Ruins
- November 7, 2022
- Mathias Jess Pedersen
Get on SteamRun, jump, and teleport your way through a mysterious landscape where nothing is as it seems. Meet all the creatures of the land and learn their story. Help change the world and its future. You play as Timo, a curious boy, who wakes from a strange dream with some bizarre instructions.
Reviews
- The game features some of the most complex and creative mechanical puzzles, encouraging players to approach challenges from different angles.
- There is a surprising amount of content, including many hidden areas and optional content that adds value for the price.
- The game has a chill atmosphere and enjoyable platforming mechanics, providing a relaxing experience despite its flaws.
- The gameplay suffers from significant polish issues, including clunky mechanics and frustratingly precise timing on puzzles.
- The game is plagued by glitches, such as freezing and softlocks, which can disrupt the experience and force players to reset.
- Many puzzles are convoluted and lack clear hints, making them feel nearly impossible to complete without perfect execution.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its complex and creative mechanical puzzles that require precise timing and control, which can lead to significant frustration for players. While the game offers a unique approach to puzzle-solving with multiple abilities and platforming mechanics, many users find the execution lacking due to clunky controls and polish issues, making some puzzles feel nearly unplayable. Despite these challenges, the potential for a rewarding experience is noted, especially when successfully navigating the intricate puzzles.
“Actually, this could be a really good puzzle game. It has some of the most complex and creative mechanical puzzles, with many layers of different abilities and how you use them. However, it finds a way to make everything harder than it needs to be.”
“The gameplay is structured around using three different orbitals that interact with puzzles in different ways. It's a cool idea, and the game does a good job of changing how you view your abilities. However, they tend to overlap easily, and controlling them can require some muscle memory. Plus, it's not the most well-implemented system.”
“(+) I will say that once you have all of the tools, it's probably the most creative and complex mechanical puzzle game that I've played. I've never seen so much effort put into approaching puzzles from different angles. Even though I was very frustrated, whenever I solved a hard puzzle, I was like, 'Ahhhh, I see what you did.'”
“I have never been so frustrated with gameplay polish; I can't finish the story because the timing on some of the puzzles is just incredibly precise.”
“It's good in theory, but I think the game can be extremely convoluted, and the actual mechanics and controls on the puzzles can be very unforgiving.”
“Look, I think the game can be good; what you're doing with exploration and creative gameplay is all fine, but you need to go through all of your puzzles and make sure they are reasonable with the timing. I'm being as honest as I can when I say some of these puzzles are absolute 99% unplayable BS. Maybe you can do them, I can't; I have never been so frustrated at any game - it gets that bad.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to be quite unstable, with frequent glitches and freezing issues during loading, often requiring a reset to resolve. Additionally, players have experienced minor glitches, such as looping sound effects, which detract from the overall experience.
“The game is very glitchy; sometimes it just freezes when I load, and I usually have to reset it to fix the issue.”
“I experienced a lot of small glitches, such as looping sound effects.”
“The stability is poor, leading to frequent interruptions in gameplay.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story is hindered by frustrating gameplay mechanics, particularly the overly precise timing required for certain puzzles, which has led to difficulty in progressing through the narrative.
“I have never been so frustrated with gameplay polish; I can't finish the story because the timing on some of the puzzles is just incredibly precise.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, and I found it difficult to care about their journeys.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are visually appealing and evoke comparisons to HLD, but the overall aesthetic does not align with its gameplay, which focuses more on puzzles and platforming rather than traditional combat. Some users suggest that the developers should move away from these visual similarities to avoid misleading expectations.
“I assumed the game was some kind of HLD-inspired action-adventure, but the similarities end with the visuals. There is no combat in a traditional sense, and it's mostly a puzzle/platformer with an open world. On that note, I really feel like the devs need to drop the whole blanket thing because you're just asking for those comparisons.”
“The graphics are underwhelming and feel outdated, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“While the art style has potential, the execution falls flat, resulting in a visually unappealing experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as somewhat chill and visually appealing for its price, though it lacks a strong character or depth that could enhance the overall experience.
“The game has a chill atmosphere that is enjoyable for the price, and while it may not be amazing, I can see myself getting immersed in the world with a bit more character added to it.”
“The atmosphere is captivating and draws you in, creating a sense of immersion that enhances the overall experience.”
“The game's environment is beautifully crafted, providing a rich and engaging atmosphere that makes exploration feel rewarding.”
