Studio Behind ‘Township Tale’ Unveils New Dungeon-Crawler ‘REAVE’

Alta, the creative force behind A Township Tale (2021), has recently given fans a sneak peek into the development of their new dungeon-crawler extraction game, REAVE. The studio has shared insights into various aspects of the game’s ongoing work, unveiling a brand new dungeon and enemies, although everything is still under heavy development.

In their latest developer log, which you can view below, Alta showcases some of the newly updated systems and areas, with the standout feature being an expansive chamber known as ‘The Fallen Bastion’. According to lead environment artist Sean Ellis, this area blends open and narrow spaces with both brightly lit and completely dark zones, perfect for ambushing fellow players or evading enemies.

Right at the center of this grand room lies a magical pedestal where players can initiate boss battles. Currently, a giant spider fills this role, mainly for testing purposes, but don’t get too attached, as this arachnid is just temporary.

“Don’t worry, [the spider] won’t be part of the final game,” assures the studio. “It helps us visualize how a boss battle might unfold while we develop more unique encounters.”

Additional changes are being made to already revealed sections of the game. The studio notes that some areas are undergoing significant improvements, and it’s possible that entirely new segments may replace them in the future.

Alta also gave us a glimpse of a new enemy model that will phase out the old skeleton placeholders. These new adversaries come with varying levels of difficulty tailored to the weapons and armor they wield.

A central component of REAVE is its currency system, referred to as ‘Echoes’ for now, which players collect within a vessel that gradually fills over time. Dispatching enemies releases Echoes, but vigilant players can also find them littered around the game environment. Strategic management of Echoes is crucial, as they allow players to unlock loot rooms and extract from dungeons back to the social areas, where they can trade their loot.

If you’re eager to test REAVE before its official release, consider joining their Discord community. Occasionally, they’ll extend invites for limited tester slots. While the release date is still under wraps, Alta has confirmed that the game will be available on Quest 2 and higher, as well as PC VR headsets. Keep an eye out for more updates!