Raji: An Ancient Epic is a game of firsts. It's the very first title to come out of India-based developer Nodding Heads, and is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and Indian history, spotlighting a culture that has always been criminally under-explored in the medium of mainstream video games. The game stands out with its impressive presentation and its intriguing, involving links to Hindu figures and events. In other ways, however, this action-adventure falls short of its potential with its very brief runtime, aged mechanics and a disappointing ending.
Set in ancient India, Raji: An Ancient Epic follows the story of the eponymous Raji, who lives a simple life as a circus performer alongside her beloved younger brother Golu. On the day of the Raksha Bandhan festival, the circus is suddenly besieged by otherworldly demons led by a new demon lord called Mahabalasura. The invaders slaughter everyone except the children, who are kidnapped for a dark and unknown purpose. When Raji tries to defend Golu, she is struck down and left for dead. She later awakens to find that her little brother has disappeared along with the rest of the children. Determined to rescue Golu, Raji prays to Durga, goddess of war, who grants her a sacred weapon and charges her with saving the children - and the world itself.
Raji: An Ancient Epic may not have the budget of a modern God of War game, but it achieves a remarkably similar kind of mythological and historical wonder. That's mainly a result of its fanciful, appealing presentation, which is perhaps the best part of the game. The varied, mystical environments, the narrative voicework from Durga and Vishnu, and the authentic puppetry cutscenes and demon designs create a uniquely absorbing experience. Importantly, the game also incorporates some of the most significant stories in Hindu mythology and ties them back to the main plot. The primordial energy of Shakti, the legend of Garuda, and more are all taught to Raji through elaborate murals, resulting in an engaging crash course for the player.
On the mechanical side, Raji: An Ancient Epic is much less interesting - but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. The acrobatic combat is both fun and dated, and makes the game feel like a solid action-adventure game from over a decade ago. For better and worse, it recalls Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and other classics of the era. Weapons are distinct, empowering and simple, while the upgrade system doesn't offer much beyond enhancing each weapon with an element and three very same-y abilities. There's basic, one-track platforming in the vein of Uncharted and a minimal amount of exploration. The game occasionally mixes things up with a puzzle or two, but it's mostly a casual and linear journey.
Raji: An Ancient Epic is also a noticeably short game, lasting less than 5 hours in total. Of course, this isn't an inherently bad thing, but the overall framework of the game makes it feel somewhat rushed and its setting underutilized. This feeling is really driven home by the abrupt and unsatisfying ending. Without spoiling anything, the game concludes with a cliffhanger that leaves every part of the story in doubt. It disservices the charming, fable-esque storytelling of the game, which is very well-paced and increasingly interesting up until that point.
Ultimately, the most remarkable thing about Raji is that sense of playing a legend straight out of the Puranas, albeit not nearly as long or impactful. It may not be a mythological masterpiece, but Raji: An Ancient Epic feels like a prelude for what's to come from Nodding Heads - and perhaps the Indian game development scene on a larger scale.
Raji: An Ancient Epic is now available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A Steam code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.