Disclaimer: The following began its life as a piece of software that featured lots of…surprisingly varied sex scenes. If you are into that, go try the PC version. Note, however, that while the Switch port has wiped all that out, this remains a title that heavily focuses on some erotic themes. Book of Korvald is an intriguing mix of Old Norse dark fantasy, Christian inspired mythology, cosmic horror, and erotica. Basically, Warhammer had a child with Lovecraft, and that child turned out to be a claymore-wielding Crusades-era nun with big boobs and imposingly large hips. If that sounds interesting…lower your expectations before approaching because the game that’s attached to it all has a couple of problems.
The story follows Korvald, a disgraced Norse scribe seeking revenge after his village is destroyed. During him being tortured by some very sadistic crusaders, he forms a pact with an eldritch entity that bestows him with immense power. Thus begins a quest for vengeance, which, as expected, will include more than just an old man’s thirst for retribution. The narrative (which is not afraid to show or describe violence) weaves together religion, mythology, and Lovecraftian fiction (plus quite a bit of humour), and unlike most video games that include sex in the equation, the world building is unexpectedly dense. There is plenty of room for improvement, especially when it comes to the occasionally very juvenile writing (and with characters cursing like people from the ‘90s), but this is far from a rushed job that just wanted to sell with the power of boobies alone.
Visually, Book of Korvald immediately betrays its modest production values. This is a very small-scale project, and it shows almost everywhere, especially in the animations, which resemble marionettes with realistic faces pasted onto their heads – a “trick” that’s very common in low-budget indies. That said, the art direction itself has personality. The gritty, slightly “dirty” aesthetic fits this grimdark world, and the unconventional character designs give this a distinct renaissance-flavoured identity. After all, who can nurse a grudge on a game filled with super-curvy warrior nuns? As for the audio, while no tune will stick in your mind, the soundtrack can occasionally get very atmospheric, and the voice work is surprisingly good when compared to everything else. All in all, despite some cracks, there are no major complaints here.
At its core, this is a side-scrolling action RPG. Korvald mainly goes from A to B killing whatever stands in his way, collecting money, usable items, resources for crafting, and pieces of equipment. Combat revolves around swift attacks, dodges, as well as other supplementary abilities. Quests from NPCs provide direction across the large map, though navigation tools can be very, very vague, making it very, very easy to get lost. As Book of Korvald also has a light metroidvania structure, be prepared to backtrack to previous areas where newfound abilities can be used to reach places that weren’t accessible before. Just brace for many a moment where it’s not really clear where Korvald should go next, with the very amateurly designed map and the way-too-light quest log not helping that much.
One of the most unusual mechanics is how Korvald regenerates health. This is a perk that was given to him by his otherworldly ally, but it comes with a caveat. While he replenishes his vitality his…urges increase, and when full he can only regain health by consuming items. In order for his hormones to stop spilling from his ears he needs to mate, which is actually an ability that is used to recruit female enemies – just remember that, as mentioned earlier, nothing nasty is shown in this version. Effectively this turns encounters into a blend of combat, progression, and party management. Each recruit has unique combat abilities, and some areas even require specific companions to unlock paths forward.
Unfortunately, much of the experience is undermined by a severe lack of polish. Balance is extremely inconsistent, with some weapons and skills being disproportionately powerful; the user interface and even the dialogue window is clunky; movement and skills can still be used during the brief loading between areas; controls during combat can either feel stiff or floaty; the reason why some kills were successful or why the death of the hero came a bit fast isn’t always clear; and, finally, the overall experience is hampered by technical issues, like the occasional freezes, or the inability to jump or interact with a door or NPC – issues that were probably there since the original PC release and still haven’t been addressed. Save often!
There are moments where Book of Korvald’s creativity shines through. Boss encounters stand out thanks to their scale and presentation, the world is large and varied, and the many recruitable allies adds replay value, encouraging experimentation with different combinations of abilities. When everything clicks, this manages to feel very enjoyable. Things don’t always click, though. Expect frustration mixed with moments of pure fun as this is a deeply uneven experience. It’s easy to see the passion behind it, but that doesn’t excuse its messy parts…or a price tag that’s higher than freaking Hollow Knight, for Freyja’s sake! At the end of the day, while that’s not all there is to see here, this adventure’s unusual blend of dark fantasy themes and, yes, its naughty bits, make it far more interesting than what it would be otherwise.
