[PREVIEW] Ruffy and the Riverside – A Charming and Innovative 3D Platformer

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Who needs Paper Mario when you have Ruffy and the Riverside? This cute and fun 3D platformer stands out with its unique “copy and paste” mechanic, which allows you to creatively manipulate the environment. The game blends classic platformer elements, such as jumping and fighting enemies, with innovative puzzle-solving mechanics, all wrapped up in a charming, hand-drawn aesthetic.

The story of Ruffy and the Riverside is lighthearted and perfectly fits its colorful, paper-like world. You play as Ruffy, a cheerful bear with the magical ability, as mentioned, to “swap” the textures and properties of objects in the environment. Your goal is to explore the world and uncover secrets while interacting with a cast of peculiar characters inspired by the Middle Ages. The demo version provides a solid glimpse into what you can expect from the game, emphasizing the intuitive star collection over pure combat. Although it carries a retro Super Mario vibe, the game stands firmly on its own feet.

Platforming is Solid with Simple Combat Mechanics

The game world is divided into seven outer regions, each featuring unique challenges and environments. From lush forests to icy lakes, every area feels distinct and offers numerous opportunities for exploration and discovery. The demo hints at future adventures with blocked off areas, leaving you eager to see what the full game has in store.

And how exactly does the swap mechanic work? For instance, you can turn water into ice to cross a lake or a stone block into wood to create a path. This mechanic can also be used in clever and diverse ways. One example involves entering a wall to get to a star: to do this, you must defeat a boss who resides in the water. This wall is actually converted into a 2D space, while the outside world is 3D. To defeat the boss, you have to swap the water with lava, then swap the lava back to water, and finally re-enter the wall to pick up the star. This is just one of the many creative applications of this swap mechanic.

The platforming is solid, with responsive controls and well-designed levels. While Ruffy’s moveset isn’t as complex as some other platformers, it fits the game’s pace and style perfectly. You will jump, slide, and fight your way through the world, with just the right amount of challenge to keep things interesting without becoming frustrating. The combat is also simple but satisfying; hitting enemies and using different punches and slams is more than enough to overcome them. The game strikes a balance between simplicity and fun to keep the experience engaging without becoming overly difficult.

Very Fun Game That Encourages Exploration

As already emphasized, the game draws inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey with 2D side-scrolling sections within 3D environments. These levels offer an interesting change of pace and add variety to the gameplay. The world of Ruffy and the Riverside is also packed with collectables, including butterflies, dreamstones, Etoi creatures, and coins. These items contribute to the game and customization, encouraging you to explore every corner.

On the other hand, the game is full of interesting puzzles and obstacles that you must avoid. Indeed, nothing here is difficult, and you are required to carefully survey the environment and make a few decisions. The point is that the puzzles are an integral part of the game and accompany you at every step, which means you will always be grappling with something, whether it’s fire walls or simply the opportunity to use the copy and paste mechanic again, so you can turn water into leaves to climb a higher elevation.

Visually, Ruffy and the Riverside is beautiful. The game’s hand-drawn, paper-like aesthetic is charming and unique, with lush watercolors and thick white outlines that give it a storybook feel. The environments are vibrant and detailed, with a medieval-inspired aesthetic that contributes to the game’s imaginative tone. The 2D sections, with their crudely illustrated look, provide a nice contrast to the 3D areas. The sound design is also solid, with magical, atmospheric music that complements the game’s tone.

If you are looking for a lighthearted and visually stunning platformer with a unique twist, Ruffy and the Riverside is definitely worth checking out. It is a game that rewards creativity and curiosity, offering a magical adventure that is as fun as it is charming.