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Ruiner Comes to Xbox One and Windows 10 with XPA Support September 26

The dark world of Rengkok City wouldn’t allow for much hospitality. Especially to someone like you: an outlaw, hunted for the attempt on the life of the Boss of Heaven, the leading virtual reality entertainment corporation. You were hacked to do that, and your brother was kidnapped as an insurance. If you want to get him back and redeem yourself, you’ll have to be violent. And prepared.

With Ruiner coming out September 26 on Xbox One and Windows 10 with Xbox Play Anywhere support — buy once and play on both PC and console — let’s dig a little bit deeper into the quirks and subtleties of the game. Its gameplay is mostly fast-paced and brutal combat. However, it varies depending on your approach, the many deadly tools you have at your disposal and that you can develop different play styles depending on your setup.

Ruiner Screenshot

Guns and Blades

Your basic weapons are the Ruiner gun and a rusty pipe. As you learn how to handle them, you’ll have the opportunity to develop the former and exchange the latter for something deadlier (you can pick up any weapon dropped by your fallen foes). There are over 20 weapons in the game and they offer you all the variety you can handle, from single shot to area of effect, bouncing bullets, sonic waves, freezing, flaming, electrifying or bursting with fountains of projectiles. Some are super rare and have unique upgrades — these are usually created by a device called the Weapon Grinder which recycles the gear scattered after a battle. If you like rare, exotic weapons, you’ll be able to call a supply drone that will fetch you any gun or blade on the menu. You can also use the drone as a surprise! weapon: marking the landing zone right on the enemies’ heads.

Abilities and Upgrades

But even the most powerful weapons are of little use against enemies who can outsmart you. That’s when your Abilities come in. Your wetware and its circuits have a great potential for development and it would be a waste not to use it. The Shield and Dash that you acquire at the start are just that — the start. However you want to deal with your present or future foes – you have the means to do it.

Ruiner Screenshot

You want to deal with them personally? Strengthen your blades and unlock Power Attack: Focused Slash shock wave for one handed weapons, or a grinding Whirlwind for the two-handed melee weapons. Upgrade your Shield that can stun or kill everyone that stands in your way with one blow. If you’re more of a gun fanboy, go for Grid Converter which helps you manage your basic resources — health, energy, ammunition — enabling almost an infinite flow of projectiles. If a more tactical approach is your thing, Kinetic Barriers and Ghost Break will give you the space and time to think and plan ahead. And watch your ex-foes puppets fight for you. Which is quite a treat.

You can always change your mind. If your setup doesn’t work for you anymore, or you’re simply bored with it, reset your build and combine a new one from over a dozen abilities plus 50 upgrades. Any time you want. Even within a timeframe of one battle.

So, go ahead, mix & match and show them who’s boss!