RIVE

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. TheSixthAxis
    Sep 22, 2016
    70
    Rive doesn’t quite reach its full potential, but shoot ’em up fans should give it a go anyway. The frustrating difficulty spikes are hard to ignore, but when it comes together, it’s a fantastic fast-paced corridor shooter which could have been considered one of the best 2D shooters in recent years. Either way, it’s a good send off and farewell for Two Tribes.
  2. Destructoid
    Sep 21, 2016
    70
    It's not the best game in its catalog, and the difficulty will be a turn-off for many, but Rive leaves its mark as one of the more challenging games of this generation. Gluttons for punishment will have no trouble eating it up, but others should satiate their appetite elsewhere.
  3. Push Square
    Sep 15, 2016
    70
    The charm, style, and sophistication by which it mixes up so many different styles successfully is a testament both to RIVE's great design and also some of the most beloved games of years gone by.
  5. God is a Geek
    Sep 13, 2016
    70
    While the difficulty won’t appeal to everyone, there’re plenty of obstacles to overcome especially if you thrive on one hell of a challenge.
  6. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Sep 20, 2016
    65
    Just because a game is hard, doesn’t mean it is gratifying. Though it certainly has moments of brilliance, these glimpses are few and far between. It also doesn’t help matters much when the borderline mean-natured presentation and combat mechanics continue to over-emphasize failures, instead of trumpeting successes.
  7. GameSpew
    Sep 25, 2016
    60
    Rive is responsive enough that nothing feels like a particular chore. I always felt that I could calculate instantly how far a jump will go and the twin stick shooting does not leave anything to desire.
  8. Twinfinite
    Sep 19, 2016
    60
    What RIVE does well is in its design of levels and enemies.
  9. PlayStation Country
    Sep 13, 2016
    60
    A twin stick, side-scrolling/platformer/shooter hybrid with an element of hacking and humour thrown in to add its own personality to things. If you're looking for a challenging game that doesn't ask you for perfection, then RIVE might just be what you're looking for. Just don't expect perfection from it either.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 22
  3. Negative: 5 out of 22
  1. sityoazzdown
    Sep 5, 2019
    8
    extraordinary action packed twitch based twin stick shooter. Good but mostly unfair platforming sections. 110% trial and error game. It'sextraordinary action packed twitch based twin stick shooter. Good but mostly unfair platforming sections. 110% trial and error game. It's challenging and sometimes unfair, but they have generous checkpoints and that alone counters the negatives for me.
    Pros: Challenging, generous checkpoints, action packed and a lot of explosions, fun.
    Cons: About an 4 hour game ( but that's usual for this genre), 110% trial and error game.
    Very challenging and fun-action packed twitch based shooter, wish this will become a franchise, but sadly wont.    … Full Review »
  2. BackupSidekick
    Sep 27, 2016
    9
    I am a very big fan of twin stick shooters and this was a big hit for me.
    Pros: Very Challenging, the handling was very smooth and    I am a very big fan of twin stick shooters and this was a big hit for me.
    Pros: Very Challenging, the handling was very smooth and responsive, the character designs were interesting
    Cons: some areas were incredibly difficult (I found it thoroughly enjoying, but for other players may be a problem) end boss seemed non-intuitive for how to defeat, main character seemed fun at beginning but lost appeal throughout the game.

    I play games for visual appeal, handling, and a good challenge. story line isn't as important to me. Expect a typical arcade style game play.    … Full Review »
  3. GayKlingon
    Sep 26, 2016
    9
    Fed up with space shooters giving you a helping hand well fret no more this game has one setting HARD
    the difficulty curve was designed by a    Fed up with space shooters giving you a helping hand well fret no more this game has one setting HARD
    the difficulty curve was designed by a sadist ...but you come back for more it has an addictive quality that edges off the frustration you feel when you die for the tenth time in a row by a millisecond
    the levels are well designed and the game is fast and furious and worthy of replaying dont worry if you cant hack it you get an easy mode offered to you at a cost hands out the best shooter ive played in a while    … Full Review »
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