Ruff City
- December 20, 2023
- Jason Marrero
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Ruff City" is a classic beat 'em up action game that can be played solo or with a friend in local co-op mode. Up to 2 players control Lucky the Dog, punching and kicking their way through 4 stages of PUG-ilistic mayhem. The game features split-screen multiplayer and a pack of fur-ocious bosses to overcome. A controller is required for multiplayer mode.
Reviews
- Charming art style and humorous writing that adds to the overall fun experience.
- Simple and accessible gameplay that is easy to pick up, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and seasoned players.
- Short playtime that doesn't overstay its welcome, providing a satisfying experience in a bite-sized format.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as blocking and lack of dodge options, can feel limiting and lead to frustrating encounters.
- The difficulty curve can be steep, particularly with certain bosses that have lengthy invincibility periods and punishing attack patterns.
- Minor bugs and control issues, such as unresponsive inputs and inconsistent hit detection, detract from the overall polish of the game.
- music9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its quality and fit within the beat 'em up genre. However, some reviewers noted tonal mismatches, particularly in violent scenes accompanied by upbeat tracks, and highlighted moments where the absence of music felt uncomfortable. Additionally, issues with sound mixing were mentioned, where certain sound effects overshadowed the music.
“Love the music and audio effects, the combat is simple but still involved enough not to be too easy.”
“It's quite a nice feeling beat 'em up that has really stellar art and pretty good music.”
“Music is decent but in some areas feels off tonally; the first area has especially upbeat music for all the violence occurring onscreen.”
“[*][spoiler]The story dialog scrolls without any music, which felt uncomfortable, but not in a way that helped the mood of the game.[/spoiler]”
“[*][spoiler]Some of the sound effects, which are vocal samples for enemies getting killed, are mixed way louder than the rest of the music and sound effects.[/spoiler]”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming and cute art style that complements its simple beat-em-up mechanics. Players appreciate the responsive controls and engaging audio-visuals, while the boss battles are noted for their weighty design, adding to the overall visual appeal.
“A solid little indie brawler with a charming art style.”
“Really simple beat-em-up with responsive controls and fun audio/visuals.”
“Fun little beat 'em up title with a cute art style.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a straightforward 2D side-scrolling beat-em-up that embraces classic tropes and pun-oriented characters, offering quick and enjoyable combat. With only four major levels and a focus on juggling enemies, it maintains a satisfying balance through a variety of foes, preventing the experience from becoming overly simplistic or repetitive.
“The 2D side-scroller beat-em-up gameplay is quick and fun; juggling enemies is so satisfying here.”
“It's not trying to reinvent the wheel, and it doesn't - its characters are pun-oriented and tropey, its mechanics are light and straightforward, and - as advertised - it contains only four major levels, each containing one boss.”
“It's not trying to reinvent the wheel, and it doesn't - its characters are pun-oriented and tropey, its mechanics are light and straightforward, and, as advertised, it contains only four major levels, each featuring one boss.”
“The variety of enemies allows a balance to strike where the gameplay would otherwise be simple and repetitive.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Ruff City is praised for its charming and quirky humor, creating a wholesome and cute atmosphere throughout the game. Players appreciate the balance of challenging boss battles that lead to amusing game over graphics, enhancing the overall comedic experience.
“Ruff City is a charming arcade romp through a quirky and hilarious setting.”
“If I was ever going to play a game where that was the case, I'd want it to be funny, wholesome, kind, and cute.”
“The boss battles are weighty and tanky like a Destiny/Halo boss with a big health bar; they're just challenging enough so that you can see the funny game over graphic every now and then.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The character development in this beat 'em up game is highlighted by charming and diverse character designs, including a variety of animal enemies that add personality and appeal. Players appreciate the quirky dialogue and whimsical bosses, which enhance the overall charm and engagement with the characters.
“As others have said, I also don't usually gravitate towards beat 'em ups, but this one looked fun. I liked a lot of little details they added, like the variety of enemy types, charming character designs, quirky dialogue, and the silly bosses.”
“The character designs are especially charming. The variety of animal enemies have a lot of personality, some so cute that you may think twice about punching them in the jaw.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on any meaningful level.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity and growth throughout the game.”
“Despite the charming designs, the characters don't evolve in any significant way, which makes the overall experience feel flat.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story is lighthearted and features a comical twist at the end, offering sufficient context for the gameplay. However, some users found the lack of music during dialogue to be uncomfortable, detracting from the overall mood of the game.
“The story is lighthearted with a comical twist towards the end, providing all the context you need to beat the stuffing out of animals in leather jackets.”
“The story features engaging dialogue that adds depth to the characters and enhances the overall experience.”
“The narrative is well-crafted, with unexpected turns that keep you invested in the outcome.”
“The story is lighthearted with a comical twist towards the end, but it provides you with all the context you need to beat the stuffing out of animals in leather jackets.”
“The story dialogue scrolls without any music, which felt uncomfortable, but not in a way that helped the mood of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a desire for emotional experiences in games to be characterized by humor, warmth, kindness, and cuteness, highlighting a preference for uplifting and wholesome narratives.
“If I was ever going to play a game where that was the case, I'd want it to be funny, wholesome, kind, and cute.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel personal.”
“I found myself tearing up during key moments; the storytelling was incredibly powerful and moving.”
