Brutal fights in the world of Vikings. Before God of War: Ragnarok came along, we had Rune from Prey creators

Human Head Studios is a team that has indelibly influenced the video game industry. Although they didn’t achieve their first significant success until 2006 with the launch of Prey, which turned out to be their only major hit, they released other games in the interim. One such game was Rune, an action-adventure title that, with a nod towards the future, could be seen as a precursor to the God of War series that debuted in 2018 and its sequel, God of War: Ragnarok.

Brutal world of Vikings

In this retelling, Rune brought us into the realm of the Vikings where we assumed the role of Ragnar’s son. Our adventure began as our village came under attack by hostile forces led by Conrack. A rival clan sought to manipulate the runes in an attempt to free Loki, hoping to gain his favor and control over Midgard in exchange.

In another phrasing, here’s how it could read: Ragnar, the relentless Viking, attempted to challenge Conrack but failed miserably. He came close to losing his life during the raid, but luckily for him, Odin intervened before his demise. Odin bestowed upon him a mission, one that aimed to restore the ancient order in Midgard, before the situation spiraled further out of control. In essence, our objective was to aid Ragnar in accomplishing his goals.

Bloody bath

In Rune, we followed the story primarily through the perspective of the main character, venturing into ominous environments filled with excitement. As we progressed, we encountered numerous foes such as draugrs, dwarves, and aggressive Vikings, vanquishing them along our journey.

In the heart of the game, the battle was essential, and within it, Ragnar relied on close-quarters weapons such as swords, axes, hammers, and blunt objects like maces. As we advanced through the game, our weapons grew more powerful, and their escalating might was evident in their increasing size. Despite the presence of shields, at a certain stage, Ragnar’s weapon became so immense that he needed to use both hands to wield it, causing him to abandon the use of this protective measure.

Moreover, what transpired later on was that Ragnar still had opportunities to eliminate adversaries by employing various tools. For instance, torches found on the ground were useful, but it’s important to note that Ragnar could also utilize dismembered limbs as weapons. Nevertheless, the weapon primarily discussed in this context was significant due to its connection with a specific rune power that needed preliminary charging to be activated. Additionally, we discovered the Berserker mode, which amplified Ragnar’s offensive capabilities against opponents and enhanced his resilience against attacks.

Even though Rune wasn’t classified as a slasher, the combat system designed by Human Head Studios could still be enticing. The attacks were connected to the directions Ragnar moved, offering some diversity and visually appealing with thrusts, cuts, swings, and even spinning attacks. When we grew tired of close combat, there was an option to eliminate enemies from afar, either by hurling weapons at them or using whatever was available on hand at the moment.

Not just a solo adventure

In the core of Rune lies its story-driven campaign, which allowed us to traverse lands familiar from Norse mythology (even Helheim) and various regions in Midgard. Despite the developers’ efforts to weave an engaging tale, it’s undeniable that the gameplay eventually overshadowed the plot.

Reflecting on it now, it must be acknowledged that the pace of events wasn’t quite as rapid as it appeared during the launch of the game “Rune“. The environments we traversed tended to have a sequential layout, and there were instances where there was minimal activity on the screen.

The Rune campaign, clocking in at 9 to 13 hours (as per HowLongToBeat), wasn’t the only attraction of the game. Additionally, Rune boasts a competitive multiplayer mode that significantly prolonged its playtime. Although it may not rival the intensity of Unreal Tournament, it remains an enjoyable experience to engage in.

Unreal engine

I bring up Unreal Tournament intentionally as it was built on the same Unreal technology used in this production. At the time of its debut, Rune was highly acclaimed for its exceptional graphics, particularly its animations and lighting. However, much of the initial charm has faded over time. Although the character movements still appear smooth, playing the game can be frustrating due to most areas being too dark, making the visuals seem drab and gloomy. It’s worth noting that Rune was released 25 years ago, giving it ample opportunity to age.

What happened next?

Back in October 2000, I found myself immersed in the captivating world of “Rune” on PC. The game resonated deeply with both players and critics alike, which led us, the developers, to seize this momentum by concocting an extension titled Halls of Valhalla. The pièce de résistance of this expansion was a unique twist on soccer, dubbed HeadBall, where you get to play using a bizarre ball… or should I say a severed human head?

2001 also saw the launch of Rune: Viking Warlord, a PlayStation 2 adaptation. However, unlike its predecessor, this version received a less enthusiastic response due to its lower graphic quality and extended load times.

2017 saw Human Head Studios unveiling “Rune: Ragnarok,” which was later renamed first to “Rune” and then to “Rune II.” The complete game under this name was launched in November 2019, coinciding with the closure of Human Head Studios. Their team members were relocated to Roundhouse Studios, a subsidiary of Bethesda. This development understandably did not sit well (to put it mildly) with the publisher, Ragnarok Game, who didn’t regain control over the game’s source code until October 2020.

How to play Rune today?

Rune is a game that’s available for purchase on both GOG.com and Steam. On both platforms, it goes by the name “Rune Classic” and retails for $9.99.

2025-05-17 21:02