Ragnarock
- December 17, 2020
- WanadevStudio
- 5h median play time
Inspire your shipmates to row faster by beating drums in time.
"Ragnaröck is an arcade-style rhythm game that can be played solo or with up to 2 players in local co-op or PvP modes. As a Viking captain, you'll race through waters to the beat of epic rock and metal songs from bands like Alestorm, Gloryhammer, and Sabaton. Split-screen views, stunning graphics, and a carefully curated tracklist make this game a sensational and hilarious experience for all fans of music and Viking culture."
Reviews
- Excellent rhythm game with a fantastic soundtrack featuring a variety of rock and metal songs.
- Engaging gameplay that combines drumming with a competitive racing element, making it fun to play solo or with friends.
- Custom song support allows for endless replayability and a growing library of user-generated content.
- Hit detection can be inconsistent, leading to missed notes even when hits are clearly made.
- The drum placement in a straight line can be awkward, making it difficult to reach the outer drums comfortably.
- The song selection is somewhat limited at launch, and some players may find the difficulty curve steep, especially for beginners.
- music2,568 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Ragnarock" has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, primarily featuring metal and folk-inspired tracks that perfectly complement the game's Viking theme. Players appreciate the variety of songs available, including both official tracks and a robust selection of custom songs created by the community, which enhances replayability. While some users express a desire for a larger catalog of official songs and note that certain tracks may not always align perfectly with the gameplay, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a must-try for fans of the genre.
“Brilliant soundtrack, great choice of bands, I can only hope they will get even more DLCs, e.g. Amon Amarth, Moonsorrow, Ensiferum or Tyr, Falconer...”
“Holy crap, absolute banger soundtracks.”
“The music is fantastic, Power Snake being my personal favorite.”
“In addition, I've noticed a problem where some of the songs that are presumably licensed still get your Twitch VODs muted.”
“The poorly charted songs paired with the unreliable game timing leads to a very un-fun experience.”
“The music is all themed towards Viking and screamo type music, which if you're not a fan of like me, isn't fun to play.”
- gameplay297 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Ragnaröck is generally praised for its simplicity and engaging mechanics, reminiscent of rhythm games like Guitar Hero and Beat Saber, but with a unique Viking metal theme. While many players find the gameplay fun and rewarding, some criticize certain mechanics, such as the shield boost, for being tedious or poorly explained. Overall, the combination of a solid soundtrack, intuitive controls, and multiplayer features contributes to a compelling experience, though some users note issues with optimization and variety.
“Gameplay is phenomenal.”
“The gameplay is difficult but rewarding.”
“Great music and fun gameplay!”
“Hitting shields for the boost is a tedious and frustrating mechanic.”
“The gameplay is just not very satisfying.”
“Not really that fun, songs are good but the gameplay is pretty lackluster.”
- graphics190 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a low-poly aesthetic that some players find charming and fitting for its viking theme, while others consider them basic and lacking depth. Although the visuals may not be top-notch, they are generally well-optimized and do not detract from the engaging gameplay and music experience. Overall, opinions on the graphics vary widely, with many players emphasizing that the fun and rhythm aspects of the game outweigh any graphical shortcomings.
“The aesthetics of this game are quite charming and gorgeous at the same time.”
“An incredibly fun VR musical rhythm game with a beautiful art style, good graphics, and an amazing soundtrack.”
“The graphics and effects are spot on and make you feel amazing when you get in a groove.”
“This game is graphically absolutely and utterly horrible.”
“I know the graphics are more of a style choice made by the designers, but this looks and feels like it might have started as some kind of mobile game.”
“Runs like garbage on a RTX 2060 at minimum graphics quality (especially the newer maps).”
- story127 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game "Ragnarock" is primarily a rhythm game and lacks a traditional story or narrative progression, which some players have noted as a downside. While it excels as a fun, multiplayer experience, many users expressed a desire for a story mode to enhance engagement. Overall, the absence of a story does not detract significantly from its enjoyment as a party game.
“Short story shorter: if the trailer looks fun to you, you'll love Ragnarock.”
“The devs responded and asked if they could send me a little something as my story had touched them.”
“☑️ This game has no story (it's a rhythm game)”
“☑ No story”
“Wish there was a story mode.”
- optimization60 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players experience smooth performance on high-end machines, many report significant stuttering and lag, particularly affecting gameplay precision. Despite the enjoyable mechanics and customization options, the inconsistent performance across various hardware setups detracts from the overall experience, with calls for improved optimization being a common theme among reviews.
“Performance is very smooth on my machine, but I do have a higher spec machine, especially for when this game came out.”
“Performance 9/10 if you have the right stuff in your rig.”
“Plenty of controls to adjust your hammers and latency, and the stylized graphics run smoothly even on potato systems.”
“It's a phenomenal game when it runs properly, but there is noticeable stuttering and lag on the movements of the hammers, which makes the game unplayable when it asks for such precision from you.”
“Definitely needs a lot of optimization... my PC runs Fallout 4 VR with no problem at all, but this is laggy.”
