Ruffy and the Riverside Critique

Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the article:

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So, you know those days when everything’s a bit off, but still kinda fun? That’s Ruffy and the Riverside for you. Picture a fuzzy little bear — think Star Wars ewok but in a 3D game world where you solve puzzles and collect stuff. His name’s Ruffy, and he’s got this really cool power to change his surroundings, sort of like he’s some kind of landscape artist. Okay, but yeah, sometimes things get a bit glitchy and frustrating. It happens.

Anyway, back to the story. There’s this big bad cube thing — ominous, right? It’s threatening Ruffy’s home, and he’s the heroic puzzle-loving bear here to stop it. All he has to do is collect letters to activate some world core. Sounds huge. The game’s world is split into a main hub and smaller zones, kinda like you’d see in Super Mario 64. So, you wander through these areas, meet these quirky characters, and face these weird annoying challenges, like ladders that only let you climb straight up the center without falling. It’s as annoying as it sounds.

Ruffy’s special move is all about swapping things around. He absorbs stuff, and then, boom, trades it with something else. Some puzzles have this “duh” solution, while others are more “what now?” You’ll hit that wall where you smash into everything before something finally clicks. Sometimes it took me ages to figure things out, but then again, it might just be me missing the point. Who knows, your experience might be different — have at it.

About the controls — Ruffy’s speedy but not very precise. So, there’s platforming, and yeah, expect to fall a bit (a lot?). Plus, the checkpoints sometimes make you want to throw something because you’re sent back way too far. Collect coins, buy heart containers or some cool outfit — no, really, Ruffy looks even more adorable in costumes. Oh, and those coins? I loved using them to buy puzzle solutions and just move on already.

Here’s an example of the puzzling madness: Ever thought about swapping a waterfall into climbable leaves? No? Well, you will. Or how about turning stone pillars into wood so they float as platforms? The letter quest — that’s the world-saving thing — sometimes just feels like repeating puzzles. Repeat busywork ain’t my jam.

The sounds and music? Totally goofy and fun, perfect for a dancing bear like Ruffy. Visually, it’s this cute hand-drawn style, all bright and full of life but with sharp edges that keep it interesting. The writing tries to be funny — sometimes it actually is. Though, the intro? Too much chatter, really. It could’ve used some trimming.

In short, Ruffy and the Riverside is a quirky ride. It’s more about having a charming adventure than worrying about the glitches. Works great on Switch 2, by the way. Completionists can have a field day with all the collectible stuff. The puzzle bit can drive you nuts, but that swapping thing Ruffy does? It’s a fun twist from other games I’ve played. Yeah, it’s a bit rough (ruff), but I still had a good time wandering around in Ruffy’s world.