Reka Early Access Review: Setting, Gameplay, and Technical Status

Contents:

• What is the game about
• How the world of Reka works
• "Hut, hut, go where they say!"
• Witch's Kitchen
• Features of the storyline
• Associated troubles
• Let's summarize

In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is traditionally depicted as an evil witch living in a hut on chicken legs. She lures unlucky travelers and small children with the intention of devouring them. However, in a number of fairy tales, Baba Yaga appears as a neutral character, and sometimes even helps the protagonist in his quest. This contrast in the depiction of Baba Yaga highlights the multifaceted nature of Slavic myths and folklore, where characters can have different facets and roles.

On September 12th, the game Reka was released in early access, in which players will be able to embark on a fascinating journey with the main character, a girl named Reka. She turns to Baba Yaga with a request to help her develop her abilities in witchcraft. The old woman is ready to train Reka, but to do so, she will have to pass a series of difficult trials. During the training process, Baba Yaga is even willing to hand over control of her hut on chicken legs, adding an element of interaction and strategy to the game. The game offers a unique storyline and immersion into the world of Slavic mythology, where every player's choice influences the course of the story.

The developers have successfully implemented a unique concept, and in this review, we will take a detailed look at what awaits players during the Early Access phase.

What is the game about?

Reka is an exciting sandbox with walking simulator elements, inviting players to explore an open yet isolated world accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack. In this world, players can gather resources, complete quests from the main story campaign, and take on assignments from local residents and fairytale creatures. For completed quests, we receive currency, costumes, and various interior and exterior elements that allow us to modify our main means of transportation—the hut on chicken legs provided by Baba Yaga. The game offers a unique experience of interaction with the surrounding world, which makes each adventure unforgettable.

To successfully complete the game, you must earn Baba Yaga's trust by completing a series of training tests. With each new task, the heroine unlocks new abilities: access to inventory and the map, resource gathering, and interaction with objects. These skills will become key to further progress in the game. The final stage of training is the ritual of the hut's revival, which opens new horizons for the character.

After completing the ritual, the ruins in the backyard of Baba Yaga's hut rise up on giant chicken legs. River gains control of this creature, allowing it to descend to the ground when necessary. Initially, the back of the hut appears as ruins with a stove in the center. These ruins can be transformed and restored to create a new home.

After completing the game's main tutorial, players are introduced to the construction and interior design modes. This stage allows River to access the global map, opening up new opportunities to progress through the story. It is important to master the elements of interior design to create unique spaces that will contribute to the further development of the game.

Baba Yaga, despite her grumpy In nature, she doesn't give the impression of being evil or dangerous. Although she initially threatens to eat the girl, in reality, she is more reminiscent of a demanding mentor seeking a worthy student capable of mastering witchcraft. Magic, in fact, has many facets and can be used not only for harm, but also for good. After completing her training, the old woman accompanies the girl on her journey. She spends most of her time in her chair, but leaves it from time to time depending on the development of the plot. When communicating with her, the old woman can share life wisdom, comment on past events, or offer useful advice for successfully completing various tasks. This interaction not only enriches the plot, but also helps to better understand the characters and their motivations.

In addition to the main story quests, the game also contains side quests, which are various errands from local residents. These tasks can include requests to cook food, gather necessary resources, or fetch important items or animals. Side quests add depth to the gameplay and allow players to get to know the world and its inhabitants better.

Side quests include making offerings to shrines, including idols and sites with sacred significance for certain characters. Completing these actions rewards Reka with various items to decorate her hut, as well as occasional additional resources. These quests not only enrich the gameplay experience but also allow for a better understanding of the world and its culture.

Reka's concept completely eliminates cruelty and violence. In this world, it is impossible to die, even if you jump vertically from a hut. There is no traditional action. Instead, the main character, a young sorceress, has the unique ability to summon ghostly ravens. These ravens not only gather resources from the surrounding area but can also accurately knock sacks containing valuable items from trees. These magical ravens also destroy hunting towers and traps, freeing animals, and after completing the story campaign, they can chop down trees. This gameplay mechanic creates a unique world where exploration and interaction with the environment play a key role, attracting players seeking new experiences in a safe and engaging environment.

