Rise & Shine

About

"Rise & Shine" is a challenging indie game with a blend of action and puzzle-solving elements. Players control a young boy named Rise, who must use his intelligence and a talking gun named Shine to defend his city from an invading army. The game features fast-paced gameplay, hand-drawn art, and a variety of unique weapons and abilities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 389 reviews

gameplay68 positive mentions

replayability5 negative mentions

Gorgeous art style and visuals that pay homage to classic games.
Engaging gameplay mechanics that combine shooting and puzzle-solving.
Fun and humorous story with plenty of video game references.

Extremely short playtime, averaging around 2-3 hours.
Frustrating difficulty spikes, especially in boss battles, with some mechanics feeling unfair.
Controls can be imprecise and awkward, leading to a less enjoyable experience.

gameplay
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
49%
9%
The gameplay of "Rise & Shine" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of fast-paced shooting, puzzle-solving, and varied mechanics that some players find engaging, while others criticize for being repetitive and frustrating. Many reviews highlight the beautiful art and clever references to gaming tropes, but also point out issues with controls, pacing, and a lack of depth in mechanics, leading to a challenging yet sometimes unsatisfying experience. Overall, while the game offers moments of fun and creativity, its execution leaves room for improvement, particularly in balancing difficulty and enhancing gameplay variety.
- “Great game with good synergy between its gameplay mechanics, visuals, and soundtrack.”
- “The gameplay is a great blend of a bullet-hell shoot 'em up, puzzle solving, and strategy.”
- “Influenced by adventure-platform games of the past, Rise & Shine manages to enrich a classic gameplay formula with a tight mix of different genres, interesting combat depth, and varied puzzles.”
- “I really want to like this game, I really do, but the gameplay has the horrifying flaw of being under the ruthless feel of the cruel mistress of floaty controls.”
- “For all the things Rise & Shine gets right, it bungles it all away with repetitive and frustrating gameplay that eventually starts to border on pure sadism except that here there is no gratification waiting at the end of it.”
- “This game features some incredibly annoying game mechanics that suck the life and fun completely out of it.”
story
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
6%
The story of the game is often described as a mix of silly, clichéd, and sometimes melodramatic elements, with a focus on saving a world filled with video game references. While some players appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor and engaging art style, many criticize the narrative for being short, predictable, and lacking depth, often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. Overall, the story is seen as a light-hearted backdrop that may entertain but does not stand out as particularly memorable or well-developed.
- “Everything is great, very polished gameplay and art, fun story; truly, my only complaint is that it's a very short story.”
- “But the visuals are cute, the legally distinct references are fun, and the story is both earnest and tongue-in-cheek at the same time, and does it well.”
- “What really sets the story apart, for me, is that everyone in the game world seems to know how ridiculous this plot is - merely citing that everyone has to save the world a few times and acting like it isn't such a big deal.”
- “The story is very predictable, straightforward, and uninteresting.”
- “It's just absolutely obnoxious and boring; there's no story here, it's just a bland action game save the world trope.”
- “The story is really bland and the whole 'video-game land' idea is an uninspired lackluster.”
graphics
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
30%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and colorful art style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful hand-drawn visuals and attention to detail. However, some players find that the frantic action and camera shake can make it difficult to fully appreciate the artwork, leading to confusion during gameplay. Overall, while the visuals are considered top-notch and engaging, they can sometimes detract from the gameplay experience due to their overwhelming nature.
- “The art style is charming, incredibly detailed and the world feels like something you'd love to explore.”
- “From start to finish, the art style of the game never fails to charm and impress.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, but they can make it hard to see just what is going on on the screen.”
- “It's hard to read visually what is happening due to the art style and camera shake.”
- “Laundry list of complaints that I (and I expect most players) could tolerate: no clear indication of save points (so you should probably block off at least 20 mins at a time to play), overly polished artwork (which distracts from the stylization itself).”
- “That being said, the game never takes it to the next level; it teases changes in art/graphical style, but never follows through.”
humor
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of crude, retro references reminiscent of classic flash games, often employing 4th wall breaks and ironic situations that may resonate more with gamers familiar with the genre. While some find the humor to be generic or hit-or-miss, many appreciate its self-awareness and the way it integrates into the gameplay, creating a cohesive and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- “Its art direction, excessive gore, and general humor all feel like they came out of the glory days of flash games on Newgrounds.”
- “It's a love letter to older flash games that doesn't hold back its punches and bathes in its crude humor, chalk full of references.”
- “The beautiful hand-drawn art style and tongue-in-cheek video game trope humor blend perfectly together to create a cohesive and seamless world - one which you have to save with your magic gun!”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
13%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its synergy with gameplay and visuals. Descriptions of the soundtrack include terms like "awesome," "masterpiece," and "intense," particularly during boss fights, which enhances the overall gaming experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The music has got to be the best thing in this game, as you are fighting bosses and nearing its death, the music becomes super intense and just gets you pumped.”
- “Great art, great OST, and great gameplay.”
- “The music.”
- “- decent music & sound.”
- “Music ranks right up there too.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
45%
45%
Overall, the game is criticized for its low replayability, primarily due to its short duration of about two hours and a lack of content that encourages repeated playthroughs. While some players may enjoy the experience enough to replay it, the absence of new challenges or depth diminishes its long-term appeal.
- “You've got some replay value right there.”
- “The game also lacks any replayability outside of you enjoying the game so much that you want to play again.”
- “-very short, about 2 hours, no replayability.”
- “Rise & Shine makes an amazing first impression, but the game hiding underneath lacks the depth and replayability of the many SNES action games that it attempts to imitate.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Overall, players report a positive experience regarding optimization, with no significant performance issues or bugs encountered during gameplay. The solid core gameplay and appealing art style further enhance the overall performance perception.
- “Solid core gameplay, great art style, and excellent performance.”
- “Performance and bug-related incidents have been a significant issue.”
- “Throughout my playthrough, I did not encounter any performance issues or defects - so clear on that front.”
- “Performance and bug-related incidents have been a significant issue.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised, with multiple users highlighting its immersive and engaging qualities.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
- “The game creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, particularly during lengthy boss battles where a single mistake can reset their progress, leading to a tedious and unenjoyable experience.
- “You make progress on a long, tedious boss battle and then have to start all over from one mistake. Frustration does not make for a fun game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted as strong, with users appreciating the engaging story and appealing character design, which contribute to an immersive experience. The overall artistic and musical elements further enhance the depth of the characters.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its basic and unengaging storyline, which fails to evoke any significant feelings or connections with the characters.
- “The story is basic and mostly boring.”
- “The story is basic and mostly boring.”
- “The story is basic and mostly boring.”