Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages
- November 19, 2013
- Triple.B.Titles
- 13h median play time
Ring Runner Flight of the Sages is an enjoyable top-down space shooter, with great in-depth customization and very few major flaws. Definitely worth a playthrough!
Get on SteamRing Runner combines the fast-paced action of space combat with the rich story and skill variety of an RPG. Trek across the universe in a 30 hour long story-driven campaign based on a companion Sci Fi novel, or challenge 6 scenarios alone, cooperatively, or competitively through local or online multiplayer.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and witty story with humorous dialogue that keeps players invested.
- Deep ship customization options allow for a variety of playstyles and strategies.
- Fun and fast-paced gameplay with a mix of different mission types and challenges.
- Controls can be clunky and take time to get used to, especially for new players.
- The lengthy tutorial can feel drawn out and may deter some players from continuing.
- Multiplayer mode lacks an active player base, making it difficult to find matches.
- story820 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages" is widely praised for its humor, engaging writing, and depth, often compared to classic sci-fi narratives. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and the way the story unfolds through a series of varied missions, although some find the lengthy tutorial and frequent interruptions for story exposition a bit cumbersome. Overall, the narrative is seen as a compelling blend of comedy and adventure, enhancing the gameplay experience while offering a rich universe to explore.
“It's simple, yet fun gameplay tied to an intriguing and witty story and delightful writing that keeps pulling the player forward.”
“The story is interesting and the writing is quite funny and witty.”
“The story follows you as you bounce from misfortune to misfortune, commenting it with dry sarcasm and witty interactions with the voice inside your head.”
“I feel bad for saying this but the story and characters bored me to tears and I just couldn't care anymore, as well as the gameplay at the start being what some of the positive reviews describe: pretty mundane.”
“This is one of the most annoying games I've ever played - it constantly interrupts gameplay to present a non-interactive, text-only story.”
“It keeps dangling the one thing that makes the entire game, the ship building, in front of you as it 'introduces' you to its different types and weapons by making you play hours and hours of bad story without giving you the option of deciding what to fly.”
- gameplay262 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its deep mechanics and extensive ship customization, offering a blend of fast-paced action and strategic elements that keep players engaged. While the initial tutorial can feel lengthy and somewhat restrictive, the variety of ship classes and combat styles allows for a rich and varied experience. Overall, players appreciate the combination of engaging gameplay, humor, and a compelling story, although some find the controls and frequent interruptions from the narrative to be frustrating.
“It's simple, yet fun gameplay tied to an intriguing and witty story and delightful writing that keeps pulling the player forward.”
“All of Ring Runner's underlying game mechanics are tractor-beaming you straight onto the path of having fun building ships and mastering the art of piloting them.”
“The gameplay is very skill-based; controlling your ship takes practice and mastering of inertial forces.”
“I don't think I'll ever touch it again because the tutorial locks you out of nearly all mechanics and is stupidly long.”
“Unfortunately, gameplay is the main flaw; all the other aspects of the game are quite good and enjoyable, but the way it plays is confusing and chaotic. They change your ship very often so you can't get used to any particular weapon type, forcing you to restart learning the basics every five missions.”
“This is one of the most annoying games I've ever played - it constantly interrupts gameplay to present a non-interactive, text-only story.”
- music142 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and eclectic soundtrack, which complements the sci-fi theme and enhances the overall gameplay experience. While many players find the music to be catchy and well-produced, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
“The music is astounding, the dialogue has sass that's thicker than bread, and the control and customization system is beautiful.”
“The soundtrack, which is fantastic, is an ever-present boon to the gameplay without being overbearing at any point.”
“Another point that really surprised me: the game's soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in a long time, it's really amazing and nicely fits its atmosphere (or its lack of atmosphere - it's space after all).”
“And the soundtrack is pretty grating too.”
“The only cons I could find is that one of the music is saturated, and burns my ears when it plays.”
“The music is a bit annoyingly generic to me but I've got not much else to complain about.”
- humor141 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky dialogue, clever writing, and engaging storytelling, often drawing comparisons to the absurdity of shows like "Doctor Who" and "Borderlands." While many players find the humor to be a highlight, with moments that are genuinely hilarious, some note that the writing can be hit-or-miss, with a few jokes feeling forced or tedious. Overall, the game's blend of humor and gameplay contributes significantly to its charm and replay value, making it a recommended experience for those who appreciate a lighthearted approach to storytelling.
“This game has a lot of depth and humor to it, and given its ridiculously low price, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in spaz-like tactical 2D space combat with a Borderlands-like funny/absurd story and spaceship design.”
“The story and dialogue are surprisingly good, at times goofy, often trippy and surreal, and almost always hilarious.”
“The banter between you and the ship computer is funny and adds to the enjoyment.”
- graphics124 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the simple yet charming art style and colorful backgrounds, while others find them unexceptional or reminiscent of older games. Many highlight that the visuals are polished and run smoothly, contributing positively to the overall experience, even if they don't push the boundaries of modern graphics. Overall, while not groundbreaking, the graphics are generally considered pleasant and fitting for the game's design.