If you have accumulated too many resources, the merchant in the settlement will happily buy them. In exchange, he will offer unique ingredients, such as salt or flour, as well as collectibles to decorate your home.

Reka offers players Unique freedom to explore and create, while creating an atmosphere of comfort and kindness. This is achieved through several key features that are worth exploring in more detail. Players can enjoy an open world where every detail is carefully crafted, fostering immersion. Interactive elements and opportunities for self-expression enhance the experience, giving everyone the chance to create a unique experience.

How Reka's World Works

The game world is divided into distinct areas where Reka can explore the world around her. The boundaries of these areas cannot be crossed on foot due to the fog that blocks the path. Travel between areas is only possible by controlling the hut. However, it is important to note that once the player leaves the current area, they will not be able to return, adding a strategic element to travel planning.

The open world of the game is distinguished by the fact that all areas, except the starting one, are procedurally generated. This means that key objects are located randomly. For example, in one zone, a settlement might be located in the east of the map, but when playing again with a new character, it's located in the west. The locations of other buildings change similarly. However, these changes don't have a significant impact on the overall landscape: the game is a fairly uniform world, featuring birch and pine groves, rivers, and fields with ears of grain and shrubs. Procedural generation adds an element of unpredictability, making each playthrough unique and engaging for players.

Regardless of which zone River and her hut are relocated to, the settlement will always be marked on the map, along with several additional objects scattered around the area. These can be either abandoned houses or shelters for people.

"Hut, hut, go where they say!"

The creature on chicken legs is our main means of transportation. Since destructive actions contradict the general concept of the game, the hut cannot enter settlements or be located near important objects. Therefore, "parking" is possible mainly on the outskirts, and players will have to reach key locations of Reka on foot. This creates additional elements of strategy and exploration, as players will need to plan their routes and take safety into account.

The hut becomes not only the main character's home, but also an important hub location, which can be returned to from anywhere in the game world. Built-in construction mechanics and interior customization options are among the main features of the game. Housing design depends on the player's creativity and the decorative items collected. Walls can be decorated with paintings, tapestries, and various accessories. Every available space can be filled with a variety of interior items, including furniture and small details like candles, books, plates, and even skulls. This freedom in design creates a unique atmosphere and allows players to express their individuality.

Interior items can be placed close together, creating unique compositions and a cozy, homey atmosphere. The creative process of interior design will be especially interesting for those who carefully arrange the space for their characters. The right combination of elements will not only emphasize the individuality of the interior but also create a harmonious atmosphere that is pleasant to be in.

In the abandoned hut there is a unique mirror. After completing a mini-quest, you can take it to your hut and place it in the room, allowing you to change your appearance depending on your mood. However, it is worth considering that the mirror takes up quite a lot of space.

The mechanics of building a hut allow players to create various structures on the site of ruins that were originally belong to Reka. If desired, you can even build a modern multi-story townhouse with an open veranda. In the current early access, the range of building materials is limited, but completing quests opens up the possibility of obtaining unique shapes for doors, windows, and other elements. It is expected that in future updates the developers will expand the range of modular components, which will allow players to implement even more diverse architectural ideas.

The concept of building and decorating interiors caught the attention of players, prompting the developers to hold a contest to create the best hut shortly after the game's launch in Early Access.

The hut is controlled exclusively by the River, as Baba Yaga used its blood during the process of reviving the creature. Communication with the hut is via a special bone chair: the girl installs it in the house during the construction tutorial and sits in the chair each time she needs to command the hut to move. This creates a unique game mechanic that emphasizes the importance of the connection between the character and the magical space.

Witch's

According to the setting's canons, the stove occupies a central place in the home, serving not only as a source of heat but also as an essential element in creating a cozy atmosphere. It serves as the primary cooking tool, imparting a distinctive flavor and aroma to each dish. Stoves in traditional homes symbolize family traditions and comfort, uniting people around them.

Cooked food It serves as an offering to sacred relics and plays an important role in the culture of local residents. Food supplies are often limited, so many turn to the River to prepare something delicious. Food needs vary: some prefer spicy dishes, while others prefer sweets. However, if instead of mushroom soup there is porridge with berries on the table, the villager will not refuse the treat, but will only point out that this is not quite what he expected, and may offer a smaller amount for the food.