“I honestly like this game better than Beat Saber or Pistol Whip because I like the soundtrack more and hammering is cooler than shooting or slashing, but my only gripe is the lack of optimization.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability, particularly for players looking to improve their scores or enjoy custom songs, which significantly enhance the experience. While some players note that the core gameplay can feel repetitive, the inclusion of multiplayer and a diverse music library keeps the game engaging. Overall, it is described as addictive and infinitely replayable, especially for rhythm game enthusiasts.
“☑️ Infinitely replayable (rhythm game, I literally played the same song 10 times in a row).”
“Addictive, replayable (thanks to the custom songs and multiplayer), intuitive and easy to learn, way more rhythm-focused than Beat Saber or Pistol Whip.”
“Level 9 difficulty is easily manageable, and I got a bronze medal on my first try, so I don't see a lot of replayability except for endless repetition to get that 100.00%.”
“Maps are all over the place; not just drums, but a note can be pretty much on anything. There is no logic, and while patterns are playable, they are not ideal, with drum rolls in places where they are totally unnecessary.”
“Replayability can be increased by expanding the music library with additional songs DLC and/or installing custom songs.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it hilarious and enjoyable, particularly in the context of its social multiplayer features. The combination of funny Viking characters, amusing music choices, and the comedic reactions of players creates a lighthearted atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers noted that the laughter and fun derived from gameplay make it a standout aspect of the game.
“Even though the songs are much more limited, the way they conform perfectly to the game's aesthetic is hilarious and fun.”
“Moreover, it is a social game since people can enjoy the music, take turns at playing the songs while laughing at the players' strange faces and sounds.”
“The multiplayer worked flawlessly and it was hilarious to wave hello to the viking drummer on the ship next to mine as we squared off in a rhythm game battle.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke nostalgia and excitement reminiscent of classic rhythm games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The integration of familiar music from personal playlists enhances the experience, leading to moments of joy and even tears. Overall, the game successfully fosters a sense of camaraderie and emotional investment, making it a standout in the VR genre.
“I cried when I saw literally half of my Spotify playlist in this game.”
“This game managed to bring back the emotional response and desire to get that next high score that I had with Guitar Hero 1 or 2, and the original Rock Band.”
“And I usually don't write reviews, but this game made me feel like I simply have to, to bring in more players I can play with.”
- stability14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, particularly with collision detection and occasional bugs like the rumble feature not working, but overall performance is solid, even on older hardware. While players acknowledge these bugs, they remain optimistic about improvements in future updates, noting that the game is not a "buggy mess" and runs well. The developers are praised for their responsiveness and support during troubleshooting.
“Every new update has been a huge boon, the tracks are better, scoring is more challenging, the new stages are far nicer looking than the quite dull blue-and-white Asgard stage that the devs launched early access with, and the game is completely bug free.”
“Doesn't detract in my opinion, and runs great even on my old potato (AMD 8150, going on 10 years old, DDR3 800 MHz RAM, and a 1060 3GB card).”
“It's a bit buggy at times, like there are gaps between the drums' collision that make it way too easy to miss hits that should've counted.”
“I have tried all the troubleshooting and workarounds I could find, but the problem persists.”
“There isn't too much content and it's quite buggy at times (mainly the rumble randomly not working as many others have pointed out).”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its strong integration with the music, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the fantastic aesthetic cohesion and the way environments enhance the overall enjoyment, making it a standout feature that contributes to the game's fun and energetic vibe.
“The atmosphere and songs work great together.”
“Great game, amazing atmosphere and terrific party VR game.”
“Good workout, fun gameplay, fantastic atmosphere and aesthetic cohesion.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Reviews on grinding highlight a mixed experience; while some players find joy in perfecting songs, others criticize tedious mechanics like hitting shields and managing latency settings, which detract from overall enjoyment. Many users feel that extensive grinding is necessary, suggesting it can be overwhelming.
“Hitting shields for the boost is a tedious and frustrating mechanic.”
“The latency setting is too tedious and it really detracts from the enjoyment of the game.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is notable for its immersive and humorous transformation mechanics, as players can experience significant physical changes, such as growing a full beard and adopting a warrior-like appearance, alongside quirky personality shifts that enhance the gameplay experience.
“It's also worth noting that after about an hour of playing, I grew a full beard that went down to my chest, my body started resembling the male character design from the old Justice League: Unlimited cartoon, and I developed a worrying desire for mead and plundering.”
“The character development feels stagnant; I expected more depth and growth throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character progression.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their development doesn't resonate with the story.”
Critic Reviews
Ragnarock Review - Viking Drumming Game Gives Glory To The Gods
It's a shame the DLC isn't packed in. Especially as it has The Offspring in here, but hopefully it will arrive in due time. For now, Ragnarock is a really good drumming game with a neat twist.
80%Ragnarock review --- Who knew Vikings could rock so hard?
Ragnarock is an incredibly fun rhythm game filled to the brim with catchy Celtic inspired music. While a bit bare-bones with no story or progression modes to speak of, Ragnarock still works as a party game and is sure to become a go-to when you have a few moments to spare or when you want to have a blast with your friends.
85%Ragnarock VR Review (Steam using Oculus Quest 2 via Air Link)
Inspire your shipmates to row faster by beating drums in time.
90%