RATUZ

Man was I surprised by just how awesome RATUZ turned out to be. This is a 2D horror puzzle platformer that got its hooks into me right from the first time I started playing it. It has many clear homages to past video games and movies which is something that I got a real kick out of. If you like horror video games, this has to be one that you check out. It is worth noting that over on steam there is a free demo of the game which means you have no reason not to give this game a try!

Experiments In A Prison? What Could Go Wrong?

The setting of the game is a dark and creepy prison. RATUZ though is not just set in any normal prison. There is a science lab here and in this science lab, they are doing all kinds of horrific experiments on the prisoners, one of which turns a prisoner into this hulking rat looking beast that wants to rip people apart and eat them. The thing is, that is just the tip of the iceberg about what is going on here! You will need to survive, but also find out the secrets of what exactly is going on here and why it is being allowed to happen.

Taking Inspiration From Some Of The Greats

The gameplay on offer here in RATUZ has been inspired by some of the classics of 2D puzzle platforming. They mention games like Prince of Persia, Another World, Inside, and Blackthorne. Honestly, that is probably the perfect way to look at what this game is like, in terms of both the good and the bad. The platforming can be a tad on the clunky side like in the original Prince of Persia. However, it is something that you can get used to and master.

Survive, Survive, Survive!

While you do not have any powerful weapons to keep the monsters, guards, and other prisoners at bay. You do have tour smarts to help you get through RATUZ. You can hide, run, deal with traps and also partake in some puzzle solving too. The gameplay is pretty damn decent, but there can be a slight “clunkiness” to everything that you can get used to, but I can see why it may turn some players off when they first start playing the game. There are multiple endings in the game so you do have a reason to play through it multiple times.

Maybe You Want To Die?

I love the art style that they have gone for here in RATUZ. I get some real John Carpenter’s The Thing vibes from the monster and also the whole way the game looks in general. The reason I say that you may want to die in the game is that it has some truly gruesome death animations in the game that are awesome. Even when you do die, you cannot help, but think “man that was cool” which does take away some of the frustration as you will die many times in the game.

Pros:

• I loved the prison setting
• The whole mystery about what is going on really appealed to me
• It pays homage to many of the classic 2D puzzle platformers
• The death animations are amazing!

Cons:

• The platforming can be a bit on the clunky side
• The game can be very challenging due to the design of some areas