A Quirky Time with More Than a Few Bumpy Spots
So, there’s this game called Ruffy and the Riverside, right? It’s like a mash-up of 3D action-adventure shenanigans with this big ol’ world you can rummage through. You get to be Ruffy—kinda like a bear, kinda like an Ewok from Star Wars—and he’s got this wild power to mess with his surroundings. It sounds all cute and dandy, but don’t get too comfy because there’s a bit of a rollercoaster ride of quirks and clunky moments that might just tick you off while playing.
Now, about the whole climax-y threat thing: Ruffy’s world has this monstrous cube ready to wreck everything—yep, a cube. It’s on Ruffy to transform into the hero of the day, collecting magical letters to kickstart the world core and save his adorable home. Imagine a major hub with little zones inside; if you’re a Mario 64 fan, you know the drill. On your trek, you’ll bump into all sorts of bizarre characters and tackle funky-as-heck challenges. Oh, and ladders that require this weirdly precise climbing technique—center or bust, you know what I mean?
A big chunk of the game is all about Ruffy’s quirky little trick—he absorbs materials or colors and swaps them around. Some puzzles scream their solutions at you. But others? It’s like wandering through a logic maze blindfolded. Seriously, nailing a head-scratcher after fiddling around for ages feels like winning the lottery, but when the pieces don’t immediately click… yeah, it can get super frustrating. Sometimes, you’re randomly smacking stuff, hoping for a spark of genius. If you gel with the design, you’re golden. If not? Well, more wandering for you.
Speaking of control, Ruffy’s like a speed demon with questionable brakes. It’s fast but not exactly nimble, if you get me. Pair that with a checkpoint system that sometimes sends you miles back—and I’m not exaggerating when I say you’ll be redoing the trickiest bits or tackling the same platforming sections more times than is fun. I’m pretty sure I tossed coins at puzzles just to sidestep some of the madness. Buying heart containers and costumes? Neat, but not as tempting as fast-tracking the tedious parts.
Picture this: swapping waterfall water with plant wall leaves or turning ocean stone pillars into wooden ones. Sounds whacky, right? But then, you get these repeat-type challenges, like symbol matching over and over. It slips into busywork territory more often than you’d want.
On the sound front, it’s all light and goofy—really amps up Ruffy’s dance-y vibe. The visuals? Hand-drawn and vivid, like scribbles from someone’s daydreams with bright pops against plain lines. The script has laughs in spades, though the intro drags a bit like it’s got a lot to say.
With Ruffy and the Riverside, you’re in for a playful ride, bumps included. I took it for a spin on the Switch 2, and it’s packed with stuff to keep sticklers entertained. Some puzzles can be real head-scratchers, but the twisty swap mechanic is a breath of fresh air. Sure, it’s rough around the edges, but I’d dip into this goofy Riverside adventure any day.
