Have you heard of Lone Ruin? A tricky twin-stick shooter with roguelike elements released earlier this month. Everyone was talking about it, but does it live up to its reputation?
The simple premise is to complete a series of dungeons to acquire treasure. Clearing a room of monsters will allow you to proceed to the next room through various pathways where you can choose your destiny. Will you risk chasing treasure, pick better weapons, or replenish his life meter?These are questions you’ll need to ponder every time you head into the next dungeon.
Gameplay involves navigating a contained room until all enemies are dead. The game’s twin his stick nature works well, with one stick controlling the movement of the character and the other controlling the direction of the firearm. The shoulder buttons act as weapons, but you can adjust these settings to your liking. Overall, a smooth and satisfying experience.
Each run begins with a selection of 8 weapons. You are greeted by some kind of devilish salesperson, a master of weapons who declares “It’s dangerous to go it alone.” This classic reference always brings a smile. You have big weapons at your disposal, including melee and long-range types. Some, like my personal favorite Chain Lightning, fit into both categories. This creates a ricocheting electric shock of energy that travels between enemies. It’s a lot of fun to test everything until you find the best one. This diversity also provides at least one reason to regenerate after dying.
Oh yeah, did we mention that death comes quickly and regularly? Your hefty life meter is rapidly depleted by an onslaught of enemies. These monsters are fun and varied, increasing in difficulty and number as you progress. Burning skulls are the most common Goomba-type enemies, but you’ll soon encounter wizards, worms, and toothy slug creatures. Boss fights also occur periodically, adding another level of difficulty to progression. In fact, this is where you almost die.
Leaderboards also help with replayability. After each run, you can check your standings against other players. This shows that the simple desire to climb that ladder both spurs replays and, at the same time, probably worked better than we thought. It’s kind of nice to be ranked in..would you like to try again? Of course, if you’re not a big eater of punishment, it’s unlikely that Lone Ruin will change your mind.
Graphics are great. The dark and painted visuals are impressive, as if the world has been filtered with a violet filter. A neon-bright blue and pink aesthetic accentuates certain features and adds to the allure. The audio is great too, and fast-paced for the barrage hell you’re going to endure.
Overall, Lone Ruin is a tough twin-stick shooter that hits the spot. The execution is quick and satisfying, with leaderboards and multiple weapons that encourage replay. It looks great and plays smoothly. Don’t get too comfortable because it will all be over soon. Until I play again.
