Lone Ruin Review – Rogue Synth

Multiple Blue Rings

Lone Ruin is a game that knows what it’s all about. It sets out to deliver a twin-stick roguelike experience and accomplishes just that. But, unfortunately, it comes at the cost of the total package.

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Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

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.

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Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

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.

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Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

Every now and then, a boss fight is thrown into the equation. Combat plays like a standard twin-stick shooter. Players can focus on weapon builds to help keep things fresh. One run can concentrate on a melee-heavy build, whereas another can focus on a chain-lighting-style ranged attack.

Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

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.

Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

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.

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Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

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.

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Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

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.

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