Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Witchaven delivers a visceral first-person slasher experience that places you squarely in the armored boots of Grondoval, a knight determined to end Illwhyrin’s reign of darkness. Combat is satisfying and weighty—each swing of your broadsword or thrust of a halberd has a tangible impact, with enemies flying backward or collapsing in gruesome fashion. While the core mechanics are straightforward, the addition of a rudimentary experience system elevates each encounter: as you vanquish demons and collect treasure, you’ll level up and unlock stronger attacks, faster movement, and the ability to wield more potent spells.

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The arsenal at your disposal is varied and encourages experimentation. You might start a level sneaking through narrow corridors with a throwing axe and finish it raining down destruction with a level-five Nuke spell that disintegrates foes in an instant. Between melee weapons—knives, morning stars, battle axes—and ranged tools like bows and magic scrolls, you’ll constantly assess your loadout to tackle different enemy types. Resource management also plays a role: scrolls and potions are limited, so deciding whether to expend a Fireball to clear a clustered horde or reserve it for a miniboss fight becomes a strategic choice.

Level design in Witchaven emphasizes exploration and secret hunting. Winding passages, hidden chambers, and locked doors beckon you to scour every corner for potions of healing, invisibility boosts, and experience-boosting artifacts. While some areas can feel repetitive by today’s standards, each dark courtyard or torchlit hallway is thoughtfully constructed to keep your sword arm itching for action. The game’s balance of combat, light puzzle elements, and character progression makes for an engaging loop that will hold the attention of both action fans and those who prefer a touch of role-playing depth.

Graphics

Built on 3D Realms’ Build engine, Witchaven was a visual showcase in its day. The game combines flat 2D sprites for monsters and items with textured 3D environments, creating an atmospheric medieval world drenched in flickering torchlight and oppressive shadows. While modern players may notice pixelation or lower texture resolution, the moody aesthetics and clever use of dynamic lighting still convey a palpable sense of dread when you round a corner and face a snarling demon.

Environmental variety is one of Witchaven’s strengths. From moss-covered catacombs and lava-strewn caverns to grand castle keeps and elemental shrines, each area has its own palette and architectural style. Despite using the same basic tile sets, the designers introduce visual twists—burning braziers, creeping vines, and glowing mystical glyphs—to keep environments fresh. Small touches like animated waterfalls or skeletal remains scattered across floors add narrative flavor without taxing the engine.

Enemy design leans heavily on dark fantasy tropes—gargoyles, horned devils, skeletal warriors—but the Build engine’s sprite animations still manage to deliver memorable set-pieces. Each monster type moves with deliberate, sometimes jerky motions, yet the exaggerated frames imbue attacks with theatrical flair. Given the game’s age, you shouldn’t expect high-poly models or smooth character animations, but Witchaven’s graphical presentation remains cohesive and immersive when judged on its own retro merits.

Story

At its core, Witchaven tells a familiar tale of light versus darkness. Grondoval, a newly anointed knight of Stazhia, must journey to the cursed Island of Char and penetrate the Witchaven fortress to stop Illwhyrin’s plan to tear down the Veil and unleash demons upon the world. While the plot follows archetypal fantasy beats, it’s delivered through atmospheric level design, in-game text, and occasional scrolls that hint at the witch’s history and the land’s plight.

Character development is minimal but sufficient for the game’s pace: you are the hero, your people are suffering, and you must carve your way through hellish opposition to save them. Witchaven doesn’t linger on dialogue trees or moral quandaries; instead, it propels you forward with short bursts of narrative at key milestones—discovering Illwhyrin’s ritual chamber, rescuing a trapped soul, or seizing a legendary blade imbued with holy magic. This keeps the action brisk and focused on the core objective.

Though not novel in storytelling, the game’s lore is effectively conveyed through environmental cues. Forsaken altars, blood-soaked banners, and arcane symbols etched into walls paint a vivid picture of a realm gone mad under the witch’s rule. Scrolls and inscriptions found in hidden alcoves expand the backstory, while occasional NPC corpses with etched diary entries hint at previous adventurers’ failed attempts. Every level feels like a chapter in Grondoval’s crusade, lending purpose to your hack-and-slash journey.

Overall Experience

Witchaven stands as a noteworthy relic of mid-90s PC gaming—a bridge between dungeon-crawler RPGs and fast-paced first-person shooters. Its blend of visceral combat, light RPG progression, and exploratory level design delivers a satisfying, if occasionally repetitive, adventure. For players seeking a focused, action-driven medieval fantasy with enough character growth to keep things interesting, Witchaven hits the mark.

Certain design elements, such as locked doors requiring keys or specific experience levels, can feel restrictive at times, and modern audiences might bristle at the sight of jagged sprites and static backgrounds. However, fans of retro titles or those curious about the evolution of first-person fantasy games will find plenty to appreciate. The game’s pacing—alternating between demon-slaying set-pieces and treasure hunts—strikes a solid balance that rarely feels dull.

Whether you’re revisiting Witchaven for nostalgia or discovering it for the first time, the game offers a dark, brutal odyssey that complements its simple yet engaging mechanics. With its memorable soundtrack, haunting atmosphere, and addictive progression system, Witchaven remains a compelling purchase for aficionados of classic action-RPG hybrids and anyone eager to don the sword of Grondoval and challenge the witch of Char.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10