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Blending styles and doing something a bit different than the norm is common in the indie space and it’s a calculated risk. The desire is no doubt to deliver an experience that feels fresh and new, but then there are times when the effort falls flat. At least for me that’s where Rack n’ Ruin falls, with an action RPG kind of vibe but what felt like some roguelike shooter sensibilities thrown in as well. What is disappointing is that as crucial as accuracy can be when facing down a ton of enemies I found myself opting for a melee weapon whenever possible since I found the shooting is aggravatingly imprecise. Couple that with items and other elements you acquire not being explained well in any way and requiring experimentation to try to understand and the experience loses some of its luster as you periodically flounder. The elements of a solid game are all here with a reasonably funky story and lead character plus a solid art style but I just couldn’t get fully behind the experience.
Justin Nation, Score:Fair [6.4]