Ruiner

The story of Ruiner has garnered mixed reviews from critics, with some highlighting its positives. Critics like Push Square and COGconnected appreciate the game's cyberpunk-themed narrative, memorable characters, and engaging elements such as hacking and vengeance quests. The world of Ruiner is described as twisted, alive, and intriguing by Push Square, while Nintendo Life praises the intense and hyper-violent storytelling that unfolds through gameplay. Additionally, App Trigger and BaziCenter find the narrative unexpectedly captivating, with well-defined plots and unexpected twists adding depth to the story. On the flip side, several critics point out the negatives of Ruiner's story. Game Informer and GameGrin criticize the narrative for feeling convoluted, soulless, and hollow, with uninteresting characters and a lack of payoff. IGN and GameSpew mention the lack of depth in the main narrative, with IGN noting that the revenge plot is straightforward and GameSpew highlighting the sterile feeling due to the absence of voice acting. The SixthAxis and Gamer.nl express disinterest in the bleak and unengaging story, with The SixthAxis specifically stating a lack of care for the events in the game. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the story of Ruiner leans towards a mixed reception. While some appreciate the cyberpunk influences, memorable characters, and unexpected twists, others criticize the lack of depth, uninteresting characters, and convoluted storytelling. The game seems to excel in creating a dark and mysterious atmosphere, but falls short in delivering a cohesive and engaging narrative for all players. Critics like GameSpot and TrueAchievements find elements of corruption, survival, and identity exploration intriguing, but others like Gameplanet and Gaming Nexus feel let down by unanswered questions and lack of originality in the narrative. Ultimately, Ruiner's story seems to be a divisive aspect of the game, resonating differently with each reviewer based on their preferences for storytelling in cyberpunk-themed games.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Ruiner for being clean, well-executed, and satisfying, offering a straightforward and arcadey experience. Critics such as Game Informer and PlayStation Universe highlighted the ultraviolent and stylish twin-stick shooter gameplay, with well-designed weapons and the use of slow motion adding depth to the combat. The game was commended for its diverse range of weapons, abilities, and power progression systems, as noted by PlayStation Country and Push Square. The combat was described as brutal, challenging, and demanding, requiring tactical thinking and skillful execution, as emphasized by critics like PlayStation LifeStyle and TrueAchievements. On the downside, some critics pointed out issues with Ruiner's gameplay. ZTGD mentioned missteps leading to tedium and frustration, particularly with a slow leveling system and repetitive environments. Nintendojo highlighted unbalanced difficulty levels that resulted in frustrating fights, while DualShockers criticized slow and loose controls for fast-paced action, although the variety of weapons helped mitigate these shortcomings. PC Gamer noted criticisms regarding the lack of variation and complexity in enemy types and boss fights, as well as repetitive map layouts. CGMagazine mentioned a lack of visible impact and sense of power in weapons, detracting from the overall appeal of the combat. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding Ruiner's gameplay. The game's fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding combat system, combined with a variety of weapons, abilities, and skill progression, resonated well with reviewers. The intense isometric action gameplay, as described by Multiplayer.it, was a common highlight, with many critics praising the depth and strategic elements of the combat. While there were some criticisms regarding specific aspects such as difficulty balancing, control responsiveness, and level design, the overall sentiment leans heavily towards the game offering a highly enjoyable and engaging gameplay experience. Critics like Gameplanet and PC Gamer appreciated the skillful play rewarded by the combat mechanics, showcasing Ruiner as a standout title in the twin-stick shooter genre.

The majority of critics had overwhelmingly positive opinions about the graphics and visual design of Ruiner. Game Informer praised the stunning visuals, highlighting the action gameplay as the crux of the game. IGN and IGN Italia both commended the cyberpunk aesthetic, with IGN Italia specifically mentioning the unique art style and warm yet unsettling color combinations. PlayStation Universe and Push Square lauded the neon-lit cyberpunk design, with Push Square emphasizing the beautiful world with a unique red color palette that works magnificently. Additionally, reviewers like Nintendo Life and PC Gamer appreciated the phenomenally good-looking cyberpunk aesthetic and gorgeous city design, respectively. Despite the overall positive reception, some critics did mention drawbacks in Ruiner's graphics and visual design. PlayStation Country noted that the dark red and black color scheme, while visually appealing, could make it harder to react to enemies due to the dark details of the levels. Stevivor criticized the monotonous industrial design of the levels, which detracted from the sense of progression. GameGrin highlighted the lack of style beyond a red haze over most levels, and CGMagazine mentioned that some locations were dull and overly similar, although the hub city was praised for its neon signs. In conclusion, the consensus among critics is that Ruiner excels in delivering a visually stunning cyberpunk world with a unique and captivating aesthetic. The game's use of vibrant neon colors, gritty industrial environments, and cyberpunk influences received widespread acclaim from reviewers. While there were some criticisms regarding level design repetition, clarity issues, and lack of variety in certain areas, the overall sentiment leans heavily towards the positive side. With mentions of influences from iconic works like Blade Runner and Akira, Ruiner's graphics and visual design were generally well-received, making it a standout feature of the game according to the majority of critics.

