Haven Review

Haven was reviewed on a PS4

Love is a common subject in videogames, but it’s difficult for me to think of any videogame couple that really stood out for me. Well not anymore, since Haven delivers one of the most realistic, relatable and adorable couple I’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering in a videogame.

What is Haven?

Haven is a stylish romantic sci-fi RPG game about the forbidden love of a couple named Kay and Yu that escaped their oppressive home planet to settle in on Source. Source is a planet comprised solely of fragmented islets that gets more complex the further you get in the game.

The couple use their anti-gravity boots that are powered by flow, the fuel that runs the world of Haven, to glide and fly across the islets with ease. This stylish twist to exploration makes traversing in the game an enjoyable pastime.

The act of gliding itself is fun, but the exploration is a bore since most of the islets look identical to one another. Later in the game, there is a bit of variety to them, but they still lack any character or any remarkable landmarks to explore. The constant loading screens when traveling from one islet to the other doesn’t make things any easier neither.

Haven has a very relaxing vibe thanks to the wonderful chill electronic music composed by Danger. The music makes the simple act of gliding over the flowing grass entrancing, but it does get boring after a while if there’s nothing worth exploring.

Inspired by JRPG games

The core gameplay loop is a mix between the usual mechanics found in a JRPG game; visual novel style dialogues, crafting items, leveling up your characters and a non-turn based combat. By Non turn-based, I mean that it’s similar to turn-based combat but your enemies can and will attack you while you execute your own move. Combat is fast paced, fun and requires a bit of strategy, but it does get tedious at times.  

What sets Haven apart is its core theme of love. The game’s protagonists are entwined through everything they do. In every instance of the game, you’re controlling both of them at once. In Combat, you’ll have to coordinate both of their attacks simultaneously and when gliding, they’re always side-by-side.

Built for two

The game offers the option to play in couch coop. The second player is much more of a spectator rather than a participant in the game since gliding can only be done by one player at once. However, the combat is more enjoyable in coop since each player controls one of the characters and you’ll be forced to synchronize your attacks in order to kick butts.

Kay and Yu

Kay and Yu act like a real-life couple, and they’re enjoyable protagonists because of it. They banter, flirt, get into heated arguments, and discuss existential issues just like any other couple out there. Thanks to the stellar writing, they quickly became one of my favorite couples in gaming.

Kay and Yu’s relationship is endearing and entertaining, without being too cheesy or derivative. The writing perfectly captures the ups and downs of being in a relationship. It’s not all chocolates and roses though, as they do have their arguments at times, and those are as enjoyable as their more intimate moments. Haven is a dialogue heavy game, and it does offer a few dialogue choices, which increases the game’s replayability.

After a long day of exploring, Kay and Yu would retire to their nest, a compact space ship that acts as the game’s hub area. In the nest, you’ll assume a first person perspective and get a voyeuristic look into their daily lives. You’ll get to watch them as they cook food, craft items, chat on their comfy sofa, tend to their garden and even as they shower.

Their little love nest

Spending time at the nest is my favorite part of the game since it offers the chance for us to learn more about the world they live in. While in the Nest, Kay and Yu will often talk about their previous lives and experiences.

The game makes good use of the nest by delivering expository dialogue that allows us to gain insights into the world of Haven. You’re constantly learning about the backstory of Kay and Yu. They would constantly discuss their ambitions, their dreams, and their passions. The couple also exchange realistic banter just like a real life couple would.

A character that’s always mentioned but never seen is The Matchmaker, a figure that sets up people with their perfect partners, whether they like it or not. The Matchmaker is the reason why Kay and Yu escaped their home planet. I was intrigued about the Matchmaker and I was disappointed that we never met him. I love his inclusion as a behind the scenes villain nonetheless.

Couples who fight together, stay together

Combat is innovative and goes along with the theme of the game, the couple fight in perfect synergy as you control each of their moves independently. You’re given the ability to combine both of their attacks to deal a massive hit to your foes.

Most of the game’s islets are covered with rust, which is a red substance that corrupts the planets’ creatures. Unfortunately, that’s where the game turns into a slog. After your first few hours, you’ll unlock fast travel by flying aboard giant blob-like creature. Though the creature can only fly to islets that are clean of any rust.

To clean rust, you’ll have to explore each islet in its entirety and fight off its infected beasts, meaning you’ll spend hours just doing busywork and hopping from one islet to the other instead of listening to more of Kay and Yu’s fun banter.

Repairing the nest is the one thing that Haven wants you to accomplish during its 15 hours. Even if there are a few events that try to shake things up every few minutes, the main crux of the game would still be scouring the islets for spaceship parts and cleaning up the rust.

Overall,

Haven captured my heart with its characters, but left me a bit weary with its repetitiveness and the bland design of its islets. Kay and Yu’s backs must probably hurt from carrying the whole game on them. If it weren’t for the strong voice acting and the excellent writing, Haven would be a total bore.

Haven is the perfect game to play with that special someone, whether you’re playing in coop or solo, you’ll have an enjoyable time watching Kay and Yu’s interactions with one another. Even if you’re playing it alone, you’ll find plenty to love about Haven’s protagonists. To be frank, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Haven garnered a cult following in the next few years, and I sure hope that a sequel is already in the works.

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Special thanks go to The Game Bakers for providing us with a review code.

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You should play Haven if you

• Are a hopeless romantic
• Would love to explore Kay and Yu’s relationship
• Would love an emotional and impactful storyline
• Enjoy JRPG games
• Enjoy dialogue-heavy games
• Want to play something fresh and original
• Don’t mind a slow paced storyline
• Don’t mind a bit of repetitiveness
• Aren’t expecting much in terms of exploration

Reviewer’s note:

Despite our less than perfect score, Haven is a must play. Simply because it tried to do something unique and innovative in an industry that’s frightened of originality.

Haven’s Score

8 / 10