This isn’t the first foray into the genre for developer Cuddle Monster Games. Their first game, 2019’s Hell is Other Demons, is an action-platformer roguelike shooter.
It features a synthwave soundtrack, intense boss fights, and roguelite elements in the action-platform genre. Lone Ruin is more of a traditional roguelike experience.
LONE RUIN’S BIGGEST WEAKNESS IS A LACK OF CONTENT
On the one hand, the game knows what it’s about. You’ll progress through a sequence of stages by defeating a rush of enemies. Every now and then, a boss fight is thrown into the equation.
This is one way Lone Ruin encourages subsequent playthroughs. You’re encouraged from the start to experiment with new builds. Sadly, the combat doesn’t do enough beyond that.
One example is a flame-breath-style attack. Visually, it looks impressive and powerful. More often than not, however, enemies tend to shrug it off to the point where it’s more effective to use other spells in my arsenal.
STYLE AND FLAIR OOZE OFF THE SCREEN
If there’s one thing Lone Ruin does have going for it, it’s the visual aesthetic. If you’re a fan of synthwave, this is the game for you. The soundtrack does an excellent job of getting your adrenaline running.
What puts things over the top is the confidence of the player’s character. There’s a sense of style that you can constantly feel. Between the way they effortlessly move across the stage to the immaculate vibes as they point in the direction of the spells being cast.
Difficulty and roguelikes go hand-in-hand, like peas and carrots. So it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that the game is challenging. Sadly, Lone Ruin toes the line between challenge and unfair.