RIVE: Wreck, Hack, Die, Retry!

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 372 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
RIVE: Wreck, Hack, Die, Retry! Game Cover
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RIVE is a fast-paced, explosive joyride featuring non-stop shooting and platforming action. As a spunky spaceship pilot, you'll wreck, hack, die, and retry your way through battles with enemies and massive bosses. Master the game's unique blend of combat and exploration, and uncover the mysteries of a decaying ship filled with malfunctioning machines.

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

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 372 reviews
gameplay28 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • RIVE features intense, fluid action with a captivating art style and engaging gameplay mechanics, making it a thrilling experience for players.
  • The game offers a unique blend of platforming and twin-stick shooting, with a variety of enemies and challenges that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
  • Players appreciate the humor and witty dialogue throughout the game, which adds charm to the overall experience.
  • Many players find the game to be excessively difficult, with some sections feeling unfair and leading to frustration, especially for those not familiar with the genre.
  • There are reports of game-breaking bugs, particularly in mission 4, which can hinder progress and lead to a negative experience.
  • The control scheme has been criticized, particularly for console players, as the button layout can be unintuitive and frustrating to use.
  • gameplay104 mentions

    The gameplay of "Rive: Wreck, Hack, Die, Retry!" is characterized by intense, fast-paced action that combines strategic combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving elements. Players engage in frenetic battles against waves of mechanical enemies, utilizing innovative mechanics like enemy hacking to enhance tactical gameplay. While the game offers a polished experience with great visuals and controls, some players noted that it can become repetitive and suffers from occasional bugs, but overall, it provides a challenging and rewarding platforming experience.

    • “The gameplay is a very solid combination of platforming and hectic twin-stick combat.”
    • “With stunning graphics, engaging gameplay, and a unique style, the game is an excellent choice for those who enjoy challenging platforming and fast-paced action.”
    • “All in all, Rive is a swan-song title that delivers hard-as-nails explosive gameplay in spades.”
    • “This game has potential in gameplay, sound effects, and arcade graphics, but unfortunately, it freezes twice in less than one hour of gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay itself will start to feel a bit repetitive and one-dimensional by the end of the game.”
    • “Gameplay is samey, and it has you retreading locations without the justification a metroidvania would give, fighting the same enemies over and over again, wave after wave.”
  • graphics92 mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their vibrant 2D art style and detailed mechanical world, reminiscent of classic 90s aesthetics with a modern twist. Players appreciate the polished visuals, engaging color palette, and unique enemy designs, although some express a desire for more creativity in background elements. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of the title.

    • “With 2D graphics and a vibrant color palette, the game brings to life a mechanical world full of details.”
    • “The aesthetics are reminiscent of the classics of the 90s, with a modern touch, making each scenario, enemy, and object visually appealing.”
    • “The graphics looked amazing, the action was non-stop, and the dialogue was witty.”
    • “This game has potential on the gameplay, sound effects, and arcade graphics, but unfortunately it freezes 2 times in less than 1 hour of gameplay.”
    • “While the environments are pretty, and the gameplay set pieces are great, the visual set pieces aren't especially interesting to look at -- well-drawn backgrounds and vague machinery all about, but no strong aesthetic that draws interest to it all.”
    • “The presentation/art style, controls, gameplay, difficulty, voice acting, music, and so on are almost perfect, but I'm a bit disappointed at how short the game is (it takes 3 hours to beat on hard mode) and the explosions really get in the way of shooting enemies, which I think will turn off some players from trying the game out.”
  • story72 mentions

    The story of "Rive" is generally perceived as light-hearted and entertaining, featuring a silly narrative about a starship captain navigating an AI-controlled deathtrap for loot. While the plot is considered shallow and not the main focus of the game, the charming characters and humorous dialogue provide some enjoyment amidst the action-heavy gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the story as a backdrop that adds context to the gameplay, despite its lack of depth and occasional bugs affecting progression.

