RUINER review - Hello, darkness
(Reviewed by Melody Werner)
RUINER is a 2017 cyberpunk semi-isometric hack & slash/shooter developed by a team of former Witcher devs, Reikon Games. Published by Devolver Digital, it was positively received though sold slightly under expectations (though well enough for the devs to continue work at Reikon). It is well known for its difficulty, which may have been part of the reason for its initially underwhelming sales. Now, I'm not someone who is into "ultra hardcore" games, due to me not having the best reflexes or hand-eye coordination--so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy RUINER when I started it up on Xbox Game Pass (which is the version I am reviewing). Then I saw that there was an easy mode, which I hopped into. And I had a blast with it.
One thing I will say is pretty undeniable is that RUINER looks phenomenal. Sure, the textures in a AAA title may be better on a purely technical level, but art direction trumps technical prowess every time. And RUINER has terrific art direction that, I think, makes it better visually than 95% of AAA releases which have generic, hyper-realistic aesthetics. And while the perspective can be a tad jarring at first, once you get used to it it does help make for some instantly iconic moments. The game generally has this pristine level of polish to it, from the UI to the score screens. I think there's no better way of summing up RUINER's visual strengths than "striking." But don't sleep on the music, which sells the setting's industrial vibe and is something I enjoy listening to on its own. Great stuff.
RUINER is not exactly a story game per se, but the story is definitely a selling point of the game. Lately we have seen the indie/boutique market domination of roguelite games such as The Binding of Isaac, Downwell, and Dead Cells. And while plenty of those games are great (I do love me some Dead Cells and Downwell), there is a bothersome dearth of finely crafted experiences like what RUINER offers. That's not to say that RUINER is superior or good simply because it boasts a tighter sense of design or a narrative, it's just appreciated. Randomness is fun when done right, but there's something special to me about a game that provides a weighty experience without indulging in arcadey mechanics or permadeath. RUINER's plot isn't particularly unique, but it has enough to it that it's consistently compelling. Kudos to the sense of humor too, which isn't necessarily omnipresent, but is still great when it does pop up.
But this is an action game, so if its combat fell flat then the whole game would too. Luckily, the gameplay in this is obscenely frenetic and fun. While the gunplay is fantastic on its own, it's the melee where this title shines most. Where melee is typically a second thought in action games of this sort, RUINER puts melee front and center with its dash heavy combat, which makes every fight into a sort of ballet of slashes. That said, I love how the game encourages frantic and varied battling where you are constantly have to change your weapons, lest you run out of ammo. There is a good variety of enemy types, though I dislike how many times certain bosses are reused.
RUINER is an excellent action game that is just a hair away from being one of the best games I've ever played. I'm definitely keeping tabs on where Reikon goes next, and I hope they can match RUINER's quality--or even surpass it. I obviously would recommend you give this a looksie if it sounds up your alley. RUINER gets a 9.5/10 from me.
Must-play
Summary:
A badass, hectic gem of a title that I hope will see continued success and greater acclaim as more people stumble onto it.
RUINER is a 2017 cyberpunk semi-isometric hack & slash/shooter developed by a team of former Witcher devs, Reikon Games. Published by Devolver Digital, it was positively received though sold slightly under expectations (though well enough for the devs to continue work at Reikon). It is well known for its difficulty, which may have been part of the reason for its initially underwhelming sales. Now, I'm not someone who is into "ultra hardcore" games, due to me not having the best reflexes or hand-eye coordination--so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy RUINER when I started it up on Xbox Game Pass (which is the version I am reviewing). Then I saw that there was an easy mode, which I hopped into. And I had a blast with it.
One thing I will say is pretty undeniable is that RUINER looks phenomenal. Sure, the textures in a AAA title may be better on a purely technical level, but art direction trumps technical prowess every time. And RUINER has terrific art direction that, I think, makes it better visually than 95% of AAA releases which have generic, hyper-realistic aesthetics. And while the perspective can be a tad jarring at first, once you get used to it it does help make for some instantly iconic moments. The game generally has this pristine level of polish to it, from the UI to the score screens. I think there's no better way of summing up RUINER's visual strengths than "striking." But don't sleep on the music, which sells the setting's industrial vibe and is something I enjoy listening to on its own. Great stuff.
RUINER is not exactly a story game per se, but the story is definitely a selling point of the game. Lately we have seen the indie/boutique market domination of roguelite games such as The Binding of Isaac, Downwell, and Dead Cells. And while plenty of those games are great (I do love me some Dead Cells and Downwell), there is a bothersome dearth of finely crafted experiences like what RUINER offers. That's not to say that RUINER is superior or good simply because it boasts a tighter sense of design or a narrative, it's just appreciated. Randomness is fun when done right, but there's something special to me about a game that provides a weighty experience without indulging in arcadey mechanics or permadeath. RUINER's plot isn't particularly unique, but it has enough to it that it's consistently compelling. Kudos to the sense of humor too, which isn't necessarily omnipresent, but is still great when it does pop up.
But this is an action game, so if its combat fell flat then the whole game would too. Luckily, the gameplay in this is obscenely frenetic and fun. While the gunplay is fantastic on its own, it's the melee where this title shines most. Where melee is typically a second thought in action games of this sort, RUINER puts melee front and center with its dash heavy combat, which makes every fight into a sort of ballet of slashes. That said, I love how the game encourages frantic and varied battling where you are constantly have to change your weapons, lest you run out of ammo. There is a good variety of enemy types, though I dislike how many times certain bosses are reused.
RUINER is an excellent action game that is just a hair away from being one of the best games I've ever played. I'm definitely keeping tabs on where Reikon goes next, and I hope they can match RUINER's quality--or even surpass it. I obviously would recommend you give this a looksie if it sounds up your alley. RUINER gets a 9.5/10 from me.
Must-play
Summary:
A badass, hectic gem of a title that I hope will see continued success and greater acclaim as more people stumble onto it.
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