PGC NEWS

RIVE, developed by Two Tribes, offers a fresh take on the classic platformer genre. This twin-stick shooter throws players into a sci-fi world brimming with challenges and explosive action. This review explores the game’s engaging gameplay, striking visuals, and demanding difficulty.

Thrilling Gameplay and Intense Action

RIVE-danh-gia-game (3)

RIVE sets players loose as a nimble drone exploring abandoned space stations teeming with traps and hostile machines. The sci-fi setting immerses players in a world of metal, sparks, and relentless combat. The core gameplay seamlessly blends twin-stick shooting with run-and-gun platforming, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. While the level design isn’t overly complex and the drone’s movement capabilities are relatively straightforward, the game still presents unique and exciting challenges.

The drone’s primary weapon is a rapid-fire machine gun, offering a good balance of speed and power. Throughout the game, players can upgrade their arsenal with secondary weapons like cluster missiles and EMP bombs at upgrade stations, enhancing their survivability and combat effectiveness.

A unique gameplay element is the ability to hack enemy systems. By unlocking secret documents after defeating bosses, the drone can turn enemies into allies, providing invaluable support. These hacked companions can range from healing drones to powerful turrets, offering strategic advantages during intense firefights.

Visually Stunning and Detailed World

RIVE-danh-gia-game (5)

RIVE’s visuals are a standout feature. The side-scrolling perspective combined with 3D environments creates a visually rich and engaging world. Two Tribes has masterfully crafted a mechanical world filled with automated doors, molten metal pits, and electrifying defense systems.

The game’s combat effects are particularly impressive. The satisfying recoil of continuous fire, the impactful explosions, and the screen-shaking blasts add a visceral layer to the gameplay, making each encounter feel impactful and exciting.

The character design, featuring the quirky drone and its various adversaries, also deserves mention. While primarily composed of metal and circuits, the enemies manage to convey a surprising amount of personality, adding a layer of charm to the game’s robotic world.

A Brutally Challenging Experience

RIVE-danh-gia-game (6)

Platformers are notorious for their difficulty, and RIVE is no exception. This game presents a significant challenge, stemming from a combination of factors. Unlike characters in other platformers like Megaman or Donkey Kong, the drone lacks wall-climbing abilities. And unlike Mario, there are no power-ups to enhance movement. Players are left with basic running and a double jump, often leading to frustrating deaths from swarms of robotic bats, spike traps, or falls into molten metal.

Adding to the difficulty, enemies are numerous and aggressive, appearing from all directions and constantly keeping players on their toes. The drone’s limited firepower and finite missile supply can often feel inadequate against the relentless onslaught. Health and shield pickups are scarce, making survival even more precarious.

Thankfully, RIVE offers unlimited respawns and frequent checkpoints, mitigating some of the frustration. Without these features, the game’s difficulty might prove overwhelming for many players.

Conclusion

RIVE is a thrilling and visually impressive twin-stick shooter platformer. Its engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and challenging difficulty create a memorable experience. While the high difficulty may deter some players, those seeking a demanding and rewarding platforming experience will find much to enjoy in RIVE’s mechanical world.