Riptale
- April 27, 2017
- Super God
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"Riptale is a single-player platformer roguelike game with stunning game mechanics and a good soundtrack. Players collect gems to execute powerful attacks and must carefully plan their combos to defeat enemies like dragons and mystical cultists. Gamepad support enhances the experience, allowing for precise control over attacks and devastating combos."
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Reviews
- The combat system is fast-paced and satisfying, allowing for fluid chaining of attacks and rewarding skillful play.
- The game's striking black, white, and red aesthetic is visually appealing and enhances readability during chaotic gameplay.
- Boss fights and challenge rooms provide engaging content that encourages players to master the mechanics and improve their skills.
- The game suffers from frustrating RNG elements, such as unpredictable lock-on and auto-jump mechanics that can lead to instant deaths.
- There is a lack of content variety, with limited enemy types and repetitive music that can become tedious over time.
- The absence of a save feature and the need to complete runs in one sitting can be off-putting for players looking for a more casual experience.
- music29 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is initially praised for its engaging and nostalgic soundtrack, reminiscent of early 90s action games, with standout tracks like the "bells of convocation." However, many players find the limited variety of songs leads to significant repetitiveness, making the music feel tiresome after extended play. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, its lack of diversity detracts from long-term enjoyment.
“Music was the best part, really makes you want to play more and more.”
“One of the best games I have played this year, a breath of fresh air with an excellent soundtrack.”
“With exciting and fast gameplay, a great soundtrack, and a low price, this game is everything you could want in a roguelike action platformer.”
“Most of the music that anyone will hear is the area themes and the boss theme; the others take up such a minute amount of time that they are barely worth mentioning.”
“Though, with that said, it also gets very repetitive to listen to the same three songs on repeat, interspersed with the boss track, and if you are good, the fourth area theme.”
“The music consists of just a few songs, and all tracks become annoying and impossible to listen to after about an hour of playing.”
- gameplay23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging slash-and-dash mechanic that encourages hours of play, despite some basic battle mechanics and occasional imprecision. Players find the fast-paced, intense action satisfying, especially as they learn enemy patterns and master combos, although the game may require multiple attempts to defeat bosses. While the art style and smooth gameplay are praised, some players note a lack of meaningful unlockables and suggest that those seeking deeper gameplay or narrative may want to look elsewhere.
“You can't imagine how a simple slash & dash mechanic along with cool flow movement can make people play this game for hours.”
“The gameplay is intense, fast, and fun.”
“With exciting and fast gameplay, a great soundtrack, and a low price, this game is everything you could want in a roguelike action platformer.”
“The battle mechanics are very basic and there is nothing that could be done by the player to make fighting more exciting.”
“It's not so well balanced; you may need to retry multiple bosses for multiple runs to be able to get their patterns, and sometimes the mechanic of attacking is just wonky and doesn't work as you would like it to.”
“After the first run, I unlocked basically nothing more; every unlockable was just cosmetic, nothing gameplay-wise.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of *iRiptale* are characterized by a striking black, white, and red aesthetic that draws comparisons to other indie titles like *Downwell*. While the minimalist art style is visually appealing and features smooth animations, some players find it can be harsh and occasionally difficult to distinguish between enemies and the background. Overall, the graphics are well-executed but may become repetitive over time.
“One of the first things to pique my interest in [i]riptale[/i] is its striking visuals.”
“The graphics are simple but the animations are good and the high contrast style is striking.”
“The red-black-white aesthetic is very pleasing, and necessitates comparison to Downwell, another indie game with high-score, combo, and roguelite elements.”
“At first the graphics are rather harsh due to their stark black and white style, though after some time it doesn't really bother you.”
“Sometimes the enemies can hit you just as you're falling down to a new room, and the black and white color palette - while aesthetically strong - can sometimes make it hard for the player to see what part of the scenery is background and what is a stationary snake ready to kill you.”
“Secondly, the antialiasing on the homing attack looks incredibly out of place compared to the rest of the tricolor graphics.”
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely optional, with minimal mandatory dialogue and worldbuilding conveyed through collectible notes that players can choose to skip. While it provides some context, the narrative lacks depth and does not significantly drive the gameplay experience, which some players feel is a missed opportunity for richer role-playing elements.
“It had similar challenges and books with a humorous tone telling the backstory.”
“It's enough to give you context but nothing that drives the experience, though I think it would subtract from the experience if they focused too much on the story.”
“The story is optional; there is only one mandatory dialogue.”
“Worldbuilding and backstory are all handled with notes found in libraries or at the end of a section; you can skip all of them.”
“There isn't really an in-depth story as such.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers generally appreciate the game's atmosphere, highlighting it as a positive aspect that enhances the overall experience.