Ingredients used for cooking are also great for decorating the interior. They can be easily moved from the interior back to the inventory if you switch to construction mode. This allows you to not only diversify the design of the space, but also effectively use the available resources.

Storyline Features

The game's plot was developed by the famous screenwriter Rhianna Pratchett, who worked on such projects as Overlord, Mirror's Edge, and Tomb Raider (2013). The main campaign, although not very long, offers an exciting gaming experience. Formally, it consists of missions where players learn to manage the River and interact with various fairy-tale characters. However, these missions conceal a deeper subtext, emphasizing the importance of restoring harmony in the relationship between man and nature.

At the beginning of the story, we are presented with a brief backstory in which people once explored nature rather than machinery, respecting ancient traditions and venerating witches. However, over time, magic has lost its significance, and even in the first village, many residents perceive Baba Yaga as a madwoman or a fictional character. In the second area, people are focused on their own well-being and mercilessly cut down trees, thereby incurring the wrath of the local forest spirit, Leshy. Side quests reveal that the connection with other deities has also been disrupted, leading to drought, famine, and other disasters that plague the locals. These events highlight the importance of respect for nature and its inhabitants, as well as the consequences of the loss of ancient knowledge and traditions.

The world needs a unique individual who can become a link between people and magical creatures. Unable to cope with this difficult task, Baba Yaga passes on her knowledge and experience to her young apprentice. This young heroine has every chance of overcoming the trials and restoring harmony between man and nature. Her abilities and perseverance may be key to restoring the lost balance.

This engaging, albeit brief, story suffers from errors in quests and the absence of key mechanics. These elements could have more deeply explored the theme of reverence for nature and the importance of maintaining ecological balance. Fixing bugs and introducing additional mechanics would have improved the gameplay experience and allowed players to better understand the main idea of ​​the plot.

At the end of the second story chapter, Leshy grants the witch the ability to gather wood along with other resources. This privilege opens up new possibilities for modifying the hut. However, according to Leshy's commandments, when Reka uses this method, she is obligated to restore the balance of nature by planting new young trees in the same spot using magical larch cones. This adds an element of responsibility to the gameplay and emphasizes the importance of preserving the ecosystem.

In practice, the cones in the inventory quickly run out, and new ones are impossible to obtain. Crows can destroy entire hectares of forest, and the young witch faces no punishment for this barbarity. This necessitates the implementation of karma or debuff mechanics that will punish players for negative actions, limiting their ability to gather resources. The introduction of such elements will make the game more balanced and create an incentive for responsible behavior in the game world.

Throughout the game, there are key moments when the heroine must make a decision that can influence the course of the quest. These choices cannot be definitively characterized as good or bad, as their evaluation depends on the player's moral convictions. Currently, there are not many such events in the game, and the variability is limited to receiving various rewards or canceling a quest. Improving the decision-making system and increasing the significance of these moments can significantly enrich the gaming experience and increase player engagement.

In desperation, an extraordinary fisherman turned to Baba Yaga for help but violated the terms of their agreement. As a result, the sorceress took revenge by sending a flock of crows after the young man, who now interfere with his fishing. The river, in turn, can become both salvation for the hero and a source of shame if he does not fulfill his part of the bargain, ultimately losing the reward for fulfilling the request.

After completing two story chapters, the game's main campaign comes to an end, and the player is given the opportunity to freely explore the global map in sandbox mode. In this mode, you can continue to travel the world, collect resources, complete side quests, and decorate your hut. Exploring the world opens up new possibilities and allows you to enjoy the game at a more relaxed pace, maintaining interest in the game and its mechanics.

The storyline of River continues to develop. The developers plan to expand the story campaign early next year, which promises new adventures and more deeply developed characters. Stay tuned for updates and new features in the game.

Associated Troubles

Thus, we see before us a picture of a meditative walking simulator with elements similar to The Sims, especially in terms of home improvement, as well as sandbox mechanics. Attractive graphics and touching moments, especially when interacting with pets, encourage you to take screenshots and capture these moments. In theory, Reka has the potential to be a great option for a relaxing pastime. However, the game currently feels unfinished, and it can only be called truly cozy in a confined space, such as inside a hut.

