With my first playthrough only exposing me to about three-quarters of the map, I’m happy to keep the game on my digital shelf for another go-around in the near future. Multiple endings, gallery portraits, and unlockable game modes add substantial replay value to Lost Ruins. And hey, you can even pause the game, stack a bunch of buffs and restoratives, and proceed to give ‘em hell (with ‘em’ usually being some giant witch lady). Much like in a soulsborne game where constant death is a sometimes-frustrating learning experience, patience and planning are well rewarded in Lost Ruins. Grabbing a block of cheese or an apple from a fallen foe might not seem like much, but having half a dozen hams, colas, and other such food products sure does come in handy during the multi-stage boss fights that conclude each dungeon section. It’s fortunate that there’s no limited inventory in Lost Ruins because by the end of this relatively short game I’d acquired dozens of weapons, consumables, accessories, and magic spells. While the handful of sidequests on offer don’t often require too much extra effort on the part of the Heroine, the rewards they yield include both unlockable gallery images that can be viewed from the main menu, as well as unique weapons and helpful single-use items. Fireball-blasting statues and cannons can be fantastic allies or another deadly reminder to be aware of one’s surroundings. Water-logged floors can be blasted with lightning to electrocute any helpless swimmers. Elements of the environment can be used to your advantage or turned against you in an instant, with oil-soaked floors, for example, able to be set ablaze and deal constant damage to anyone caught on them. Sticking to a single weapon or strategy can be perilous because the attack patterns of your foes and the various room layouts make a compelling argument for mixing it up with magic, elemental staves, and ranged and melee weapons. If you want to complete all of the sidequests offered by characters you meet or fill in 100 percent of the map, you can use the portals to warp around at your leisure however, I was happy to see that the game is mostly linear if you want it to be.įor most of its runtime, Lost Ruins pushes you through an interconnected labyrinth filled with bats, slimes, orcs, demons, zombies, and other creatures. Fast-travel portals almost always accompany the computer terminals where you can save at will, but Lost Ruins rarely forces you to do any major backtracking. From the outset, you have a single accessory/armor slot, which will expand as you progress, and pieces such as the Amulet of Life that constantly restores your health end up being quite a boon among all the monsters and traps hellbent on your demise.Īs you make your way through the detailed and sprawling map, points of interest are filled in and save and autosave points appear at a fair pace. Swords, daggers, bows, and hammers can be equipped in your two weapon slots, while fireballs, lightning, and magic arrows can be thrown into your two magic slots. Scrounging for pick ups is a major part of the experience given that you very rarely upgrade your health and magic meters the world of Lost Ruins is a dangerous one, with bleed, fire, and poison effects capable of putting you (or your enemies) down in a hurry. The initial screens serve as a light tutorial that introduces you to the basics of jumping, attacking, and collecting equipment and items. Without any preamble, our Heroine falls into a sewer-like area with no memory of who she is or where she came from. It’s a refreshing change of pace that kept my attention for all of its 4-5 hour journey. Rather than hacking and slashing away at anything that moves, you’re taught to be more aware of your surroundings and regularly switch up your gear to excel in different situations. Where Lost Ruins differs from its contemporaries is its more methodical approach to movement and survival. This metroidvania will be familiar to those who have played other DANGEN-published games like those in the Momodora series, which blend platforming, action, exploration, and a light narrative to create a satisfying experience. Lost Ruins’ generic title belies a gorgeous pixel-art aesthetic and wonderful attention to detail.
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