    • “The plot may not be deep, but what an enjoyable ride it is.”
    • “A stunning twin-stick shooter platformer with a touching little story and some of the best pacing and set pieces since Half-Life 2!”
    • “Ultimately, the story does a fine job of pushing the game along with some context, and I can't say things would be any better without it.”
    • “The story doesn't make much sense either, there's not many options in the game menu, and most of the jokes were stale to me.”
    • “Storywise, meh, the characters are very charming but there's not much of a plot really.”
    • “It's basically all gameplay and no story, though the characters often quip about video games, game modes, genres, etc., which can be amusing.”
  • humor58 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players praising the witty dialogue, hilarious voice acting, and clever interactions that enhance the overall experience. While some find the humor to be overly cheesy or reliant on references, many appreciate the light-hearted tone and the comedic elements woven throughout the gameplay. Overall, the game delivers a fun and entertaining atmosphere, making it a memorable entry in its genre.

    • “Humor and narrative are interwoven into the interactions and dialogue, providing an enjoyable and light-hearted experience that stands out in the genre.”
    • “Grand battles, set pieces, and humorous dialogue deliver a highly entertaining experience!”
    • “This is a well-designed 2D shooter that is challenging, well designed, and filled with hilarious voice acting.”
  • music46 mentions

    The music in "Rive" is widely praised for its energetic and electronic soundtrack that complements the game's action, enhancing the overall experience. While some players noted that the music can be repetitive and lacks interesting melodies for standalone listening, many found it dynamic and well-suited to the game's pacing, contributing to tense and impactful moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with a polished presentation that aligns perfectly with the gameplay.

    • “Rive's soundtrack is electronic and energetic, perfectly complementing the game's action.”
    • “The music is lovely, and the dynamic shifts in intensity are well-timed - mix this with the intelligent decision to restart the track from about where it was when you died, and you've got a soundtrack that always matches the pace of the action, but never gets too tiring.”
    • “Its soundtrack suits its levels perfectly, and changes dynamically as you progress through; this, along with its sound effects, is almost flawless, and it made several sections of the game far more tense and impactful as a result.”
    • “I recommend turning the sound effects down some because they overpower and distract from the music.”
    • “The sound and music in this game are life changing.”
    • “In terms of music, Rive offers music that sticks with you; from the fights, the transition segments, and even from the loading screen, each piece fits its place nicely.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game offers decent replayability primarily through its speedrun and single-credit modes, appealing to players interested in high scores. However, many users feel that once the main content is completed, the incentive to revisit the game diminishes, despite the presence of score-chasing elements. Overall, while it has replayable features, it may not hold long-term interest for all players.

    • “There are also a speedrun mode and a single-credit mode, which add a lot of replayability.”
    • “While there is a lot of content and replayability a la score chasing, I don't think I'll revisit it after I finish it.”
    • “While there is a lot of content and replayability a la score chasing, I don't think I'll revisit it after I finish it (I think I'm on the last level now, and that took about four hours).”
    • “It is quite genuinely replayable, though.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game shows promise with its engaging gameplay and impressive controls, but users report significant stability issues, experiencing freezes twice within an hour of play. Despite these technical setbacks, the overall experience remains enjoyable and well-crafted.

    • “This game has potential in gameplay, sound effects, and arcade graphics, but unfortunately it freezes twice in less than one hour of gameplay.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly during platforming sections, which detracts from the overall experience. However, those who enjoy repetitive tasks like bot bashing and drone hacking may find it more appealing.

    • “Any time there is actual platforming, it feels kind of tedious.”
    • “So, if bot bashing, drone hacking, and grinding metal is what you crave, Rive awaits you.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally impactful, particularly highlighting a poignant moment involving a "dog" boss that nearly brought them to tears. The combination of a touching narrative and well-crafted pacing contributes to a memorable emotional experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Half-Life 2.

    • “A stunning twin stick shooter come platformer with a touching little story and some of the best pacing and set pieces since Half-Life 2!”
    • “The game recommends you to play at hard mode, so I tried it and beat it (although the 'dog' boss almost made me cry, it was manageable) so go for it.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, significantly enhanced by dynamic tracks that elevate the excitement of battles and exploration. This engaging sound design contributes to a captivating overall experience.

    • “The dynamic tracks create an immersive atmosphere that heightens the experience, making each battle and moment of exploration even more exciting.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game features highly impressive engine optimization, which has garnered positive feedback from users.

    • “Very impressive engine optimization.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

1hMedian play time
1hAverage play time
1-1hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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