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90Action junkies looking for the next Resident Evil might find the pace a little slow, and the core gameplay doesn't do anything wildly different, but this is still a wonderful psychological thriller that will draw you in with its bizarrely compelling narrative, atmospheric presentation and thoughtful story-based gameplay.
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It would be easy to rag on the spotty combat controls, but RoR isn't about kicking ass - as I've maintained throughout, everything is secondary to the story. If you're in the right frame of mind for something completely dark and decidedly different, you'll find it blossoming in the macabre bouquet of Rule of Rose.
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85The subject matter is the heart, the story the blood, and the music the emotion driving it all to a surprise ending that even now, is open for debate.
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This is one of the few titles that I've ever felt really bridged a gap between cinema and games. There are just so many things about it that make you feel like you're watching a psychological thriller as opposed to just running around in a virtual environment solving puzzles.
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I think everyone should experience this game, especially horror fans, but in order to do so, you're going to have to suffer through times of sheer agony--just like poor, unlucky Jennifer. [Oct. 2006, p. 53]
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Distractingly frustrating to play, but the mystery will lure you to the end.
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73Basically, the game is offbeat, which fits considering that these are the same people that developed Chulip, a game about kissing people, but unfortunately it didn't do anything to put a scare into me.
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73Once seen to completion, Rule of Rose is unquestionably memorable, but as a game it comes well short of current expectations.
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If the story doesn't grab you, then you can probably pass on Rule of Rose. Its other elements aren't nearly as satisfying.
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Despite the unabashed creep-out factor, there is an interesting story to be found. It's a fairy tale as scene through a looking glass mirror. My biggest gripe is that it just isn't very fun to play.
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70Looking at the game as a whole, the music and atmosphere are easily the best parts of Rule of Rose, while the controls are the weakest element by far.
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Your typical survival horror, with sub-par gameplay but excellent style. Underneath, you'll find a twisted story that takes some time to digest, one that doesn't necessarily have a happy ending.
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67With sub-par control, a story that could be great but gets lost in a sea of loose ends, and very uninspired, tedious, and infrequent combat, Rule of Rose falls well shy of the intended mark.
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Some genuinely disconcerting moments, but not half as scary as you might imagine. [Jan 2007, p.74]
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67It's not exactly scary going on fetch quests for some snooty, snooty wee girls, nor fending off eyeless monkeys with a kitchen knife. [Issue#146, p.92]
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But if what you're after is a good twisted mystery and a game that will creep you out, in deeper ways and beyond "boo, I jumped out of the closet", then you should consider checking-out RoR.
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65A decent addition to the survival-horror/psycho-horror genre and at its best, is an intense thrill-ride experience. However, to get to these moments, you have to endure a flawed presentation and design elements.
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Rule of Rose wants to be the next Silent Hill, but for now it's only achieving Relatively Quiet Hill status.
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Difficult to control, slow, and(as the game goes on)more and more arbitrarily forced fights suck fun directly from the player. [Oct. 2006, p.100]
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If you're a survival horror fan looking for something that doesn't involve zombies, genetically engineered mutants, aliens, or any of the other usual cliches of the genre, Rule of Rose might interest you with its 1930s setting, creepy children, and unsettling atmosphere.
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62If you're desperate for a story driven horror game then this might be up your ally but otherwise wait for the barrage of new titles hitting this fall.
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60There's no denying that Rule of Rose is extremely pretty, atmospheric and disturbing. Unfortunately, it fails on just about every other level. The gameplay is tedious, the scares are nonexistent and Jennifer is such a cringing, passive non-entity that you'll likely identify more with her malevolent (but strangely endearing) tormenters.
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Blends the stuff of nightmares with stylish sound and graphics. Sadly, the developer should have spent longer on the gameplay. [Dec 2006, p.90]
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60This survival horror game trades typical zombies for a pack of sadistic children, but its compelling premise and creepy atmosphere only partly make up for the mostly bland gameplay.
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It's at that point in Rule of Rose, when combat becomes a dominant factor but the provided elements simply don't hold up, that frustration sets in.
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60It's not terrible by any stretch, but it's not exciting enough for survival/horror fans, and it's a little too old-fashioned for the adventure fans out there.
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60The story may be unique, but the overall game design, as represented by the combat model, is one characterized by laziness masked as tradition. It's accepted that survival horror has lame combat, boss battles and fetch quests, so Rule of Rose has all those things, too.
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60If you can accept that nearly all the engaging moments come from non-interactive movies, and much of what the player is allowed to take part in is more frustrating than terrifying or exciting, it could also be worth playing.
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59The story in Rule of Rose is an amazingly twisted macabre tale that you won't find on a daily basis in your local game store. Unfortunately, the design team appears to have been so focused on the story part of the game that they forget to actually put a game in it.
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59Unless you can't seem to get enough games about demented children and ghoulish babies with poor combat and stupid-proof puzzles, then I suggest you steer clear of this one and save your money for "Silent Hill 5."
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Worryingly disturbing, but just as worryingly patchy to play. A masterpiece of oddness that makes for a malnourished and sluggish video game. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.62]
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58Rule of Rose definitely delivers the chills from beginning to end and although the stories from chapter to chapter can feel a little detached, you will find yourself continually anticipating what will happen next.
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55With its creepy cast and giant flying machine, Rule of Rose manages to scare up some real suspense. But too much of the game feels like a chore for me to recommend this survival horror experience.
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55The premise is fantastic and the visuals really do draw you into the dark world this game presents; it's just a shame that so many vital aspects of it are broken or Rule of Rose could have easily given Silent Hill a strong run for its money.
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50While not the best example of the genre, "Silent Hill" and "Haunting Ground" fans would certainly find the story appealing and the gorgeous cut-scenes instil the chilling atmosphere that every horror game needs. It's just a shame that the gameplay is what ultimately lets Rule of Rose down.
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50Health items do almost nothing, and being killed by a boss means another go-round of fetch. Skip it. [Dec. 2006, p.82]
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Unfortunately, more often it's a frustrating experience that often muddies what would have been an atmospheric, wildly imaginative peek into the darker side of misguided children.
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Instead, you get a short, straightforward adventure game with predictable puzzles and tedious, sloppy combat. [Oct. 2006, p.113]
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40A triumph of botched execution, with almost every element it introduces to the game serving to undercut it.
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35The gameplay itself is clumsy and lends badly to the game's battles and the overall sound presentation was simply not too exciting. All I can say is avoid this game at all costs. Rule of Rose is no fun to play nor is it any fun to experience.
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35The sort of inspiration-deficient throwback that wore out its welcome long ago.
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Rule of Rose has almost nothing going for it other than sheer creepiness, and as you are probably aware, creepiness doesn't count for much.
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33Rule of Rose is more of a semi-interactive storybook than anything else, and everything that it does right in storytelling and atmosphere is completely nullified by boring and horribly broken gameplay.
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It's just a murky brew of meaningless, exploitative dysfunction filling an empty game, and it leaves a bitter taste. [Dec 2006, p.90]
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User score distribution:
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Positive: 9 out of 10
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Mixed: 1 out of 10
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Negative: 0 out of 10
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PaulA.9Great story its a masterpiece but unfortunately it goes really down by those controls and the stupid gameplay... But its still GREAT !!
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LeonardA.5Nice images, repetitive soundtracks, and boooooring gameplay!
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SnakeC.9A worthy adventure.