I've found myself really being enchanted by the indie side of the game industry in recent years. The AAA sector is in a full blown identity crisis. It feels like every game coming from a major publisher is taking nearly a decade to develop, with the incessant obsession with photorealistic graphics and a fixation on chasing industry trends instead of setting them. Indie games, however, have exploded (in a good way), and are frequently where we're seeing fresh, bold, new ideas, distinct visual styles and innovative gameplay. The budgets for these games are typically a fraction of a fraction of the cost of your average AAA game, which makes the opportunity for risk-taking a more viable option. And it's not like we're sacrificing anything by leaning into the indie market; these games are frequently in "game of the year" conversations right there with the AAA fare. I love tapping into what's happening in the indie scene when I really feel like playing something that just feels different. Enter Ruffy and the Riverside.
I've been keeping an eye on this game since it was initially shown off. From the first time I saw it, my attention was gripped by the incredibly unique aesthetic. My mind resummoned long faded memories of the bizarre, nostalgic kinds of games that you'd see in the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 sections at Blockbuster in the 1990s; especially the kinds of wacky, lighthearted stuff that used to come out of Japan in that era. I immediately knew that I needed to check this game out. So when I was provided a code to review the game, I was incredibly excited to dive in.
I don't want to spoil the game's story, which I think is really surprisingly good and well-written, so I'm not going to get into the plot here. Instead, I'll cover the game's other elements. Like with any great 3D platformer, the main thing people want to know about is the gameplay itself. A strong, distinct visual style only carries you so far if the game just isn't fun to play. Luckily, Ruffy and the Riverside is both visually appealing and incredibly fun to play. The core mechanic of this game, the SWAP function, is one of the most innovative ideas I've seen in a game in quite some time. Ruffy has the power to scan surfaces or textures in Riverside, and can replace another material with the scanned one. For instance, let's say you've got a river that is dammed and you need to remove the blockage to get the river flowing again. Ruffy can scan lava, and swap the water with the lava to melt the dam. Then you can replace the lava again with water to set the river back to its natural state.
Nearly every surface in the game can be scanned and swapped, which helps to create an in-game world that feels full of wonder and creativity. Each location you explore feels jam-packed with environmental puzzles for you to solve. The puzzles feel satisfying to solve too; they're not too complex as to become frustrating or make you feel stupid. It's often just a matter of being observant enough to figure out what exactly the developers were wanting you to notice. I remember a sequence of the game where you get into what is essentially a skateboarding competition on a half-pipe (though the chosen recreational vehicle in this world is a hay bale, not a skateboard) and the two AI riders were absolutely crushing me. I tried the competition a few times to no avail and then noticed something peculiar; I could use the SWAP tool to alter my score and win. It felt like such a genius, funny solution to the problem.
The game is ultimately still a 3D platformer with plenty of proper platforming and some minor combat, similar to Super Mario 64 and the like. The combat is not featured very heavily, which is fine. The world doesn't really feel inherently dangerous, so it is fitting that Ruffy isn't some highly trained warrior. The platforming feels precise enough, and there is a great gliding ability where Ruffy can grab hold of his bumblebee companion and coast further than he could with just a meager jump. There are also plenty of side activities in the game to add a solid dose of diversity to the gameplay. Myriad puzzles, hay bale races and riddles are scattered across the map. Ruffy can collect coins (the main currency in the game) which are used to buy new wearable capes The capes can be upgraded to increase the rate at which Ruffy regenerates health and stamina. You can also buy health upgrades to give Ruffy more hit points.
I have a couple of minor complaints about the capes. Ruffy's cape is just a simple hooded poncho garb, which is fine, but you see some other NPC bears running around with more detailed capes, accessories and tools and whatnot. I feel like Ruffy should freely be able to change the color of his plain cape if the player wants that, but the purchasable capes should have more detail and flair added to them. Maybe as you upgrade the cape, it could visually update to represent your increased stats. My other complaint is that the system of how to upgrade your cape isn't great. Once you buy the other two capes, you can go to a slot machine and pay coins to spin the slots and it will randomly land on what upgrades you're getting. I feel like you should be able to just pay the money straight up and pick which cape you want improved. It's not the worst thing in the world, obviously, but it just feels like an overly complicated system for what should be a simple mechanic.
I really enjoyed my time with Ruffy and the Riverside. I don't think I quit smiling from the time I booted the game up until I finished it. Between the adorable characters, the intriguing story, the incredibly delightful world to explore, and the inventive and fun game mechanics, I think Ruffy is a very special game that absolutely deserves your time and money. I don't think you'll play anything like this again for some time, maybe until Zockrates Labs develops a sequel, which they definitely should. I believe they've maybe created the next indie gaming icon here. I think they should look into doing sequels and spin-offs, getting into RPGs, kart racers (or hay bale racers), maybe even a full-blown skateboarding game: Ruffy Hawk's Pro Hay Bale Riding. In all seriousness, I genuinely hope to see Ruffy become a full-fledged franchise. The game was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it.
VERDICT: Essential
(Reviewed on PC)
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