Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Haven: Call of the King delivers a bold and varied gameplay experience that blends platforming, shoot ’em up sections, and vehicular action into one cohesive adventure. From the moment you assume control of Haven, the pacing is energetic, and the challenges shift fluidly between fast-paced combat encounters and more deliberate exploration-based puzzles. This genre-hopping design keeps the experience fresh, as you never quite know whether your next objective will involve precision jumping on moving platforms or weaving through enemy fire in a starship.

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The platforming segments showcase tight controls and inventive level design. Haven can jump, slide, and wall-run, which adds depth to navigation while encouraging players to master the intricacies of his movement toolkit. As levels progress, you’ll encounter increasingly complex obstacles—collapsing platforms, timed switches, and environmental hazards—that demand both reflexes and strategic planning. The variety of weapons further spices up these sections: once you pick up blasters, rocket launchers, or energy swords, every platforming run can turn into a frenzied firefight.

Shoot ’em up stages transition the perspective to side-scrolling or top-down views, where you pilot ships and hovercraft through corridors teeming with enemies. These sequences require an entirely different skillset—dodging projectile patterns and lining up precise shots—making them feel like mini arcade experiences embedded within a larger platformer. While occasional difficulty spikes can be frustrating, they also reward mastery; replay sections with new weapons or upgrades often reveals hidden paths and secrets that enrich replayability.

Beyond on-foot and aerial combat, the game features several vehicle-based levels, including speedboats skimming along neon-lit watercourses and futuristic gliders soaring over alien landscapes. Each type of vehicle handles distinctively, with acceleration, turning radius, and weapon loadouts tailored to its design. Learning these nuances is part of the fun, as the gradual introduction of new vehicles keeps the gameplay loop engaging from start to finish.

Graphics

Visually, Haven: Call of the King boasts a unique and surreal aesthetic, thanks in no small part to the conceptual artwork of Rodney Matthews. His signature style—dreamlike, bizarre, and richly detailed—bleeds into every environment, creating worlds that feel both fantastical and slightly unsettling. From twisted metal fortresses to floating islands shrouded in fog, each location is a testament to Matthews’s ability to meld science fiction and fantasy into a striking whole.

The character models strike a competent balance for an early-2000s multi-genre title. Haven himself is well-animated, with smooth running and combat motions that help sell the illusion of weight and agility. Enemies range from biomechanical drones to towering bosses, each featuring distinct silhouettes that make them stand out in combat. While textures can appear a bit dated by modern standards, the imaginative designs and vibrant color palettes more than compensate for any technical shortcomings.

Lighting and special effects are used to great effect, especially during weapon discharges and explosive set-pieces. Particle effects like sparks, smoke trails, and energy flares add dynamism to every confrontation. Underwater and night-time levels showcase clever use of shaders to emulate reflective surfaces and ambient glows, heightening immersion. Although draw distances can cause occasional pop-in, the overall graphical presentation remains atmospheric and engaging.

Cutscenes and story interludes are rendered with the same art direction, often incorporating stylized backgrounds and dynamic camera angles. These sequences may not rival console exclusives of the era in sheer polish, but they convey the narrative effectively and maintain visual consistency with the in-game action. Overall, the graphics of Haven: Call of the King serve its eclectic gameplay and surreal story perfectly, transporting players into a richly imagined universe.

Story

The tale of Haven: Call of the King revolves around Athellion’s lost promise and one slave’s prophetic dreams. King Athellion departs his homeworld to join an intergalactic crusade, leaving behind the Golden Voice—a great bell that would summon his aid. In his absence, Lord Vetch subjugates the populace using a viral antidote called catana, enslaving them to his dark will. When rumors of Athellion’s return vanish and the bell is forgotten, a slave named Haven begins to experience vivid dreams about a distant hill and a bell.

These visions thrust Haven into a reluctant hero’s journey. After Vetch learns of these dreams, he orders the slave’s execution, igniting Haven’s desperate flight for survival. As you guide Haven across diverse worlds—from fungal forests to mechanized cities—him unraveling the bell’s location forms the narrative throughline. Early on, exposition is conveyed through brief dialogues and in-engine cutscenes, steadily building the stakes as you learn more about Lord Vetch’s tyranny and the Golden Voice’s significance.

While the core plot is relatively straightforward—rescue your people, find the bell, defeat the overlord—it’s enriched by small world-building touches. Hidden journals, environmental storytelling elements, and side quests flesh out the society under Vetch’s rule, revealing the suffering wrought by the virus and the flickers of hope kindled by tales of Athellion’s valor. Though character development is somewhat minimal, key moments—such as Haven’s moral dilemmas and encounters with freed slaves—lend emotional weight to your quest.

The story’s pacing aligns well with the gameplay shifts: puzzle-heavy levels follow intense combat arenas, allowing narrative beats to land without stalling the action. By the finale, the revelations about the Golden Voice’s true power and the cost of rebellion deliver a satisfying conclusion that ties together Haven’s personal journey and the world’s larger fate. For players seeking lore and a driving purpose behind the explosions and acrobatics, Haven: Call of the King strikes a commendable balance.

Overall Experience

Haven: Call of the King is an ambitious project that succeeds more often than not in delivering a memorable, multi-genre odyssey. Its combination of platforming, shoot ’em up segments, puzzles, and vehicular gameplay keeps each hour feeling fresh and unpredictable. Even if certain difficulty spikes or control quirks emerge, they rarely detract from the overall excitement of discovering a new weapon or unlocking a sprawling new level.

The surreal art direction, courtesy of Rodney Matthews, gives the game a distinctive visual identity that sets it apart from contemporaries. From twisted volcanic caverns to crystalline airships floating against neon skies, the world design constantly surprises and delights. Coupled with a steady flow of narrative reveals about the Golden Voice and Lord Vetch’s machinations, you’ll find yourself invested in both the spectacle and the story.

Replay value is bolstered by hidden collectibles, alternate paths, and the desire to master each gameplay style. Whether you’re chasing high scores in shoot ’em up stages or hunting for elusive puzzle clues, there’s always an incentive to revisit earlier levels. Multiplayer isn’t present, but the breadth of solo content ensures you’ll get your money’s worth—especially if you relish unlocking every corner of the Golden Voice’s mythos.

Overall, Haven: Call of the King is a testament to creative risk-taking in game design. It may not be flawless, but its willingness to blend genres and tell a fantastical tale of lost kings and prophetic slaves makes it a standout title for players yearning for an experience that refuses to stay in one lane. For action-platformer enthusiasts looking for a sprawling adventure with a dash of sci-fi intrigue, this game comes highly recommended.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10