Ruzar - The Dark Stones

Ruzar – The Dark Stones is a fantastic dungeon crawler that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves the genre. For me, it’s definitely on the list of the best dungeon crawlers. The game world is massive, consisting of countless areas with distinct graphics and atmospheres. The number of secret passages and cleverly hidden locations is staggering, and the level design is truly outstanding, even within the genre. Almost every NPC you encounter in the game has their own story, which you can experience if you recruit them into your party. This means that beyond the main gameplay, there are countless hours of extra adventures waiting for you if you wish to immerse yourself further in the magical world of Ruzar. One of the game’s strengths is that alongside the action-packed adventures, you can always retreat to a friendly village or the castle to "catch your breath," repair your equipment, craft new items, or take on side quests from the village craftsmen. The game’s visuals divide the community due to their unique style, but I personally grew to love the comic-book-like approach, which didn’t detract from my experience at all. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed the graphics across the various locations. As for criticism, I can only mention two points: First, the enemies scale with your level, so your improved gear is the main factor that makes combat easier as you progress, while your character's level becomes less relevant. Second, the endgame feels a bit easy—it could have included more puzzles or tougher enemies to challenge players further. Overall, however, Ruzar 2 is a richly detailed dungeon crawler set in a magical world, with complex gameplay and plenty of optional side content. It successfully delivers on nostalgia while meeting modern expectations. I also wholeheartedly recommend the first game, which, while shorter, is just as strong in terms of atmosphere!

*Finished off-line* This is a beauty of a grid dungeon game, and loved every minute of it. Bought it on Steam just to leave a grateful and admiring review. This game is a labor of love, and kudos to the dev. A really dedicated and accesible person, and has updated and added to the game with a will as very few do, as you can see in the updates history. Not just dungeons, as you adventure and defend yourself in forests, mines, swamps, ruined cities, sea coast, you name it, it is here ! So different but liked it even more than the previous loved Ruzar the Life Stone -no story relation-. --- Disclosure and spoilers: 69 y.o. impaired gamer, so for others like me so they can enjoy this excellent game fully. Used C.E.: - All Type 4 Bytes, Exact: Stats Points: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, Luck. Health Max and remaining. Magic Max and remaining. Experience. Various items: Wood branches, Feathers, Iron Slabs, Coal, etc - Type Float, tick simple values: Oxygen. Durability Torch, Weapons, etc, can replace with 9999

A wonderful dungeon crawler! Comparable to Legends of Grimrock 2 (as it has big outdoor areas besides countless dungeons) You can switch between party members anytime to find your perfect style. Each companion has a dedicated story quest to follow and explore. This game offers so much. I never saw a game with so many secrets and loot all over the place. You can clearly see how much love went into this game. The skill system is very detailed with lots to spend and a wide range of possibilities. As well as the magic system. The crafting system is where this game shines. So much to collect, find out and discover. You can create or improve your own weapons/armor/potions/etc. Or Dismantle items to gain even more items. NPC´s in the maps give you additional sidequests as well, if you are hunting XP :) Very much to do. Thanks to editable automap and auto questbook at all times, you keep focused and can concentrate on your way. Like others already have mentioned, the world is build very detailed with flying birds around and spawns material for your crafting pleasure again and again on random spots. It has fast travel system as well. And hideouts, which holds your additional items, which you have access to in each important area. One of the best dungeon crawlers in Legend of Grimrock universe and a fantastic sequel to: Ruzar - The Life Stone Great job. And last but not least: The developer is working tirelessly on fixing bugs, that are reported and always helps you out in the Steam forums. More than that, he also listens to suggestions and wishes from fans. 2 thumbs up!

A non-intuitive mess. If you can get past the lego-looking graphics, the controls, spell casting, and constant road blocks may ruin your fun instead. I have no patience for collecting dozens of random things to fix a ladder to get to some other platform that may or may not help continue my quest. At one point I had so many quests built up, a villager told me to finish some of my current quests before I could get another. The developer says you don't have to do the crafting or side quests to finish the game, but it's impossible to know what's what. The characters you pick up in your party will randomly say things that have nothing to do with what you're currently trying to accomplish. You can be in a forest area and one will randomly blurt out "watch your step in these mines!" like that has anything to do with what you're currently doing.... The combat is your typical "dance around the enemy" that's implemented in a lot of real-time dungeon crawlers. It would be fine, except if you clear out an area and return...the exact same enemies will be back. It wouldn't be so bad but if you're like me you'll be going back to a number of the same locations again checking to see what you've missed to get past one of the many roadblocks in the game. I see a lot of time and love put in to this, but I can't help but feel disappointed as I really liked the first game in the series which came out a decade ago. Your mileage may vary with this one, but I can't personally recommend it. It seems like a game that made sense for the developer to play but not intuitive at all for someone who isn't understanding what's in the developer's head.

Ok I am really enjoying this game. Been playing it for a few days now. Great addition to the genre and this is one of my favorite genres to play. I have the first game and it scratches that itch but this one expands on the genre I think. At first I saw this and was not sure about the art change from the first one as well as what I was reading about crafting and other changes but man I am having fun. There secrets are everywhere and the crafting doesn't overstay its welcome as I am not big into crafting games but I don't mind this crafting at all actually. It is a way to open up the world an enhance your party but doesn't take a long time to craft anything and I can get back to the adventure very fast. There are a couple of small quest update bugs I encountered but nothing game breaking at all. One improvement I would like to see is to get rid of the distant objects blurry view. I would like to enjoy the distant view more in the future but I was able to clean it up with Nvidia control panel settings and I am still enjoying myself with those settings. I don't usually review games much but this one is good if you like this type of dungeon crawler. Lots to do and plenty of secrets and enemies to fight. Keep making games please.

Buen dungeon crawler de la vieja escuela, aunque no lo ponga esta traducido al CASTELLANO por una IA

Deffinately takes some getting used too, but I loved the first game "The Life Stones" and while that was a Single character, now we get 4 to a party! It's a little rough if you don't know how to move around enemies in the beginning, but after you get a couple party members its much easier to handle things.

** Modified *** WAS REALLY ENJOYING GAME!! i Quit playing because... (RAGED QUIT MORE LIKE IT) ...got far into game with out finding a two handed weapon in game when i spent points in the skill ...if cant rescue mage in beginning (not sure if its possible later) so if you dont start as one you wont get one as a companion. ...information on something as simple as trying TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE HELL TO MAKE A CAMPFIRE was impossible to find. ... I GAVE UP ON TRYING TO RESCURE THE MAGES FROM PRISON WARD NO INFORMATION ANY WHERE! So no mage or two handed weapons for a long time into game... GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIND INFORMATION ON ANYTHING ABOUT GAME.....

Very good game, similar to Might and Magic VIII. A good formula so far; I wish to see more games in this format.

Nice game if u like rpg's . Not too mutch help ,you must find a lot by yourself. But thats a good point. Developer is very helpful and works 24/7 ;)