RuneSage
- September 28, 2017
- George Gilbert
- 7h median play time
Get on SteamRuneSage is a single-player Role Playing VR game for HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. After a great storm shattered the crystals that protect the world, you must find and restore them before the next storm. Explore diverse environments, cast spells, solve puzzles, and battle menacing creatures to recover the lost crystals and protect the world. The game offers 10-15 hours of immersive adventuring.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and enjoyable puzzle mechanics that utilize gesture-based spellcasting.
- Relaxing gameplay with a focus on exploration and non-linear progression.
- The developer is responsive and actively improves the game based on player feedback.
- Controls can be unintuitive and may cause motion sickness for some players.
- Graphics are dated and lack detail compared to more recent VR titles.
- The lack of combat and minimal guidance can lead to frustration, especially for younger players.
- graphics32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered mediocre, with some users noting low-resolution textures that do not meet modern VR standards. While certain environments, like caves, are praised for their visual appeal, overall visuals are described as bland and lifeless, with performance issues leading to jittery gameplay. Despite these shortcomings, some players find the graphics acceptable given the game's price and the fact that it was developed by a single individual.
“The graphics are, I think, quite good for the time, but the textures are pretty low-res for today's VR systems.”
“I also would like to give a thumbs up to some visuals I saw – the cave looked great!”
“In terms of visuals, I found the underground and darker parts of the game to be very visually appealing in VR, more than the outside was to me, but the outside does still fit the atmosphere.”
“Graphics are extremely bland and lifeless.”
“I have a GTX 1070 graphics card and this game was extremely jittery to the point of being unplayable - much, much more so than any other VR game I've played.”
“Seems as if graphics still need to undergo a lot more optimization before it can be realistically played.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Runesage is characterized by its engaging rune and magic gesture mechanics, which offer a unique and relaxing experience through exploration and puzzles. While the visuals are described as neutral, the game is considered kid-friendly with straightforward mechanics, though some players noted initial confusion with the controls. Overall, it provides a decent amount of gameplay for its price, making it a worthwhile option for those seeking a low-stress gaming experience.
“I would say this is a good kid-friendly game as the mechanics are simple and the gameplay is straightforward.”
“Runesage is a great relaxing puzzle game with awesome magic mechanics.”
“It was the 'magic gesture' mechanic that got me interested, because very few games use it (even with mice), but it's one of the coolest ideas ever.”
“I would recommend other narrative games with better gameplay than this.”
“I think it reveals to myself how much 'danger' or 'stress' elevates gameplay to myself while the lack of it quickly makes me feel bored.”
“I had a bit of issue working out the mechanics of the game - teleporting and casting the magic - but once I figured it out (the issues were mine, not the game's) it worked very well.”
- story16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story in Runesage is noted for its dedicated lore and attempts at multi-dimensional storytelling through scrolls and narrative elements, but many players feel it lacks depth and coherence. While the game includes puzzles and missions, the overall narrative fails to engage, leading to a sense of disinterest and a desire for more development in the world and story mechanics.
“Runesage is a puzzle game with elements of magic and its own dedicated lore upon the story.”
“It is clear that the developer had a lot of interest in trying to make it a multi-dimensional game by taking the effort to put scrolls and story elements throughout the game.”
“Overall this game could be very good with more development of the world and the story devices used to teach you the magic, but it's just not there yet.”
“I made it through about half of the main story and lost interest as there was a lot of backtracking.”
“No real story.”
“Overall, this game could be very good with more development of the world and the story devices used to teach you the magic, but it's just not there yet.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the ambient tracks and atmospheric choices that enhance the visuals, others criticize the soundtrack as mediocre, likening it to "medieval elevator music." Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance but lacks standout quality.
“The ambient music is perfect and the scenes are drawn beautifully.”
“It has a nice atmosphere with a good choice of music.”
“Music is mediocre at best (medieval equivalent of elevator music)”
“Music is mediocre at best (medieval equivalent of elevator music)”
“Music is mediocre at best (medieval equivalent of elevator music)”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally described as lackluster compared to more visually striking titles like Talos Principle or immersive VR escape rooms. However, players appreciate the appealing visuals of the underground areas and the fitting outdoor environment, complemented by a good choice of music, creating a decent overall atmosphere for its price point.
“It has a nice atmosphere with a good choice of music.”
“Overall lackluster atmosphere”
“In terms of visuals, I found the underground and darker parts of the game to be very visually appealing in VR, more than the outside was to me, but the outside does still fit the atmosphere.”
“It doesn’t have the flash of something like Talos Principle or the atmosphere of some of the VR escape room type games, but it does seem to have a lot of content for a game that starts at $9.99 at the time of this review.”
