Ronin

Other versions of Ronin have been updated to fix several potentially game-ruining bugs which are still present on GOG's version of the game. Devs haven't addressed this problem in spite of being asked to do so. Don't recommend supporting a dev who won't support their storefronts.

This game defines "cool". No single opponent is enough to take you down. Stun them from above, disable all enemies with a shuriken throw, kill from the shadows until you're spotted, and then it's turn-based hair-trigger action. Throw your sword to kill someone, and then recall it through the chest of another enemy. Jump from five storeys up to escape on your motorcycle? This game does it all. It's exciting when it works, which is a little more than half the time. There are bugs which might turn some people off. Half the time I'm afraid that, when I retract my grappling hook, I'll end up on the other side of a wall. Or worse yet, stuck inside a wall. If it happens during a 9-second countdown before an alarm is triggered, you can kiss your lead goodbye and you'll probably have to reload the last checkpoint. The jump arc is a little inaccurate, which makes your planning a little difficult. Worse yet, sometimes enemies shoot where there was no bullet trajectory marked, making the planning a complete gamble at times. When the game works, it's a lot of fun. If the controls were tightened, and the bugs ironed out, it would be a great little game. The level design is excellent. Oddly, the final level changes the rules suddenly, which isn't really great for feeling like you've conquered the game. However, it's designed to get you in the mood for a rampage, which isn't a bad way to end the game.

The game's concept is charming - the execution so bad I wonder how Devolver could publish it and GOG add it to their store. The game is basically ridden with bugs. Use the grappling hook? Be prepared to get stuck in walls. Throw your sword? Be prepared to never retrieve it. To top it off, the jumping mechanic and its randomness, behind the "clever tactical" glamour, made me feel more like a sticky ball in some approximative 2D mini-golf effort than a relentess assassin. The developper seems very happy with himself, as I am quoting, straight from the latest update changelog at the time of this writing: "- fixed wall glitch bug and by fix I mean I forbid you to exploit it and if you do it its now your fault". I'll leave it at that, and let you be your own judge.

An interesting take on action-strategy that generally works but some of the mechanics could have used some more development time. Technical note: 30 fps lock Outside of fights, time moves normally and Ronin is functionally a stealth game. Get seen or trigger an event and the action starts. It's turn-based, and has you leaping around with limited abilities as you dodge gunshots, trying to carefully position yourself so that enemies will miss as you get within melee range. This proves to be tricky as you have to ensure you're not shot by one of the other 5 people in the room while you kill the first one. Even so, it's mostly fun and very satisfying to do well. Pulling off a sequence like that isn't helped by the controls however, which for a game like this need to be tight, responsive and consistent. Instead, clicking a button to perform a specific action will occasionally do something else, jumping and grappling often have a mind of their own when dealing with walls, ceilings and pretty much any obstacle and close shaves become much more of a gamble when the hitbox sizes are unclear. All of that might sound frustrating - which it can be - but "might" turns to "definitely" when you add the forced "hints" that show up during almost every combat turn, throughout the whole game. There are 15 in total (more on that below) and they repeat endlessly. You can't turn them off, they're always noticeable and half of them aren't even real hints. The developer wanted to be "cute" and wrote obnoxious and sarcastic things like "These hints are really helpful" and "There is no way to turn off hints". Well, you know what Tomasz? Yes there is. I made a steam guide showing how to do it and then after a week it mysteriously disappeared, so to anyone wanting to turn them off, my guide video is still up here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8wNt44GBw8) In short, if you can handle some frustration and think this game sounds interesting, get it on sale. There isn't a ton of content.