Rubinite is one of the games I’ve been looking forward to the most this year, and when I finally got the chance to play it, it did not disappoint. This review will contain spoilers, but they will be under the [b][u]spoilers[/u][/b] section, so those who haven’t played the game can still get some insight into what kind of game this is without having everything spoiled for them.
[h3]Gameplay[/h3]
Much like many other boss-rush games, the main gameplay loop revolves around fighting bosses, collecting items to help upgrade your character’s stats and abilities, and repeating that process until you reach the end of the game. This type of gameplay loop can become quite stale if there isn’t enough innovation in the gameplay, and one of the main highlights of Rubinite is just how unique and enjoyable each of its bosses is. Each boss has a plethora of moves, gimmicks, and counters that you need to capitalize on, while still remaining fresh and fun throughout the game’s runtime.
As for the player, your main tool besides simply slashing at the bosses is using Ruby’s red eyes to focus on their weak points. The longer you focus, the more your gauge fills, and it can build up through multiple levels before being released as a powerful attack. Since your basic attacks don’t do much damage on their own, you rely on this ability to deal the majority of your damage. Perfectly dodging attacks while focusing increases the gauge even faster, which encourages you to learn each boss’s attack patterns and capitalize on the openings they give you.
While that sounds powerful on its own, you lose your stacks whenever you get hit, so it’s important to carefully weigh when you should and shouldn’t use the ability to maximize your damage. Otherwise, you risk unfortunately losing all of that charge when you get hit. I found this gameplay loop to be pretty addicting on its own, and the quick-paced fights make dodging attacks all the more satisfying while also making you look cool while doing it.
[h3]Story[/h3]
While the game is pretty short all things considered, there is still a good amount of story to chew on between the boss fights. As you defeat bosses, the hub world expands accordingly, unlocking new areas where you can learn more about the world and the main conflict driving the game. Without getting too far into spoiler territory, the story is quite tragic and has its fair share of dark moments. The character interactions throughout the game also have their funny moments, alongside darker and more serious ones.
[h3]Story and Gameplay Spoilers[/h3]
[spoiler]When you beat the final boss for the first time, the game doesn’t actually end. It is later revealed that, upon defeating the final boss, you had been trapped in an illusion from the very beginning. Now that you have broken free, the game becomes significantly more difficult, as you need to no-hit every boss in the game in order to actually beat it. While some people may take issue with being required to defeat every boss without taking damage, I personally think adding this condition makes things much more interesting. Not only do you need to learn the ins and outs of every boss in order to succeed, but it also reinforces the theme of just how deadly and brutal this world is. While it can certainly be frustrating at times, I found this little twist to be much more enjoyable when paired with the developments in the story.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]When it comes to the story, I think it was handled very well overall. While some story beats repeat during the second run, I think the hidden lore tidbits and the story surrounding them ultimately make up for it. Learning about the origins and motivations behind the witch, Alcina, makes for an interesting story thread to explore during the hub-world segments. It also makes you contemplate the idea of, “If you were able to create an ideal world solely to save the people important to you, would you do it, even knowing how great the cost might be?” I find stories that tackle themes like this quite interesting because, even though many people might agree that such an action is wrong, it still makes for an interesting discussion about what people value most in their life, and the lengths some would go to achieve their goals.[/spoiler]
[h3]Final Thoughts[/h3]
All in all, I think this game is well worth your time if you’re looking for something fun to play, with a good amount of replayability thanks to its bosses. The game also has lots of achievements, with some requiring you to beat a boss in a certain way to add an extra challenge to them.
Depending on how good you are at the game, you may or may not finish it within 10–15 hours, with 100% completion taking around 15–20 hours depending on how much you explore. These times are more estimates for the average player, but don’t let the relatively low number of hours detract from whether or not the game is worth your time.
This game is 100% worth trying out, and it can be quite an addicting experience thanks to just how fun and satisfying the gameplay is!
