I am currently playing this game, and I’m almost finished with it. As an action-RPG, combat plays a crucial role, and I must say, it’s surprisingly smooth and engaging. The combat is primarily defined by two core aspects: your choice of weapons and abilities. There are five distinct weapon sets you can choose from: daggers, spear and sling, sword and shield, bow, and axe. Each weapon type offers a unique playstyle, allowing for a wide variety of approaches to combat.
In addition to weapons, abilities are key to combat. These abilities require focus, which you generate while fighting (with some of it building up automatically). There are general abilities, as well as weapon-specific ones. These abilities include a range of options, such as dashing to evade attacks, inflicting damage-over-time effects like bleeding or poison, kicking enemies to create distance, and buffing. Magic is also tied into the combat system and uses focus as well. However, being a mage exclusively isn’t really viable since you need to engage in combat to generate focus, adding an interesting twist to the system.
As a fan of world-building, they did a good job creating a dark and gritty atmosphere. The world feels immersive, though it is bleak and unforgiving.
There are four factions in the game—two official ones that you must choose between and two other groups. This faction system gives the game a bit of a Gothic or Risen vibe, where your choice affects the game world and your relationships within it.
In terms of exploration, it takes a more traditional, hands-on approach, reminiscent of older RPGs like Morrowind. There is no automatic world map provided to the player—if you want a map, you’ll have to purchase one from certain sellers. Even then, the maps don’t provide specific markers or details, so it’s up to you to navigate and orient yourself within the world.
Additionally, there are no quest markers to guide you directly. When you take on a quest, you’re only given general directions or vague clues about where to go next. This requires you to pay close attention to dialogue and environmental cues. As a result, exploration is not something you can simply breeze through—if you want to progress or find something specific, you must be prepared to explore thoroughly, sometimes taking a bit of time to figure out where things are.
Overall, Drova has been a fun and pleasant surprise for me, as it wasn’t originally on my radar. The game has a lot to offer in terms of combat mechanics and world-building, and I’m glad I gave it a try.