With Baba Yaga most famously being the goddess of death in old stories, the house is believed to stand on the edges of life and death and this is surely to be believed with the ritual consisting of bones and fire. The opening moments of the game set the scene perfectly and capture your imagination with themes of the occult, magic and life.
As for our main character Reka, we first meet her as she arrives at the mysterious village that is lined with autumnal trees and falling leaves, huts and animals, travelling merchants and most importantly, the ominous figure that lives within the woods.
Advert
Advert
From the Eastern European style clothes that we are able to dress Reka in to the names of villagers,REKAfeels incredibly authentic and does not let you forget where you are. Despite the demo only allowing you to stay within the boundaries of the first area, the map already feels lush and invites you to explore every inch.
Emberstorm Entertainment
Our arrival in the village kicks off what a lot of the story will be about, exploring areas, meeting villagers and accepting missions in order to receive rewards. My very first mission was to find an escaped goat which saw me receive a beautiful dresser and photograph in return. These items were soon placed in my chicken-legged house and I am excited to see how much grander I can make the magical home.
Furnishings, money and ingredients can be found all over the map with Reka able to use her magic to forage for items. More specifically, she is able to command crows to collect materials for her and there are some beautiful animations to be seen.
Advert
Advert
As well as basic furniture, you will also be able to find and create beautiful decorations such as photographs, hanging dried herbs and even pots of jam once you have cooked them in the fire. I can only imagine how beautiful you will be able to make the house over the course of the game.
Plus, you can have a pet companion who roams around the house before snuggling up in their assigned bed.
Emberstorm Entertainment
Advert
Advert
I spent around 70 minutes inREKA’s demo and a lot of that time was dedicated to creating Reka herself. Players are able to choose skin tone, tattoos, hairstyle and colour, eyes and colour, and clothes and accessories. The character creation isn’t too detailed but enough to make your character unique and fit perfectly into the world she comes from.
REKA’s full release will allow Reka and Baba Yaga to discover settlements, accept quests from strangers and even choose to help or hinder villagers. As Reka’s magical abilities grow, she will be able to tame the local wildlife and bring them home as the pair forge their paths through a procedurally generated, natural landscape.
For now,REKAis available to try for free ahead of its full launch in just a few months. Don’t miss out on this spellbinding exploration game this year.
Topics:PC,Preview,Steam,Indie Games
