Although Facebook blocked all the games from LOLapps, the popular social game developer, for the reason that the company violated the social network’s terms of service just few days ago, LOLapps is back with its new Facebook title called Ravenwood Fair. This is the first social game on Facebook created by John Romero. Maybe you are familiar with the name John Romero, the legendary co-founder of id Software with his popular FPS titles like Doom and Quake.
There is no violence and blood in the new Facebook app. Following some of the same features in LOLapps’ Critter Island, Ravenwood Fair is a peaceful and funny game where players are able to create a critter fair in the dark forest full of spooky trees and scary creatures.
Players start with a raven named Huginn to teach the basic instruction on how to play Ravenwood Fair. The odd and dark forest seems terrible and spooky with trembling trees, unexpected grimaces, flying ravens and thorned wonder site. Since Halloween is right around the corner, Ravenwood Fair somehow kicks off the date of the holiday. The avatars as well as the visitors are the cuddly and animal-headed figures. If players click the visitors to talk with, they have a short conversation ready for amusement. Although the dialogues are limited at the moment, with the adorable sound of ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ noises, Ravenwood Fair really makes players feel pleasing and relaxing.
Ravenwood Fair is similar to Zynga’s Frontierville. Players chop down the spooky trees, smash the sharp rocks and 
arrange the space for buildings and games. In the meantime, players collect all the materials necessary for building the beautiful fair. Unlike the farming elements in Frontierville, Ravenwood Fair actually features the gameplay experience for business management. In this way, the ever-growing fair attracts critter visitors to wander and play. All the buildings, games as well as the decorations increase the fun rating in the game. The more the fun, the more the visitors. Furthermore, the critter visitors bring coins and EXP when they are using the constructions. It is a constant work because the trees and rocks will nibble up the forest the time players leave the fair. At the same time, the buildings need players to restock so visitors can use them.
Sometimes, when players are chopping down the trees, there will appear odd creatures called Domovoi and Crittle Bear. The creature may scare the visitors so that they are quaking aside and stop wandering the fair. What is the most important consequence is that they won’t spend any money in the fair then. Now is the time to bash the creatures and calm the visitors. If players defeat the creature, they will be 
awarded abundant rewards and show off their brave story with friends. Otherwise, players can purchase the protectors from the in-game item shop, which will protect the visitors from odd creatures. The protectors such as Happy Oak, Bright Boletes, Feathertop and more will release the fireball to attack the creature in its protection range. However, the protectors need to be recharged the power after a certain time.
In Ravenwood Fair, players can use Facebook Credits to purchase the exclusive items in the Special list from the store as well as spend in the building resources. Meanwhile, players can also ask their friends for more gifts, like resources, decorations and energy. When players visit the friends’ fair, they have five chances to either play the games or help clean up the woods.
Ambiguously among the genres of building, management or RPG, Ravenwood Fair is pretty funny and playable. The game still has a huge space to expand since the team keeps developing it. Build a wonderful fair in the spooky forest. Ravenwood Fair is worth your time.
4 Responses to “Facebook Game: Ravenwood Fair Review”
Yeah but essentially the game is playable for a very short time because very soon you need to invest real money to make a stupid little hut. So on a longer term, the game is UNPLAYABLE unless you want to seriously invest in it and for that cash you can play Fallout 3 + the expansion packs or play any serious PC simulation for less money. So basically, the game is ridiculous and rating it as “great” is ridiculous (unless you are payed to say that which is kinda cheap but understandable in this economic crisis). If you are giving money for little pixel huts you are ridiculous and I should get into the Facebook gaming industry as soon as possible.
I’ve played to level 10 and, so far at least, invested no money at all. The quest goals have been crafted in such a way that they can be completed with drops from the game, you really don’t even need the player interaction currently blocked.
I found it to be a fun game experience, although with Romero at the helm, the NPC monsters should begin to eat your fairgoers if left unkilled.
This game really is great, and you don’t need to invest your money, you just have to make “neighbours” to exchange items you don’t receive enough in your own Fair. If you want to invest money anyway – it would cost you around half a dollar for a lot of features in one pack.
Unfortunately, the game is still Beta and had some problems with Facebook, but it seems everything is slowly coming back to normal.
Beautiful design made me play game on FB for the first time, otherwise I’m more ‘serious” game player than that
I recently got invited to play…I am a Farmville person which is funny since I never played games on the computer before; however, this is a fun adventure. It takes some work but, I like the way it’s set up and it is a skill game.