Back in 2015, Netmarble’s 'Raven' took the mobile gaming market by storm, sweeping the Korea Game Awards. While the hype has simmered over the years, last year's release of Raven 2 proved that the brand still carries quite a bit of weight.

Now, Netmarble is looking to expand the Raven IP further with Project Evilbane. It’s shifting toward a co-op action RPG format with noticeably sharper graphics, catching the eye of many long-time fans. I had a chance to get hands-on with the game at G-STAR 2025. It’s clear that the heavy, visceral combat Raven is known for remains, but with a fresh twist: switching between melee and ranged weapons to dismantle bosses.

You start by picking a character and your loadout. The demo featured four characters—Aileen, Sienna, Phelia, and Varman—each with subtle differences in stamina, health, and defensive stats.

The real tactical meat is in your weapons. You choose one melee and one ranged weapon before heading into the fray. The demo offered swords and shields or greatswords for melee, while ranged options included crossbows and shotgun-style ballistae.

What caught my eye were the active skills tied to each weapon. Whether you’re dashing forward to swing a blade or using a wire action to zip across the map, these skills add flavor. Since the base attack speed and damage didn't vary wildly between weapons, your choice of skill really dictates your playstyle.

On top of that, you get two 'Heavenstone' skills. These can range from calling in airstrikes or dropping toxic clouds to support roles like healing or buffs. While there aren't rigid classes, divvying up these skills among your party members adds a layer of depth that could be quite fun.

Once you hit the battlefield, it's the usual loop: escort missions, point captures, and boss hunts. The objectives themselves aren't reinventing the wheel, but the punchy, saturated visual effects and the weight of the combat feel satisfying. Outside of boss encounters, waves of enemies swarm you, delivering that classic hack-and-slash catharsis.

The QTE actions are a neat addition. When you launch or knock down an enemy, a prompt appears; nailing it lets you chase them down for a devastating finisher. Crucially, these trigger even if an ally lands the hit, creating opportunities to zip across the map to help a teammate or jump into the fray when things get hairy.

Swapping between melee and ranged weapons is key to the flow. Melee hits harder but keeps you in the danger zone, while ranged weapons are weaker but safer. Bosses are massive, so you’ll often chip away at their weak points with ranged gear before rushing in with a blade once they’re staggered. It’s a solid rhythm.

Overall, the action in Project Evilbane is a hit. It captures the DNA of the original Raven while using QTEs to keep the pace from feeling stale. The weapon-switching mechanic makes boss fights a genuinely engaging affair.

However, it isn't perfect. The stat differences between characters feel negligible right now, making you wonder why they're separated at all. Also, aiming ranged weapons via the mouse wheel on keyboard controls felt clunky. That said, it’s early days; if Netmarble acts on the feedback from G-STAR 2025, this could easily become their next flagship title.