Runes: The Forgotten Path
- November 14, 2018
- stormbornstudio
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Runes: The Forgotten Path" is a story-driven VR game where you play as Leth, a wizard trapped in a magical sleep prison. Cast spells by drawing in the air, and explore diverse environments while solving puzzles to recall your past and uncover the mystery behind your entrapment. The game offers multiple locomotion options, including a unique 4th wall system and head-nodding responses for an immersive experience.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus Rift
Reviews
- The game features an intriguing story with interesting characters and a strong narrative drive.
- Puzzles are well-constructed and provide a satisfying challenge without excessive hand-holding.
- The VR experience is immersive, with enjoyable spellcasting mechanics and good graphics.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in just a few hours, leading to concerns about value for money.
- It suffers from a lack of polish, with bugs, awkward controls, and unrefined visuals detracting from the overall experience.
- Combat and some puzzles can be frustrating, with issues like twitchy item interactions and a poorly designed final fight.
- story36 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally praised for being intriguing and well-told, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and the integration of puzzles. While some reviews note a lack of polish and pacing issues, the overall sentiment is that the story, combined with strong graphics and gameplay mechanics, creates a compelling experience, particularly in the VR format. However, a few critiques highlight the absence of stakes and character development, suggesting that while the story is enjoyable, it may not be groundbreaking.
“The story was decent/good, nothing spectacular, but I did enjoy it.”
“There's a genuinely engaging story and puzzles that have just enough breadcrumbs to make them solvable without being handed over freely to the player.”
“It's a good example of what can be done with VR technology for gameplay, and has a good story driving the experience.”
“You're dumped right into an excessively long story intro.”
“Of a non-existing plot, it's barely even that because there are no stakes and basically no development for it, to put it mildly: 'the plot is a farce' absolutely nothing.”
“I understand you are a small team and I can overlook bugs in the beginning, but it could have been made longer by adding some more action sequences or fetch quests, etc. There doesn't have to be constant story.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of original mechanics, including smooth locomotion and an innovative third-person teleportation system, which enhances the VR experience. Players appreciate the engaging story and humorous elements, although some find the combat mechanics lacking in depth. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable and showcases the potential of VR technology, many users express a desire for a longer experience.
“Original gameplay elements and a striking story in this VR treat.”
“Movement is handled by a combination of either smooth locomotion, teleportation, and/or a very fun and innovative 3rd person teleport mechanic where you can click to send an astral projection of your body out into the world.”
“It's a good example of what can be done with VR technology for gameplay, and has a good story driving the experience.”
“The gameplay consists of throwing some lazily animated magic balls at badly made monsters.”
“Length as always, short but good... but I wanted more and I felt like what I got was decent gameplay.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users finding them unattractive and misleading compared to promotional screenshots. However, many praise the artwork and visual detail, highlighting strong graphics that complement the engaging story and gameplay. Overall, while there are criticisms, a significant portion of players appreciate the visual presentation.
“Strong storyline, interesting puzzles, excellent graphics and artwork.”
“Lovely graphics and nice story.”
“Awesome graphics, audio, voice acting, and puzzles so far achievable... you play as Leth, ye olde mage, who has lost his memories in this fantasy adventure built with attention to detail and vivid imagination.”
“The visuals are quite ugly; screenshots make them look way better than they really are.”
“The character graphics are disturbing.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The stability of Runes is a mixed bag; while some players report no glitches or crashes, others highlight significant bugs that detract from the overall experience, making it feel unpolished and less recommendable.
“There are no glitches, crashes, or issues running it.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
“I haven't experienced any stability problems while playing.”
“Runes is not a bad game, but it's way too unpolished and buggy to recommend.”
“I had some other glitches too.”
“I really did like the game a lot; it's just too buggy and short.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its memorable quality and integration with the story, leaving a lasting impression on players. However, the sound design is criticized, with many objects lacking sound effects and others described as poorly executed, although the voice acting is considered decent. Overall, while the soundtrack has its merits, it falls short in terms of sound effects.
“I was kind of fed up with Beat Saber and casual games, as I get bored with them after a while, but this has a solid story, beautiful art, and I love the music; it's stuck in my mind for hours after I finished playing it.”
“The sound design is incredibly poor; many objects have no sound at all, and those that do have laughably bad effects. The game is only 3 hours long, and the only passable sounds are the magic balls. Everything else sounds terrible. The voices are decent, and the soundtrack is just barely passable.”
“The music in this game is forgettable and lacks any real impact. It feels like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the experience.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players found the emotional aspect of the game compelling, highlighting the engaging puzzles and intriguing story that culminated in a climactic final battle, which evoked a strong sense of urgency.
“The puzzles were great, the story was interesting, and the final fight made me feel a real sense of urgency.”
“The emotional depth of the characters left a lasting impact on me.”
“I was genuinely moved by the storyline and the choices I had to make.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its engaging setting and storyline, complemented by amusing mechanics that enhance the overall experience.
“The game has a great setting, an interesting story, and hilarious mechanics.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
“I love how the game blends comedy with gameplay, keeping me entertained throughout.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with puzzles often feeling boring and sometimes relying on guesswork, which can detract from the overall experience.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the grinding to be tedious, with little reward for the time invested.”
“The constant need to grind for resources takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