The Sound Design and Music of Ruiner have received a mix of positive and negative feedback from various critics. Many reviewers praised the game's soundtrack for enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. IGN and PlayStation Universe highlighted the menacing techno and tribal techno elements that complement the cyberpunk aesthetic, with IGN specifically noting that the soundtrack is noteworthy and can be found on synthwave blogs. Nintendo Life and App Trigger also commended the high-intensity electronic soundtrack, with Nintendo Life describing it as superb and enhancing the relentless onscreen action. Gameplanet and AusGamers appreciated the selection of music, with Gameplanet calling it masterful and fitting the tone of the game perfectly. On the other hand, some critics pointed out drawbacks in the Sound Design and Music of Ruiner. Game Informer mentioned that while the soundtrack does its job, nothing particularly stands out, indicating a lack of memorable elements. COGconnected and BaziCenter criticized the repetitive music and the absence of voice acting for dialogues, which impacted the overall immersion and storytelling. The Digital Fix raised concerns about the audio not effectively differentiating between levels, enemies, or boss characters, potentially affecting the gameplay experience and immersion. Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards the positive side regarding the Sound Design and Music of Ruiner. The haunting electronic soundtrack, intense techno beats, and urban sound effects were widely appreciated for setting the tone and enhancing the cyberpunk atmosphere of the game. However, criticisms regarding repetitive music, lack of voice acting, and audio differentiation issues were noted by some reviewers, such as Game Informer, COGconnected, and The Digital Fix. Despite these drawbacks, the majority of critics, including IGN, Nintendo Life, and Gameplanet, found the soundtrack to be a significant asset that contributed positively to the overall gameplay experience of Ruiner.

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In terms of technical performance on different gaming platforms, the critics had varying experiences. On the Nintendo Switch, COGconnected and Nintendo Life both praised the smooth controls and performance, especially in handheld mode. COGconnected specifically highlighted the absence of slowdowns in visuals or lighting. This indicates a positive experience for players on the Switch, particularly in portable mode. Additionally, Nintendojo mentioned that despite minor glitches and framerate issues, the game overall ran smoothly on the platform. However, there were also notable technical issues reported by critics on various platforms. Stevivor encountered a bug on the PS4 where a certain enemy type became impervious to attacks, impacting gameplay. On the PC, GameSpew mentioned erratic framerates with random hitches and jerks, while Polygon reported inconsistent performance with frame rate dips, freezes, and crashes affecting the gameplay experience. These issues could potentially hinder player enjoyment and immersion in the game, showcasing a lack of optimization on these platforms. Overall, there is a mixed consensus among the critics regarding the technical performance of Ruiner across different platforms. While some, like COGconnected and PC Gamer, had positive experiences with smooth performance and stability, others, such as Stevivor and Polygon, highlighted significant technical issues impacting gameplay. The differing opinions suggest that the game's technical performance may vary depending on the platform, with some players having a smoother experience than others. It is essential for potential players to consider these technical aspects before deciding on the platform to play Ruiner for a more enjoyable gaming experience.

In terms of positives, several critics highlighted the variety of weapons, abilities, and character builds in Ruiner that contribute to its replay value. Critics like God is a Geek and BaziCenter appreciated the progression system and different strategies available for replaying levels. Nintendo Life and Nintendo World Report commended the inclusion of New Game+ mode, speedrun mode, and arena mode, offering players additional challenges and incentives to replay levels. The ability to earn XP, unlock new costumes, and strive for higher ratings in levels were also mentioned as positive aspects by critics like Nintendo Life. On the negative side, some critics pointed out limitations that impact the game's replayability. Stevivor noted the repetitive levels and lack of an endless/survival mode as factors that limit the game's replay value. DualShockers highlighted the punishing difficulty and unsatisfying gameplay experience as deterrents to replaying the game. IGN Italia mentioned the lack of exploration, puzzles, or elements beyond combat, which may lead to a sense of monotony over time. Additionally, Polygon raised concerns about frustrating boss encounters and performance issues that could detract from the overall replay value. Overall, the consensus among critics is mixed regarding the replay value of Ruiner. While some critics like TrueAchievements and Windows Central appreciated the various difficulty levels, achievements, and level select features that enhance replayability, others such as DualShockers and Polygon found certain aspects like difficulty and gameplay issues to hinder the overall experience. The inclusion of different game modes, character builds, and progression systems was generally seen as positive by critics, but the lack of variety in gameplay elements and potential for repetition were noted as drawbacks. Ultimately, Ruiner offers a challenging and diverse experience for players seeking to experiment with different playstyles and tackle varying levels of difficulty, but it may not appeal to those looking for a more varied and engaging gameplay loop.