Rule of Rose

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 113 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 113
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 113
  3. Negative: 2 out of 113
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  1. LeonardA.
    May 5, 2007
    5
    Nice images, repetitive soundtracks, and boooooring gameplay!
  2. Siddarta7
    Jun 25, 2020
    5
    Gameplay is utter garbage, the story might get you involved enough to finish it.
  3. Pfil
    Jul 16, 2006
    7
    Finally, a scary horror game! Ignoring some controller issues and especially difficult boss battles, Rule of Rose is friggin' creepy and interesting.
  4. Carlitoxic
    Jul 4, 2014
    5
    Aunque tiene un diseño artístico sublime, una música fabulosa y una historia truculenta e interesante, el apartado jugable es tan horrible como aburrido. Esta producción funciona más como película que como juego. Al que tratas de superar, con paciencia y tedio, para ver por donde va la interesante y bella trama.
  5. Basem101
    Aug 24, 2013
    6
    rule of rose isn't good and it is not bad the only good thing about this game that will keep you playing it is the story other than that it is horrible controls are bad game play repetitive and really difficult boss fights
  6. jcarl663
    Jan 20, 2016
    7
    Story is great. Really great.
    The ambiance and world building is great.
    The game play is not so great. Controls are clunky and combat is basically pointless to try. Boss fights are a slog.
    I don't remember the puzzles too much (which is telling on its own) but I don't recall them being particularly deep or clever.
  7. Miniqiqi
    Mar 8, 2019
    7
    Very unique story for a horror game. The art were also good at its time, at least not inferior to demento, clock tower and resident evil in the ps2 era. It also definitely stands out in terms of characterization, which is pretty lackluster in most ps2 games.

    What makes this game sub par is its game-play. If the navigation and combat are less frustrating this game can be one of the best    Very unique story for a horror game. The art were also good at its time, at least not inferior to demento, clock tower and resident evil in the ps2 era. It also definitely stands out in terms of characterization, which is pretty lackluster in most ps2 games.

    What makes this game sub par is its game-play. If the navigation and combat are less frustrating this game can be one of the best horror game.    … Expand
  8. Razzee
    May 25, 2019
    7
    Very intriguing storytelling, but both combat and item search systems are totally broken. It's very hard or impossible at times to defeat so many enemies. Backtracking is a routine, and 5 seconds worth of loading time separating you from the room next door also sum up to the frustration, thanks to having to use the dog to find every damn item. Aware of the poor combat mechanics in advanceVery intriguing storytelling, but both combat and item search systems are totally broken. It's very hard or impossible at times to defeat so many enemies. Backtracking is a routine, and 5 seconds worth of loading time separating you from the room next door also sum up to the frustration, thanks to having to use the dog to find every damn item. Aware of the poor combat mechanics in advance I went for the Rusty Sword to make my experience a bit less frustrating and I recommend anyone reading this to do so. From my understanding, the story is quite simple but how it is told is so convoluted and bizarre. One of the adults in the game is depicted as a pedophile, though it is not true... They did it so people would pay more attention to the game? No wonder it was banned everywhere. It's worth playing at least once, if you can overlook the broken combat and item search systems, but I didn't and still wouldn't pay what people are asking for an original copy nowadays. If you love Rule of Rose and want to show appreciation for their work, the only logic method to support the long gone Punchline in the current time is to buy their only other game, Chulip, digitally available as a PS2 Classic for the PS3. Supporting the studio founded by the director of RoR, Onion Games, is an option too. Buying an overpriced DVD that will inevitably rot away won't be of any help to them. Spend wisely. Taking everything good about RoR into account, I'm giving it a score of 7 because I refuse to believe that budget was a problem for the developers, since it was commissioned and published by Sony as an exclusive for their console. It deserved more love, and I honestly want to know what went wrong along the way for the game to be launched in such a unplayable state.… Expand
  9. dorohedorofan90
    Jan 16, 2022
    7
    Rule of Rose es un vehículo para contar una historia. Si buscas unas mecánicas jugables decentes no es tu juego, movimientos en tanque y unos controles que no responden como uno quisiera. Rule of Rose se adelanto a "The Last of Us II" en el tiempo por ser polémico y tratar temas como la pederastia, el abuso, o las relaciones tóxicas, o amor entre dos mujeres. Es una historia triste yRule of Rose es un vehículo para contar una historia. Si buscas unas mecánicas jugables decentes no es tu juego, movimientos en tanque y unos controles que no responden como uno quisiera. Rule of Rose se adelanto a "The Last of Us II" en el tiempo por ser polémico y tratar temas como la pederastia, el abuso, o las relaciones tóxicas, o amor entre dos mujeres. Es una historia triste y desagradable, donde todo se ve bajo la óptica de los niños. Estos representan la maldad pura. Pues no hay nada más puro que un niño. Bajo esta premisa Jeniffer, ira a un orfanato, donde la trama se ira hilando a través de situaciones en las que veremos como es sometida de manera sumisa a tratos vejatorios, bajo una manipulación constante de una secta llamada "El Club de los Aristócratas". Conforme la trama avance, la protagonista ira desbloqueando recuerdos de su subconsciente, mientras somos testigos de tramas secundarias de otros personajes en los cuales se nos contaran sus desgracias y miserias de manera sutil. Para este trayecto con control de tanque y movimientos ortopédicos contaremos con la ayuda de "Brown", que será nuestro perro guía y será un recurso de orientación constante, además de jugar un papel importante en la trama.

    No destriparé la trama, porque creo que Rule of Rose merece al menos jugarlo una vez en la vida. Con precios desorbitados por los especuladores, y miles de teorías que desgranan su mensaje y significado, Rule of Rose se ha convertido en un juego de culto del cual aun se debate y que en su día genero rechazo por parte de los medios. Un juego incomprendido que quizás adaptado a una novela, tv, u otro tipo de formato podría haber tenido un impacto cultural de mayor rango, pero que no fue así en su día.    … Expand
  10. Senjiro
    Aug 15, 2022
    7
    every things in this game regarding the story, characters, and atmosphere is AMAZING, but the gameplay is so rough, it definitely needed a lot of work, but it was a good horror experience.

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
16
#16 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 44
  3. Negative: 7 out of 44
  1. PSM2 Magazine UK
    58
    Worryingly disturbing, but just as worryingly patchy to play. A masterpiece of oddness that makes for a malnourished and sluggish video game. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.62]
  2. NTSC-uk
    50
    While not the best example of the genre, "Silent Hill" and "Haunting Ground" fans would certainly find the story appealing and the gorgeous cut-scenes instil the chilling atmosphere that every horror game needs. It’s just a shame that the gameplay is what ultimately lets Rule of Rose down.
    Read full review
  3. AceGamez
    90
    Action junkies looking for the next Resident Evil might find the pace a little slow, and the core gameplay doesn't do anything wildly different, but this is still a wonderful psychological thriller that will draw you in with its bizarrely compelling narrative, atmospheric presentation and thoughtful story-based gameplay.
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