Review Date: October 27, 2010
Developer: LOLapps
Publisher: LOLapps
Platform: Facebook
Genre: Simulation
The unique fantasy setting of Ravenwood Fair is a breath of fresh air. On a platform that's dominated by farms, restaurants, vampires, and gangs, it's great to finally see a new and interesting setting. The atmosphere alone is reason enough to play Ravenwood Fair, but the gameplay itself is also great, if not quite as unique. It builds upon the formula laid down by FrontierVille, but adds some small but significant changes to improve that formula.
Ravenwood Fair is all about building and maintaining a fairground. You'll start by picking a character to play as from two different options (one male, one female) and then you're transported to your plot of land. Like FrontierVille, this plot of land is overrun with trees. So it's your job to clear out space by chopping them down and then replacing them with games and attractions that will bring in customers. There are quests to complete and soon enough you'll have a bustling little fair complete with hot dog stands and dart boards.
Like FrontierVille, actions in the game result in a splurge of items to pick up. So every time you chop down a tree or restock an attraction, necessary items like cash, experience, wood, and sometimes even energy will pop out. But unlike FrontierVille, you don't have to worry about clicking on them. You can if you want, but the bonuses will also simply be collected automatically by leaving them be. Your playtime is limited by an energy meter, but it's actually pretty generous. The amount alloted at any given time allows you to get quite a bit done, and you can also occasionally pick up additional energy by performing actions or by using collected food to purchase it. You can also buy additional energy should you lack patience, but it's not a necessity.
As you continue to improve the fair, by clearing away trees and adding attractions, you'll increase the "fun" level, which in turn will attract more customers, which will earn you more money and experience.
Really, the gameplay is essentially the same as FrontierVille, right down to the enemies that will pop up when you chop down a tree. But the few changes made to the formula are all for the better. Energy is more abundant and you don't have to click on every single bonus. But the the biggest difference between the two games is the setting.
Ravenwood Fair has a dark, children's fantasy book style to it, with a little bit of steampunk thrown in for good measure. The forest you're clearing away consists of "scary" trees, and you'll sometimes see dark eyes blinking in the trees or hear a disturbing disembodied laughter. Customers arrive via an airship and you'll have to fight off strange wooden clockwork creatures. The visuals have a beautiful layer of depth to them that few games on the platform can even come close to. The music, likewise, adds to the fantasy theme.
The customers themselves are, like your character, all animals, but ones that dress and behave as if they were human. You can even talk to each character, and though these conversations are relatively simple, their sheer existence adds an extra layer of depth to the world being created by Ravenwood Fair. When a creature from the forest scares them, the characters will come running to you for comfort. Instead of simply being paying customers, they feel like real characters who you can talk to and learn something about.
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