The game's community forum is full of threads in which users express dissatisfaction with the numerous bugs and shortcomings. These issues affect all aspects of the game, from interaction with the environment to quest progression. While many of these flaws can be explained by the game's Early Access status, they significantly impact the player experience and disrupt immersion in the game world.

Reka has a significant navigation issue that even the built-in compass with waypoint icons doesn't fix. When highlighting a priority waypoint in the log, it appears in red, but isn't pinned to the compass scale. This makes it easy to lose track of her, especially if the player becomes distracted by nearby side objectives and strays from the main path. Since the game doesn't yet have a minimap, players must constantly open their journal to check their current location. Improved navigation features, such as a mini-map or a more informative compass, would greatly enhance the game's usability and user experience.

The lack of a unified style in icon design creates confusion for players. Different outline thicknesses and design styles lead to the feeling that some quests are completed while others are still active. This hinders progress and forces constant checking of the quest log. Furthermore, the lack of a way to track item collection and quest completion progress in real time complicates the gaming experience and reduces its quality. To improve comprehension and enhance player experience, a more harmonious and consistent icon design and a progress tracking system should be implemented.

Some quests require trial and error. For example, in one settlement, a local resident turns to River for help in preparing supplies for the winter. To complete the quest, she must prepare several dishes and bring honeycombs, which must be stored in a cupboard. However, honeycombs are classified as resources, not products, making them unsuitable for shelf placement.

The cooking process in the game remains a mystery to the player. They are given only a general idea that various dishes can be created in the oven. However, the game doesn't reveal any details, only providing the ability to place three types of ingredients on a special shelf. As a result, it's difficult for the player to understand that Reka is learning recipes by combining ingredients randomly. This element of uncertainty can cause confusion and make it difficult to master the mechanics of cooking.

The issue of intelligence plays an important role in games such as Minecraft, where players often create recipes at random. However, imagine a player who previously paid no attention to cooking encounters a grandmother who tells them a recipe for pancakes. One of the pancakes must be placed on a plate at a shrine to appease the goddess Mara. This event can change their approach to learning recipes. The player now begins to realize that recipes can be learned not only through trial and error, but also through dialogue with characters or reading in-game books. In this context, creating a new recipe from random ingredients feels like a true discovery, emphasizing the importance of interacting with the game world and its characters. Interacting with objects often requires careful aiming. For example, a character crosses a bridge at night, and the interaction widget button suddenly lights up, but then disappears. This forces the player to take a few steps back and search in the darkness for the right spot, carefully examining their surroundings. Ultimately, the interaction object turns out to be a drowned man, from whom they can collect bones to decorate their home. Moments like these add an air of mystery to the game and create unique opportunities for exploration.

When placing multiple interactive objects in one location, managing them becomes more challenging. For example, carelessly moving the cursor across a counter and clicking at the wrong moment could lead to an unexpected and expensive resource purchase. To avoid such situations, it's important to carefully monitor the cursor and think through your actions. Proper interaction with interactive elements will help avoid unwanted expenses and improve user experience.

Interacting with animals in the game is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the gameplay. However, there are some drawbacks. For example, players can carry small animals, such as goats and chickens, while continuing to complete tasks. Upon reaching the hut with the pet, the game offers the option to either take it home or release it. However, these enjoyable moments can be spoiled by a large tooltip widget, which interferes with creating an aesthetically pleasing screenshot. Improving the interface and reducing the size of tooltips could significantly improve the quality of interaction with animals and enrich the gaming experience.

When discussing the photogenicity of the game, it is worth noting that Choosing a hairstyle with long, loose hair can pose certain challenges. While this hairstyle looks striking and wafts beautifully in the wind, it often gets caught behind the backpack. Gusts of wind can cause hair to come loose from under the backpack, which is noticeable in some screenshots. This detail not only makes it difficult to take good photos, but also becomes annoying over time, as the character's back is turned to the player most of the time. Given this, developers should focus on optimizing the interaction of hair with other clothing elements to improve the game's visual appeal.

