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Ruler of the Sands (Demo) by Astraf

ddaring_dash 10 10 10 10
DJ Full 7 7 8 8
eRIC 7 7 9 9
Phil 8 8 9 9
Ryan 7 7 9 9
tuxraider 7 7 8 8
 
release date: 30-Aug-2023
# of downloads: 2334

average rating: 8.25
review count: 6
 
review this level

file size: 128.00 MB
file type: TR4
class: Egypt
 


author profile(s):
email(s):
tristantmwastraf@gmail.com

Reviewer's comments
"Interesting demo , not too long. There is a sort of tutorial not mandatory, the player having the choice to do things sometimes differently from the regular path indicated by the exclamation marks. I think the gameplay and cameras are clever here and user friendly for the player. The sounds are pretty good, maybe there is too many pickups and switches in the half flooded room but aside from that it's pretty good and promising." - eRIC (15-Oct-2023)
"A level with an actual tutorial which, when fully grown, may become a good starter for new players. I'm not a fan of damage bar mechanics, be it freeze, heat, air etc., but even I was able to proceed here so it shouldn't be too annoying. It's also a very good map to re-enter the streamer mode since it's too short to cause any serious issues - and of minor ones, I would just half the HP of every enemy. Recommended." - DJ Full (16-Sep-2023)
"Very short demo. It looks very promising. But unless you want to give feedback to the builder, it's probably better to wait for the finished thing. The level suddenly cuts off randomly, after I've picked up some ammo which I didn't get the chance to use.
  • Everything looks consistently good with a nice atmosphere. The sandstorm adds to it.
  • Gameplay starts very simple. It gives you hints how to use custom moves. The gameplay ensures the player knows how to use them, before advancing to more complex areas. This is a good idea.
  • The hints could be nicer on a technical level. The player should be able to read them again, instead of disappearing forever. It shouldn't block input until you close it.
  • I found the puzzle in the water area completely trivial, which is OK for the beginning. The sandstorm part was harder, because I didn't get that I missed an area, and wondered where to use the key items.
  • The sandstorm is probably an obstacle for beginners in general, due to the low visibility and time limit. But it's still within the relatively easy difficulty of the entire level.
  • I didn't like the use of the long jump (I suspect this is a custom move but I could be wrong). It seems unnecessarily complicated and hard.
  • The boulder can be released only with the shotgun and not the pistols. It wasn't a problem for me, but it seems illogical.
  • It was disappointing that it ended so soon, so I was definitely into it.
" - tuxraider (07-Sep-2023)
"This demo cannot really score too highly with it being as brief as it is, but it must be said that the setting is really well done, progression is relatively smooth and the sandstorm effect is nicely executed. Gameplay is fairly simple and minimal but entertaining enough for the duration. I think the finished version may be worth a look at." - Ryan (04-Sep-2023)
"Very promising demo! I liked the original sandstorm mechanics. You feel that you are really exploring the location and that danger awaits at every corner. Very nice visual component. Textures and lighting are great. Looking forward to the release of the full version!" - ddaring_dash (02-Sep-2023)
"A fairly massive (174MB) download for a rather brief demo (less than 20 minutes for the glitch-free videos), but 100MB of this is consumed by the sound files which will presumably enjoy wider use in the full game. It's well done, as is the case for this builder's other levels, and the sandstorm segment with the howling winds and Lara kicking up some dust with each step was especially realistic. There are four secrets that provide valuable weapons for dealing with all the bugs, bats and scorpions you encounter, along with a couple of crocodiles thrown in for good measure. There's also a nice underwater sequence to obtain the second Scarab Talisman. The ending was rather abrupt, but it also serves as a nice teaser to makes us look forward to release of the full game." - Phil (02-Sep-2023)