1. RobertB.

   9

   A diamond in the rough -- just needed polish.

   • Helpful? 1 of 1 users said Yes.
2. PaulA.

   9

   Great story its a masterpiece but unfortunately it goes really down by those controls and the stupid gameplay... But its still GREAT !!

   • Helpful? 1 of 2 users said Yes.
3. heychrisfox

   8

   Games that bring controversy with their releases are always intriguing releases, and Rule of Rose is no different. An independently developed game, published by Atlas in North America, Rule of Rose follows the story of Jennifer, a skittish young girl who - through a strange series of circumstances - finds herself in the 1930s English countryside, chasing a boy down a dirt road. This chase leads her to The Rose Garden Orphanage. But things take a turn for the bizarre: when she encounters a grave at the manor, she gets a horrible feeling, digging it up to reveal a coffin. She is then surprised from behind by some of the children, who push her into the coffin, and bury her alive.
   
   When she awakens, Jennifer finds herself in what appears to be a zeppelin. She is in the custody and care of a group of children, mostly girls, who call themselves The Aristocrat Club; they demand that you pay the club tribute in the form of monthly gifts of their choosing, the penalty for which not making your offering is death. Thus, Jeniffer begins to wander the zeppelin, searching for gifts, and experiencing what seem to be extremely disjointed scenarios involving her and the Aristocrat Club.
   
   Gameplay is your run-of-the-mill survival horror sort, wandering around with small, blunt, or generally ineffective weapons while little imp creatures chase you around. This makes running the most appropriate option in most situations, as Jennifer isn't the most competent battler you've ever encountered, haphazardly swinging her weapons around. The scenery (either the dark and seemingly abandoned orphanage or the metallic and eerie zeppelin) is exceptionally creepy, and the mood is set very well, with a great accompanying soundtrack. But navigating these environments can become cumbersome to traverse, as many of the corridors look identical, and it's easy to get turned around, especially when weaving between imps. Furthermore, certain chapters can be long with infrequent save points, meaning if you take an unlucky blow to the head from Billy the goat-headed ugly who wants to nom on your innards, you'll have to start from your last save, which can be time-consuming and just plain taxing.
   
   But for all the game's faults, it is all brought together by its fabulous storyline. The Aristocrat Club is anything but, making Jennifer suffer through verbal degradation and hazing rituals. And with the surreal environment of the zeppelin, with seemingly no adults taking care of the children, the kids rule in a Lord of the Flies styled dominion. Each chapter of the story is prefaced with a hand-drawn childrens' book that provides an off-kilter summary of the coming chapter. The entire story comes across as a haunting and visceral 9-year old's worst nightmare, and while the story may seem very disjointed and confusing, it gives you enough plot points to keep you hungry to see how it all comes together. And while it seems like this resolution may never come, a calming denouement after the climax of the plot offers all the answers to the questions that were brought about. If anything, this very rare - and at times, controversial - and unique release may not be the best game you've ever played, but certainly one of the most intriguing, and worth your time.… Expand

   • Helpful? 0 of 0 users said Yes.
4. LeonardA.

   5

   Nice images, repetitive soundtracks, and boooooring gameplay!

   • Helpful? 1 of 2 users said Yes.

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