Rule No. 1 | PS4 Review

Welcome to a game that's about as desperate as an e-girl flashing her naughty bits on a game streaming service for the resident simps' hard earned cash. This collection of mini-games, or modes if you so prefer, is as about basic as it gets. Including competitive score based mini-modes centered around a cringe worthy one-liner spewing female protagonist whose heart health determines her stay in the arena this blend of arcade antics is about as shallow as this intro paragraph reads. 

I speak of none other than EastAsiaSoft's "Rule No.1". A first person arena shooter, and arcade basketball sim wherein skill is determined by one's ability to beat an unfair undertaking filled with Bouncy Bois, and zombified girls who are out for blood. Armed with a pistol, and whatever other guns she can pick up our nameless heroine strafes around limited 3D space blasting the fool out of whatever comes her way. Additionally taking a break to shoot some hoops as if she were trying to win tickets for prizes at Chuck E. Cheese's pizza joint.

Featuring five mini-game focused modes dependent upon two separate sets of mechanics "Rule No.1" tries to sell the allure of sexual imagery, and taunting e-girl voice acting as a worthy enough cause to pay the price for entry. While you get four arena modes with similar premises, albeit different weapons of choice and heart health, as well as a basketball free shooter mode the game collectively does not add up to actual fun. 

Included among the leaderboard based modes in 'Rule No.1' is 'Comp', 'Arcade', 'Bouncy Bois Only', 'Basketball', and 'God Stilletos'. With Comp, Arcade, Bouncy Bois Only, and God Stiletto the end goal is all the same. You have to shoot the enemy targets using your weapons while surviving wave after wave of said enemies. You are limited by heart health, and with certain modes like Arcade, Bouncy Bois Only, and God Stilletos you heart health counters number 5 in total. Depleting one by one with each enemy contact. Leaving Comp mode to be the odd one out with only three hearts of health. 

Between each wave in these previously mentioned modes there will be three green boxes, and three red boxes set to either side of the playing field. Breaking the green ones open with bullets or stilletos will gift you the gallery unlock currency you are trying to collect to unlock images of the main character with. Alternatively the red boxes, when destroyed, will gift a heart refill as well as a random gun for use in the arena. Things like auto-rifles, and pump action shotguns. 

The arena, itself, which is a small tiled platform in the center area surrounded on four sides by enemy spawning doorways, and decorative designs is where your movement is restricted to. As the waves begin enemies will spawn from all four sides of this center stage, and either bounce towards you or chase after you like a mindless zombie hungry for brains. Dependent upon the mode type. Your goal is to survive, and kill as many of these enemies as possible. Ultimately turning your kill count into your leaderboard placement.

With the tacked on 'Basketball' mode this style of arcade-like gameplay is thrown completely out the window for a basketball free shooter style of experience. Here you will try to outpace the countdown timer by shooting 1 pointers, or three pointers from any place on the court around the goal. Doing so will not only net you the given points or score, but will also increase the timer, and your level. Levels increase every couple of landed shots. This mode is also infinite, and to stop you must opt out by backing out to the main menu via the OPTIONS button. At said main menu three main options exist including a Continue option, New Game option, and the Leaderboard. Continue allows you to continue the previous mode you were playing whereas New Game allows you to pick up and play a new mode. Leaderboard is, of course, where your worth as a player is held, and it is an online leaderboard. 

Visually, and audibly the developer of "Rule No.1" went for a new age style graphics design. Joining 2D animated sprites in the form of the weapon shown or the protagonists arms/hands as well as the zombie girls. This is mixed with 3D enemies, and an overall 3D environmental design. Making for a Quake style arena shooter appearance. Outside of that there is voice acting with a female voice actor giving out of place, and randomly generated one-liners that in no way help the game's appeal. That coupled with the more modern electronic soundtrack does little to evoke favor in regards to this game's overall rating.

The Verdict ...

You could likely tell from the start of this review that I was not impressed at all with what "Rule No.1" turned out to be. It felt like a small collection of throw away mini-games that did not inspire me to compete further for that top leaderboard spot. It felt too minimalistic in design, and reeked of low effort on the developers part. I cannot find one redeeming part of this game, and that's kind of sad. Even with it being a budget buy it's a hard no for me. I cannot, in good faith, recommend this game. It feels like the shady dealings of the e-girl and simp community made manifest. You've got to be super simping to want to grind to unlock the art or even enjoy it.