Raven’s Cry to be Updated and Re-released as Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry

After the game’s disastrous release (the game has a 27 score on Metacritic, the kind of score reserved for outright broken releases) earlier this year, I lost track of Raven’s Cry and made my peace with the fact that whatever potential the pirate-themed action-RPG might have had had already been squandered. I just might have been wrong, however.

The folks at Reality Pump Studios and TopWare Interactive have published a press release to announce that the game will be updated and re-released as Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry, and even launched a new website to celebrate the occasion.

More than an update, though, the developers seem to consider this the actual finished product. One has to wonder why the game was originally published in its original state, then:

Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry – New Title and Website

Here at Reality Pump Studios, we are excited to announce the completion and upcoming release of our dark, bloody pirate epic, Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry.

After an almost seven year-long cursed development, we are finally ready to unleash Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry as it was meant to be seen and played. Development for Vendetta began way back in 2008, and has seen every game pitfall imaginable. Even Christopher himself, actor Mark Strohman had an infection that traveled into his brain, almost landing in Davy Jones’ Locker himself during MoCap shootings. It’s been a long and wired journey, but after all the time and all the setbacks, we are proud to say that the game is close to be finished and we launch the new website today!

For new details, new screens and impressions please visit www.vendetta-game.com

There’s life in the old dog yet – stay tuned! Vendetta: Curse of Raven’s Cry will be available for Windows, Linux, Steam OS and Mac OSX. 50+ hours of game play, over 360 characters, more than 500 quests, 120 minutes of cinematics, authentic weapons, locations and ships, a free-flowing melee combat system and intense naval battle action await you in this sprawling role playing adventure. Every choice or deal has a price, and yours will dictate your journey, and your fate.

For now, we don’t quite know when this update will be released, but the developers have confirmed that owners of the original title will receive it for free on the Steam forums:

it will take longer than expected. We do not want to promise any date by now. And I do not think there will be any patch. It should be a complete new app. Of course everyone who purchased Raven’s Cry before will receive such this new app as a free upgrade.

The website also includes a more in-depth look at the new additions and improvements across the board. The new features include completely re-recorded voice overs, an all-new alchemy system, “numerous” new quests, improved sailing including an option for free sailing, an improved fighting system, new cutscenes, and more:

• Rewards for quest completion have been enhanced.
• Christopher’s fighting skills have been enhanced and improved.
• Numerous new quests have been added and existing quests have been enhanced.
• Faster sailing: sailing has been tweaked to be more dynamic, with a speed-up option that accelerates time.
• Enhanced and upgraded trading system.
• An upgraded skill system with new skills to unlock.
• Quest indicators for easy, medium and difficult quests have been added, in addition to an improved hint system.
• In-game achievements with progress indicators have been added where applicable.
• A robust Alchemy system has been added, allowing players to collect various herbs and alcohols to brew potent potions and tinctures with a variety of effects.
• Use a variety of historically accurate flags to trick your enemies, disguise your intentions, and improve the appearance of your vessel.
• Free-sailing mode allows players to sail without restrictions.
• New videos and cut-scenes.
• Completely re-recorded English voice acting.
• Improved fighting system with new combos, slow motion finishing moves and weapons.

We’ll definitely keep an eye on this updated re-release and bring you news when it’s available. Hopefully the additional time and resources put into the game after the original release will pay off and the game will finally capitalize on its promise, because I doubt anyone would have patience for a third release, no matter how the saying goes.