Lugaru

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 444 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Lugaru Game Cover
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Lugaru is a single-player, open world game featuring an intriguing story where you play as Turner, a rebel bunny rabbit seeking revenge on those who slaughtered his village. The game offers streamlined combat with a context-sensitive system, encouraging strategic thinking and smart moves. Open-ended strategy lets you choose your approach to defeating enemies, with ragdoll physics adding satisfying environmental damage.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 444 reviews
story30 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • The combat system is complex and satisfying, offering a unique experience that rewards skill and strategy.
  • Despite its dated graphics, the game provides a fun and engaging gameplay experience, especially for fans of retro titles.
  • Lugaru serves as a fascinating precursor to Overgrowth, showcasing the evolution of its combat mechanics and story.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and resolution problems that can hinder the gameplay experience.
  • The campaign is very short and can feel repetitive, with some levels being excessively difficult, particularly against wolves.
  • Many players find the controls clunky and the AI frustratingly difficult, leading to a challenging experience that may not appeal to everyone.
  • story94 mentions

    The story of "Lugaru" revolves around a revenge plot where the protagonist, Turner, seeks vengeance against raiders who destroyed his village and family, ultimately uncovering a larger conspiracy involving wolves. While the narrative is described as simple and short, it is engaging and emotionally resonant, with some players finding it deeply impactful despite its limitations. Many reviews suggest that the sequel, "Overgrowth," offers a more refined and expanded version of the story, making it a worthwhile alternative for those interested in a deeper narrative experience.

    • “The storyline is a revenge plot with a few added conspiracy elements, where our protagonist goes after the raiders who destroyed his village and family before finding himself caught in a grand scheme involving the wolves.”
    • “It has just enough story that you become truly attached to the characters and their journey. I would even go as far as to say that Lugaru is like Watership Down on steroids, perhaps even considerably more graphic, if less disturbing. There is so much emotion encapsulated within the music that it has at times brought me to tears.”
    • “The visuals are very powerful, and the combat is absurdly fun. The story of the game keeps the combat from feeling mindless and empty; there is always a valid motivation for the characters and their actions at every turn, and every battle feels heartfelt and meaningful.”
    • “The main story is very short, but each of the levels is fairly open-ended and replayable, so if you're the kind of person who likes to go back and experiment with different areas in games or just want to shoot for the highest score possible, you'll probably get a kick out of it.”
    • “However, at the end of the day, this game feels like a tech demo considering its short length and shallow story.”
    • “The 'story' is more so a collection of stages or arenas linked together loosely by some narrative and text, which isn't so much of an issue since the actual combat (the only gameplay mechanic) is very satisfying if not a bit difficult.”
  • graphics64 mentions

    The graphics of Lugaru are widely regarded as dated and rough, reminiscent of early 2000s titles, with some comparisons to games like Morrowind and Half-Life 1. Despite their simplicity, many players appreciate the nostalgic low-poly art style and the attention to detail in certain systems, such as environmental effects. While the visuals may not meet modern standards, they are often overshadowed by the game's engaging gameplay and compelling story, making it a beloved title for those who can overlook its graphical shortcomings.

    • “Something about low poly models with good texture work and very open natural environments that feel 'lonely' is peak graphical nostalgia for me personally.”
    • “Despite this graphical simplicity, there is a surprising attention to detail with the wolf smell system and wind simulation.”
    • “Believe it or not, I actually fell in love with Lugaru for its story primarily, as well as its music, and its gorgeous visuals.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics are rough, even for 2005 standards, and the animations are clunky, making combat slightly less satisfying.”
    • “The graphics are bad.”
    • “If you are able to deal with the extremely dated graphics you will love this game.”
  • gameplay60 mentions

    The gameplay is highly praised for its strategic depth, unique combat mechanics, and responsive controls, making it a standout feature of the game despite its dated graphics. While some mechanics may feel outdated, the overall experience remains engaging and challenging, with a mix of fast-paced fighting and tactical elements that encourage replayability. Players appreciate the balance between skill and strategy, although the learning curve can be steep.

