Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Rururi Ra Rura blends platforming precision with brain-teasing puzzles in a sprawling, maze-like underground world. You guide the young swordsman Axid and his companion Reinas, a fairy magician, through interconnected caverns, switching roles at strategic camps to exploit each character’s unique skill set. Axid’s sword can sever ropes and wooden barriers, while Reinas wields fire magic to thaw frozen passages.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

As you progress, additional allies join the party—each unlocking fresh traversal options. A long-jumping frog, a liquid entity that seeps through narrow gaps, and other whimsical beings transform earlier environments into playgrounds for creative problem solving. Encouraging exploration, every new recruit motivates return trips to previous areas to unearth hidden exits or secret items.

Combat is woven seamlessly into exploration, pitting you against environmental hazards and diverse enemies. Standard foes fall to either melee strikes or character-specific spells, and each boss battle unfolds on its own arena, challenging you to adapt your tactics. Scattered healing items and stat boosters keep the experience balanced, ensuring neither puzzles nor fights overstay their welcome.

Graphics

Visually, Rururi Ra Rura exudes charming fantasy vibes. The art direction favors soft, hand-drawn textures that lend warmth to damp caverns, ice-coated tunnels, and bioluminescent grottos. Character designs are adorable and distinct, making it easy to identify each hero’s silhouette and abilities at a glance.

Environmental detail shines in subtle touches: rippling water reflections, flickering torchlight, and cascading crystal formations. Every locale feels unique, from mushroom-lined passages to ornate shrine rooms. These varied backdrops not only support the narrative but also help players orient themselves in the labyrinthine map.

Performance is rock-solid on modern hardware, with smooth animations and fluid transitions between character swaps. Magic effects—like Reinas’s fiery blasts or the liquid hero’s shapeshifting—pop on screen without ever feeling cluttered. Even on lower-end devices, load times remain minimal, allowing uninterrupted immersion.

Story

The tale begins simply: Axid, a wandering swordsman, spots a mysterious girl encased in a bubble above a tranquil lake. When he dives in to rescue her, he plunges into a vast underground realm filled with imprisoned creatures. His first act of heroism frees Reinas, the fairy magician, setting the stage for a quest to liberate others.

Each liberated ally unveils a fragment of the world’s backstory, suggesting an ancient power that trapped these beings in crystal prisons. Dialogue snippets between rescues hint at a hidden overlord and lost lore, offering just enough intrigue to keep players invested without derailing the gameplay flow.

While the narrative remains light compared to heavy RPG epics, it excels at motivating exploration. Uncovered journals and environmental clues piece together the underground’s history, and boss encounters often reveal new twists. This balance ensures that story and puzzle-platforming complement rather than compete with one another.

Overall Experience

Rururi Ra Rura delivers a rewarding fusion of platforming, puzzles, and light combat, all wrapped in a captivating fairy-tale aesthetic. The steady drip of new characters and abilities maintains a fresh sense of discovery, while the interconnected world design encourages creative backtracking and secret hunting.

The game’s moderate difficulty curve makes it accessible to newcomers, yet the more intricate puzzles and hidden areas will challenge completionists. With hundreds of camps to revisit and stat boosters to collect, there’s ample incentive to re-explore every nook and cranny.

Ultimately, Rururi Ra Rura stands out as a thoughtful, engaging platformer-puzzler. Its charming visuals, varied gameplay mechanics, and light yet compelling storyline create a cohesive package. Fans of character-driven puzzles and exploratory worlds will find plenty to love in this underground adventure.

Retro Replay Score

null/10