Ruffy and the Riverside Review – An Evaluation

Alright, let’s dive into the chaos, shall we? So, there’s this game called Ruffy and the Riverside. It’s kind of a whirlwind, like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in a windstorm, but with more charm. Imagine this: you’re steering Ruffy, a bear who could pass for an Ewok from Star Wars — cute as heck but with an edge, and he’s got these magical powers to change the world around him. Sounds fun, right? Well, mostly.

The game’s set in Riverside. But, uh-oh, there’s this giant cube with anger issues threatening the place. Ruffy’s got to be the hero, finding letters — kind of a Super Mario vibe with its hub and levels but more… bear-y. Made me chuckle, with all these quirky folks you meet, but dang, those ladders! Ever tried climbing one and whoops, you’re off the side again? Yep, that’s this game for you.

Ruffy can do this wild thing — absorb stuff and swap it. Sometimes it’s super obvious what you should do: like “duh!” obvious, but then you hit these puzzles that just make you facepalm. Took me ages, and I felt like a mad scientist just messing around till something clicked. It’s one of those “you get it or you don’t” deals.

Controls? Ha, let’s just say Ruffy’s speedy but not exactly Mr. Accurate. Had some mishaps jumping around, and don’t even get me started on those checkpoints. Nothing like a hefty setback to lift your spirits, right? Coins are scattered around, which you’d think you’d want for, I dunno, a fancy costume for Ruffy, but nah, I ended up blowing them on puzzle skips. Smart move? Probably not, but hey, progress.

Oh, and the puzzles! I’m talking swapping waterfalls for leaves and flipping ocean rocks to wood. Easy at first, but then it’s like, “why am I doing the same puzzle again?” The game really tests your patience sometimes, but I guess that’s part of the charm.

The sounds are cute, really. Ruffy’s got this groove, and the hand-drawn look of it all is like flipping through an artsy sketchbook but with more action. Some parts of the game are wordy though, like they tried a tad too hard in the tutorial bit.

Overall, playing this on Switch 2 felt solid. Lots of laughs, huh? Even when I wanted to toss my controller. It’s not perfect — some rough spots here and there — but when I wasn’t scratching my head over puzzles, it was quite the ride. Ruffy, screaming “bear hero!” and all, is one I’d definitely visit again.