    • “The gameplay is far and away the most impressive part of this game.”
    • “The core gameplay is phenomenal.”
    • “Although the central campaign in Lugaru can be completed in just under a few hours, the additional difficulty settings, challenge levels, and its addictive 'pick up and play' gameplay really add to the replay value.”
    • “Obviously this game is a tad dated which excuses the design and graphics, but not the gameplay.”
    • “If you wish to play this game, then just buy Overgrowth, as it contains the story and levels of this game; though the mechanics are slightly different, it's very similar and probably better than being frustrated with the difficulties.”
    • “Its gameplay is a little hard to get used to, but it's definitely worth it.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in Lugaru is highly praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling, with some tracks being particularly memorable and energizing during combat. Despite having only a few songs, the soundtrack effectively captures the game's emotional highs and lows, leaving a lasting impact on players.

    • “It has just enough story that you become truly attached to the characters and their journey; there is so much emotion encapsulated within the music that it has at times brought me to tears.”
    • “Fight music is really memorable and gets your blood pumping.”
    • “Sweet music!”
    • “- only 2 or 3 songs in the whole game”
    • “- only 2 or 3 songs in the whole game”
    • “Music”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game is noted for its significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that can detract from the experience. While some players find the bugs amusing and part of the game's charm, others recommend opting for the open-source version, which offers a more polished experience. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, but it does not completely overshadow its enjoyable aspects.

    • “Don't get me wrong, but the reason I don't have many hours on it on Steam is because this particular version is incredibly buggy. It's a really great game and I can recommend it; however, I recommend playing through the open source version of the game, which has 1080p native resolution support, etc. It's just far better.”
    • “This game is actually really brilliant, if you can get over glitches, being unfinished, a bad map editor, short campaign, and levels.”
    • “It's hilariously buggy.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability despite a short main story, with open-ended levels that encourage experimentation and high-score pursuits. Additional difficulty settings and challenge levels enhance the experience, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate engaging combat and the ability to revisit content.

    • “The main story is very short, but each of the levels is fairly open-ended and replayable, so if you're the kind of person who likes to go back and experiment with different areas in games or just want to shoot for the highest score possible, you'll probably get a kick out of it.”
    • “Lots of replayability and enjoyable combat and story.”
    • “Although the central campaign in Lugaru can be completed in just under a few hours, the additional difficulty settings, challenge levels, and its addictive 'pick up and play' gameplay really add to the replay value.”
    • “The main story is very short, but each of the levels is fairly open-ended and replayable. If you're the kind of person who likes to go back and experiment with different areas in games or just want to shoot for the highest score possible, you'll probably get a kick out of it.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as nostalgic and engaging, set in a unique world of anthropomorphic rodents reminiscent of Saiyan warriors. Players appreciate the combination of dated yet charming visuals with responsive fighting mechanics, creating an enjoyable experience enhanced by ragdoll physics. Overall, it offers a compelling and immersive environment for a budget-friendly fighting game.

    • “For just a few bucks, an atmospheric excursion to a realm of saiyan-like anthropomorphic rodents. Vaguely nostalgic in its dated renderings, but with fighting mechanics that feel snappy and responsive on par with many games of higher cost!”
    • “A good old fighting game with great atmosphere and ragdoll-like physics.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny animations and the often hilarious bugs that occur during gameplay, adding a lighthearted touch to the smooth combat and stealth mechanics.

    • “Smooth combat, cool stealth, and funny animations happen really often.”
    • “It's hilariously buggy.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of Lugaru is highlighted by its powerful visuals and meaningful story, which imbue the combat with heartfelt motivations and significance. Players appreciate how the narrative enriches the gameplay, making each battle feel impactful rather than mindless. Overall, the game successfully delivers an emotional experience that resonates with players.

    • “Lugaru was the heartfelt prequel I was hoping it would be.”
    • “The visuals are very powerful, and the combat is absurdly fun. The story of the game keeps the combat from feeling mindless and empty. There is always a valid motivation for the characters and their actions at every turn, and every battle feels fairly heartfelt and meaningful.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding mechanics to be overly complex and tedious, particularly due to the reliance on multiple input keys for precision movements, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The grinding mechanics make precision movement needlessly tedious.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging gameplay element.”
    • “Grinding for resources takes away from the enjoyment of the game, turning it into a monotonous task.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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