RUINSMAGUS – The Review

September 20, 2022 ·

Magic has always had an essential part in stories, movies, and games. It allows those that possess the power of magic with incredible abilities. And it’s with that magic and responsibility that when faced with the challenge, it can be chosen to be used right away or used when it is most needed. But what if you had the chance to be part of the magical arts? What do you think your favorite spell would be and do you think you would use magic for good or for your own wealth? So does developer CharacterBank along with Publisher, Mastiff show you what it’s like to discover the magic and wisdom as you dive deep into the ruins? Let’s find out with RUINSMAGUS for the Quest 2 and PCVR.

RUINSMAGUS is a single-player action JRPG where you take on the role of a novice in the magical arts who is sent to investigate the abandoned ruins below the prosperous town, Grand Amnis, where the wealth depends largely on the artifacts hidden deep within the ruins. So before you go into the ruins and think you will be the hero this town needs, there are a few things that you should be aware of. First, you want to have some room so when you are faced with various challenges, you will not feel like you are crunched in and you are free to use your magic. Second, make sure your controllers are charged as you don’t want to be in a battle and become defeated because you forgot to charge them. Third, I am not going to spoil anything for anyone. And finally, take your time and enjoy what is being presented otherwise you just might miss out on something special. With that said, let’s continue…

When you first start the game, and before getting into the actual gameplay, the music that is played sets up the tone, that if I were actually going on an adventure, I would want this music playing. It really is southing and something that can be listened to when you just need to unwind. As the game welcomes you, it throws you into its tutorial of basic motions from movement to casting spells. Don’t worry if it seems a little challenging. Once you start to get into the action, you will start to remember what you learned. But once you do get through with the training and see Grand Amnis for the first time, there is something about how the developer makes you feel like you are part of this town and welcomed as a novice in such a way as receiving this royal treatment, that it really intrigued me about what was to come.

Since this is a JRPG, the language is in Japanese, but thanks to subtitles, you will be able to understand the story. You can either skip it by hitting the B button or click next through it by pressing the A button. I would suggest, to understand what is really going on, to read through the subtitles. But the part about being a novice in the magical arts is actually being able to perform magic. The game allows for 14 different spells, but you only can pick three with one being the primary and the other two being your secondary. But lucky for you, there is magical ammo that is unlimited, so keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind, is that you do have a shield and a gauntlet. The shield does come in handy when enemies are shooting things at you, but your gauntlet holds the power for your magic.

You will notice three vials that represent your magic levels. So every time you use magic, you will notice the vials start to go down, but replenishing the levels is as easy as moving your arm downwards. So pay attention as you are in a battle and replenish when you can. But I will say it took me a few attempts to get used to using the magic, as some will require you to do a shooting motion and others will require you to do a tossing motion. And since magic can be big and powerful, don’t forget to hold down the A button if you want to have a more powerful effect.

Along with smaller enemies, come, various bosses, that you will have no problem trying and taking down to those that you just might be surprised by. But this being the town of Grand Amnis and everyone trying to make it, there will be quests where you will need to collect certain items that in return you will receive items you need to help progress build up your arsenal. This is done by visiting shops (that helps add to the story), finding out what the shopkeeper may need, then exit to the hub to enter the ruins to try and collect so said items so you can go back to the shopkeeper, claim your items for your hard work, and continue on with your adventure.

Let’s talk about the graphics and sound. The graphics are simply beautiful and seeing the videos vs experiencing what RUINSMAGNUS can immerse you in is something that should be experienced. The colors are vibrant, the ruins are gloomy, and seeing the different lighting effects will make you appreciate what all went into this creation. The sound is equally as good. The soundtrack alone is just something you could enjoy on its own. Keep in mind that the entire game is voiced in Japanese, and honestly, that didn’t bother me at all. Even though I could not understand verbally what was being said, what I could tell is the emotion the voice actors were bringing to their characters. But again, remember there are subtitles that should help things along and are very clearly legible.

There are a few things that I would be added. For one, when do you go into the ruins for the battles, there is not a ton of variety here. Even though the enemies and bosses may be somewhat new, the surroundings have that familiar “I’ve been here before” feel to them. Outside the battles and visiting different locations of the town is a very nice change of pace. I get that the ruins are abandoned, but It would have been nice to have a little more variety in the ruins. Second, I loved the interactions between the characters such as at the beginning when they were getting coffee, and made it feel like we just went on an adventure and now everyone needs to sit and gather their thoughts with other people around them. I just wish there were more of these types of experiences with more interactions within the game. And finally, I just want more adventures in this world. But good news is that DLC is in development.

RUINSMAGUS brings the Anime JRPG e and puts you right in the middle as it welcomes you to its world. It doesn’t try to force anything upon you that you are not ready for but embraces the time that you spend with it. In life, we sometimes wish we were someplace else, but it’s when you are welcomed with open arms that don’t ask a thing of you, then that’s a place to call home. Sometimes, it may take an adventure to make us realize that the place we wanted to be all along is the home that we know and couldn’t we all use a little more realization that we already may have everything we need in life at home if we just take the time to look for it?

RUINSMAGUS is out now for the Quest 2 on the Oculus Store and on Steam VR. A review code was provided.

To learn more about Character Bank, please visit their site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and subscribe to their YouTube channel. To learn more about Mastiff, please visit their site like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I think I am going to go and enjoy my stay in Grand Amnis a little bit more.

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