Rite of Life Demo

Advancing in a video game is usually fairly easy if you manage to kill enough enemies and gather the most powerful items. RPGs make it very easy to keep track of your progress, given the fact that every bit of experience you gain contributes to your overall level. On the other hand, there are other ways players can be rewarded for their efforts.

Rite of Life is an interesting RPG/sandbox mashup that features all sorts of interesting mechanics, including a nice leveling system and the possibility to help other characters get stronger as well. There’s not a lot of lore included with the story, but then again the whole thing is more about the experience itself, since you can make up your own stories as you go along.

It all starts in a camp in the middle of the woods, where your character has to complete quests and help the other campers get better at their trade. Speaking of which, you can choose between a male or a female character, as well as spend a handful of skill points before the adventure starts. The leveling system is fairly interesting as well, even if it’s a bit too simple for hardcore players.

There are other things that affect the game world besides your actions, and it’s nice to see that you can change other things as well. Hence, the economy fluctuates depending on your progress, and the other villagers can also get better at their trade and produce a lot more wealth for the village. Unlike with most RPGs, this one feels a lot more personal, because it’s not all up to a single man to make a difference.

You can also decorate your own home and watch the smooth change in seasons and weather, plus the day & night cycle. Lastly, the combat is turn-based and fairly simple and to the point, while also allowing you to take full control of your character’s abilities and strike enemies with precision and a bit of strategy. The graphics are colorful and enjoyable as well, even if they are fairly basic from a technical point of view.

In the end, Rite of Life is not your standard JRPG, but it’s not a pure breed sandbox game either. Hence, the combination proved to be quite enjoyable, and it’s great to see something different out there for a change after all those copycat RPGs that currently occupy the market.