Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Reviews
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a game that masterfully combines the management of a farm and the cultivation of rice, with 2D areas with hack'n slash mechanics where we will fight with dozens of demons while obtaining resources for the farm. An endearing story awaits us with very well written characters and a fairly interesting representation of Japanese rural culture and its associated mythology. With this cover letter you have to give it a go.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sakuna of Rice and Ruin is, at the end of the day, a game that dips its hands into the realm of RPG, sidescrolling hack-n-slash, platforming, and farming simulator. It reaches into so many baskets and does so to great success.
It’s a solid and certainly unique game that can be quite enjoyable when approached with the right expectations.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin picks you up pretty good at the beginning with some great characters, a bit of charme and a thoughtful rice cultivation simulation. It sadly it loses a lot of it with repetitive gameplay design and action-rpg elements which make a lot of the tasks a bit tedious.
Review in German | Read full review
They have managed to combine with perfect balance the 2D side-scrolling action with the 3D farming simulation.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Overall, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a very unique experience. The game mixes an action game with a pretty robust farming simulator and the results are pretty solid. The farming is very tedious at first, but it is great watching Sakuna grow and improve with each harvest. The combat is fast and fun, even if there are some issues with platforming aspects. The storytelling is great with a cast of likable characters that you will grow to love in your over 20 hours of gameplay. I think this one needed just a bit more polish, but I still think it is worth a go for anyone looking for something a bit different. Its charms really do outweigh its faults by a lot, and is well worth the $39.99 asking price.
A gorgeous take on Japanese mythology with a side of relaxing farming, educational lessons, and of course action!
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin manages to deliver some great farming and solid action gameplay but falls short in both areas in different ways.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, while not completely free of faults, is both a relaxing and rewarding experience.
There are sometimes games you run into that can be a bit perplexing, that take a chance to combine genres or elements into a new experience that has merit but at the same time you can't help but question who it's really for...
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin combines 2 very different genres into one rewarding experience and its heartwarming story is the icing on the cake. It may become a little tedious after a while but the journey is still worth partaking in for those who enjoy unique games.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a bold genre fusion that pays off with superb farming and combat systems plus a cast of characters you'll remember for a long time to come.
Now if only I could catch more frogs...
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a genuine cultural artefact. It never forgets the need to be entertaining and engaging, but every facet of the game is invested in communicating the Japanese cultural perspective on the world, from how we see the divine, to the respect that we should hold for the very staples that sustain us. This is a game that transcends the conventional expectations of video games, to deliver something much grander and more inherently valuable than passive entertainment to consume.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is more complex than one might expect, which is a pleasant surprise. The delicate and relaxing art of rice farming juxtaposed against the smooth and fast-paced combat makes this a unique but wholly engaging adventure. While combat can be a bit of slog until Sakuna has more abilities up her sleeve, it’s worth persevering with, because the result is a side-scrolling action title unlike no other.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a game divided into two very well designed and distinct parts, but which at the same time are able to relate in a very cohesive and functional whole. Sometimes, it has a preciosity in the narrative cadence, but it has great mechanics both in combat and cultivation, a charming story and very good visuals.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
This game is the perfect mix of an RPG, 2D Platformer and farming simulator that you can find. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin looks and sounds great and has a great story that will make you care about all the characters.
The realistic, in depth elements of rice farming combined with honing fighting skills plus surprising character revelations and development make Sakuna of Rice and Ruin a magnificent game. Sakuna's personal growth is a pleasure to watch. Her reason for living is tested to the limit, she learns to serve others rather than herself, and has to make a sacrifice that she would not have made if faced with the same decision at the start of the game. The balanced emphasis on farming and fighting provides a great variety of tasks to undertake, providing dozens of hours of fun. The delay in the game's original planned release was worth the wait.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin works well on all levels. The action segments are a treat thanks to their fast pace, since they deliver an experience that matches up with other fast-paced action titles. The farming segments are interesting because they're so involved and go into so much detail that the title surpasses all but the most dedicated farming simulator titles. When combined, the experience is fantastically balanced - provided you can deal with the slower overall progression rate. In the end, Sakuna is a great title that delivers on a unique experience.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a marvellous game. Pulling together two genres in a fun and unique way, you're left with a game quite unlike anything before it. Give it a shot, you'll find it more than worth the wait.