Ruffy and the Riverside has always looked rather striking with its 2D characters in a colourful 3D world, and while its aesthetic is a strength, the game itself doesn’t really match it.

This is an open-ended 3D platformer with a unique swap mechanic, which lets you copy certain textures and apply them to other objects — turning water into lava, for example. It’s a great idea and very novel early on, but sadly feels underutilised in the grand scheme of things.

It never really evolves beyond quite basic puzzle-solving, and feels oddly limited. You can only copy specific textures, and they can only be pasted onto specific objects and surfaces, meaning the number of meaningful applications is actually quite small.

It’s a real shame, because the game has a lot to see and do. There are puzzles and characters everywhere, dotted around a fun map to explore.

Unfortunately, it looks more fun than it is; a combination of slippy controls and underwhelming mechanics makes for a game that just feels undercooked.

That’s not to say there’s a lack of variety or imaginative ideas, but it’s missing a cohesion and polish to bring it all together.

On top of this is a story that’s given far more prominence than it should. It’s a very simple tale that sets up Ruffy for his adventure, but there are more cutscenes and dialogue boxes than you might expect, and the narrative just doesn’t have the substance for it.

There’s a certain charm to the characters and the writing, but it all feels quite thin.

Ultimately, Ruffy and the Riverside is a game we wanted to like, but despite its attractive visual style and unique ideas, it never really comes together in a satisfying way. While there’s some fun to be had running around in the semi-open world, it never evolves beyond that.