One common collision-related issue in games is when a hut lands on the ground. Trees bending under the weight of chicken feet as they move through the forest look impressive from a bird's eye view. However, in practice, once the hut is in place, the bent trunks and branches penetrate the floor. This creates difficulties during construction and decoration, and also makes it difficult to access items on shelves, such as food. As a result, players are forced to return to the bone chair, raise the hut, and look for a more suitable piece of land free of trees. Such collisions can significantly affect the gameplay, so eliminating them is an important task for developers.

Reka features stylized graphics, giving the game a unique visual style. Despite some flaws, such as blurry tree billboards that can appear at close range, the environment remains simple yet elegant. This balance between simplicity and aesthetics creates an atmosphere that immerses the player in the game environment.

Despite the lack of complex graphics, the game client can consume 85-90% of the graphics card, indicating insufficient optimization. This also explains the frequent user complaints on forums about game crashes. This is especially frustrating given the lack of an autosave feature, which often leads many players to forget to save manually. Optimization and stability of the application require the attention of developers to improve the gaming experience.

With By switching to sandbox mode, the game loses its appeal. Although each area contains settlements with residents in need of assistance, they are actually variations of the previous villages. The differences lie only in the placement of buildings and key objects. The residents remain monotonous, and their tasks are no different from those the player has already completed. This leads to a feeling of routine and a decrease in interest in the gameplay.

In the third area, the player will meet a man who asks him to move pumpkins to the barn. This task is similar to the request of one of the villagers in the starting area. However, upon completing the task, you will have the opportunity to cook something with the pumpkins, which will earn you additional coins. Thus, by completing tasks and using resources, players can increase their income and develop their skills in the game.

Interesting variations of quests are often added Unique features are introduced into the game. For example, one villager asks a young witch to perform a ritual to ward off evil spirits from her home, requiring a special ingredient known only to Baba Yaga. Another location offers a completely different quest—removing a curse from a chicken coop—and as a reward, the player receives a nest with a hen, which becomes another pet in the collection. Such quests not only enrich the gameplay but also allow players to delve deeper into the world of magic and folklore, adding interesting elements of interaction and exploration.

Side quests upon entering new areas remain largely unchanged: they still involve requests for treats, visits to shrines, and searches for animal cages. Over time, the gameplay begins to feel monotonous. Rewards become increasingly predictable, and the process boils down to the monotonous collection of resources that are subsequently put to no use. This reduces interest in the game and makes it less engaging. A variety of tasks and unique rewards could significantly improve the gaming experience and bring back the desire to explore the world.

Let's summarize Results

Releasing the game in Early Access gives Emberstorm Entertainment the opportunity to quickly identify bugs and understand which aspects require improvement. However, at the moment, Reka lacks interesting content, and the price of the game seems too high. For users in Russia, the game costs just over 700 rubles, which is certainly more attractive than 20 euros for European players. The current version of the game does not justify such a high price, as there are many obvious flaws that are difficult to ignore. Considering that some projects remain in eternal Early Access, the dissatisfaction of some users is quite justified.

Despite its current state and the set price, Reka has received many positive reviews from players. Emberstorm Entertainment seems to have managed to build a devoted audience that prefers not to rush to judgment. Players actively send the developers bug reports and suggestions for improvement. The warm reception of the community and the willingness to wait for new updates can already be considered a significant part of the project's success.

Since the release, Emberstorm Entertainment has indeed taken player feedback into account. On September 20, the studio announced the development of a new patch aimed at improving the game's optimization and eliminating errors. This demonstrates the company's commitment to creating a better gaming experience by responding to community feedback.

The world of Reka is a unique space in which elements Slavic myths and a meditative atmosphere. Players can immerse themselves in a captivating story and experience the role of a young witch. If the developers take user feedback into account, fix bugs, and add new features that improve gameplay and engaging content, Reka will become the perfect place for casual players. Here, they can enjoy peaceful farming and detailed customization of their virtual homes, creating a comfortable and cozy gaming space.

If you don't mind some technical shortcomings, Reka can keep you captivated for hours. It will help you cope with the autumn blues, creating an atmosphere of kindness and comfort of a virtual home, and also promotes unity with nature.