“Funny characters, detailed ship design, clear and beautiful graphics, catchy music, research trees, unique set pieces, just a whole lot of varied high quality content.”
“The graphics are absolutely beautiful, proof that it is not always necessary to melt your video card.”
“With solid graphics, a phenomenal story with plenty of suspense, surprise, laughs and sadness as well as some amazing gameplay, this game is a fantastic value.”
“Looks like something you could have played on an old Atari, except updated graphics.”
“Unfortunately, the game design in this title feels as archaic as its graphical style.”
“The graphics are boring, the scenarios are boring, and the overall gameplay is, yep, boring.”
- replayability32 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by extensive customization options, procedural enemies, and multiple unlockable difficulties. Players appreciate the depth provided by various game modes and RPG elements, which enhance the overall experience and encourage repeated playthroughs. With a well-crafted story and engaging gameplay, many reviewers consider it a great value for the amount of content available.
“There are numerous unlockable difficulties, too many ship parts to count, endless customization and replayability, and a well-written story to boot.”
“The game itself plays like an arcade classic shooter; however, the RPG elements offer a lot of extra gameplay and replayability.”
“Well worth the money, and lots of replay value from various campaign difficulties and bonuses, unlocking hulls and mods, and testing out those builds.”
“So much depth and replay value.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and underwhelming, particularly due to poor UI choices that complicate ship outfitting and upgrades. While higher difficulty missions offer better rewards, many feel that the need for extra farming is minimal, leading to repetitive gameplay focused on grinding for resources like plex. Overall, the experience can be a mix of fun moments overshadowed by the monotony of grinding.
“Much of the upgrading feels tedious and underwhelming rather than impactful; this is compounded by some poor UI choices, which makes outfitting a new ship quite a slog.”
“Post-game, expect grinding for plex; a lot of grinding.”
“If you did the math from the first paragraph of this review, you are probably wondering where the other 50+ hours went; the answer is playing [mostly] one mission over and over, grinding for plex so I could buy different ships/equipment to try different builds.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning visuals, including beautiful backgrounds and vibrant effects, which effectively immerse players in the space setting. The atmospheric soundtrack is noted as one of the best in recent memory, enhancing the overall experience despite some repetitiveness. Overall, the combination of graphics, sound, and physics creates a captivating environment that stands out in the gaming landscape.
“Add to this beautiful backgrounds and visual effects, fully-functional Newtonian physics, an excellent atmospheric soundtrack, and Steam Workshop support so that you can share your ship setups with others, and you have a recipe for a game that is, I think, one in a million.”
“The graphics use shiny light and pretty colors to draw you in, with atmospheric backgrounds that fit right in place.”
“Another point that really surprised me: the game's soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in a long time; it's really amazing and nicely fits its atmosphere (or its lack of atmosphere - it's space after all).”
“Another point that really surprised me: the game's soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in a long time, it's really amazing and nicely fits its atmosphere (or its lack of atmosphere - it's space after all).”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised for its smooth performance across various PC configurations, allowing for customization of ship loadouts to enhance speed and overall performance. While the graphical content may not be particularly impressive, it is polished enough to run efficiently on any system.
“Graphically and artistically, Ring Runner isn't particularly fancy, but it's polished and it will run smoothly on any PC.”
“Ship loadout will make or break your performance.”
“Ships are customizable when it comes to performance and weapons.”
“Do you want to fit a larger drive for an overall performance boost, or use a smaller one with some speed modules to get even more speed without gaining extra rotation speed?”
- stability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing significant freezing issues that can affect their entire computer, particularly during loading. However, others report that the game has been largely bug-free, suggesting that stability may vary depending on the user's system. Troubleshooting resources are available for those encountering issues.
“It's been bug-free so far.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
“I've experienced no glitches or issues during gameplay.”
“When I go to play it, it freezes my whole computer.”
“The only downside of this game is that I can't play it on my new computer because it freezes slightly in the instant before loading completes.”
“Post-note: if you have problems launching or playing the game, check the troubleshooting part of the forums.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, reminiscent of "Doctor Who." While some scenes resonate deeply, the writing quality varies, with a mix of genuinely funny jokes and forced attempts, leading to an uneven emotional experience. Overall, it offers both touching moments and memorable humor, though some players found the story lacking.
“The story is about as serious as Doctor Who: funny and not to be taken too seriously, but still exciting and very emotional at times.”
“It's pretty touching, but it also has the best jokes and moments I've ever heard.”
“The writing is a bit hit-and-miss; some jokes genuinely made me laugh, others felt a bit forced, some touching scenes worked well, and others fell flat.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for being well-crafted and endearing, contributing significantly to the overall narrative and enhancing the game's emotional depth.
“The story is surprisingly well-done, with character development that is very clean and endearing, breathing more life into the game.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game appears to be negatively impacted by the small team's limited resources, leading to a perception that mainstream game review sites favor larger corporations. This has resulted in frustration among users who feel that the gaming industry is increasingly prioritizing profit over quality, often at the expense of the player experience.
