The Ring: Terror's Realm
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{For|the 1998 video game also known as Ring|Ring (video game)}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = The Ring: Terror's Realm
| image = The Ring Terror's Realm Box Art.jpg
| caption = North American Dreamcast cover art
| developer = Asmik Ace Entertainment
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Asmik Ace Entertainment|NA|Infogrames North America}}
| director = Atsushi Suzuki
| producer = Hitoshi Iida
| programmer = Atsushi Suzuki
| artist = Yoshimi Kaida
| composer = Yoshiyuki Ishii
| writer = Hisaya Takabayashi
| platforms = Dreamcast
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|February 24, 2000|NA|September 26, 2000{{Cite web |date= |title=New Releases |url=http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/newReleases/morenr-DC.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001019042828/http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/newReleases/morenr-DC.asp |archive-date=October 19, 2000 |access-date=December 17, 2023 |website=EB Games}}}}
| genre = Survival horror
| modes = Single-player
}}
The Ring: Terror's Realm (known simply as {{nihongo|Ring|リング|Ringu}} in Japan) is a survival horror video game developed and published by Asmik Ace Entertainment in Japan and published by Infogrames North America in North America. It was released for Dreamcast on February 24, 2000 in Japan and September 26 in North America (it was originally set for a June 28 release date,{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/18/infogrames-confirms-the-ring-for-stateside-release|title=Infogrames Confirms The Ring For Stateside Release|last=Kollin|first=Mike|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=May 17, 2000|accessdate=May 25, 2022}} but was delayed for unknown reasons). It is based on the Ring series of novels by Japanese author Koji Suzuki, which also inspired the Japanese film Ring (1998) and its American remake, The Ring (2002).
Plot
Meg Rainman is a newly-hired researcher at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States. Her boyfriend Robert is among four workers at the CDC who have died mysteriously on the same day, and the only thing that connects them is a program found in their computers, called "RING". When the CDC is put under lockdown, Meg finds herself imprisoned in the center with her co-workers, and inside the CDC Meg must find out the truth behind Robert's death and the "RING".
Characters
Meg Rainman
The game's protagonist and main character, takes Robert's position at the CDC after he dies at the start of the game.
Robert
Researcher at the CDC, was working on the Ring virus before he and three other colleagues die on the same day.
Jack Nikson
Works as a reporter, neighbour and friend of Meg and Robert.
John Brad
Boss at the CDC.
Chris
Co-worker at the CDC, works on the ground floor.
Kathy
Co-worker at the CDC, has a striking resemblance to Tina Turner, likes to cause trouble and is the girlfriend of Lukino.
Timothy
An old doctor working at the CDC.
Lukino
The CDC's security chief, has six piercings, two on both ears and one on the nose and left eye, and is the boyfriend of Kathy.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|GR = 35%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/258244-the-ring-terrors-realm/index.html|title=The Ring: Terror's Realm for Dreamcast|website=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=May 25, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505084743/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/258244-the-ring-terrors-realm/index.html|archivedate=May 5, 2019|url-status=dead}}
|Allgame = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25010&tab=review|title=The Ring: Terror's Realm - Review|last=Simpson|first=Chris|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|accessdate=December 9, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113193216/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25010&tab=review|archivedate=November 13, 2014|url-status=dead}}
|EGM = 4.67/10{{cite magazine|title=The Ring: Terror's Realm|author=EGM staff|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=133|date=August 2000}}
|Fam = 24/40{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12758&redirect=no|title=リング|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Enterbrain|accessdate=May 25, 2022}}
|NGen = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen69Sep2000/page/n105/mode/2up|title=The Ring [Terror's Realm]|last=Preston|first=Jim|magazine=NextGen|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=69|date=September 2000|page=103|accessdate=January 30, 2021}}
}}
The game received "unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 24 out of 40.
In a review submitted to "the ringworld", a fansite dedicated to Ring, contributors C. Gavlas and K. Gavlas called it "a crude, clumsy Resident Evil-style survival horror video game" and "a pretty depressing homage to Ring."{{cite web|url=http://www.theringworld.com/realm.php|title=The Ring: Terror's Realm|author1=C. Gavlas|author2=K. Gavlas|website=The Ringworld|date=August 4, 2004|accessdate=December 11, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814222509/http://www.theringworld.com/realm.php|archivedate=August 14, 2004|url-status=dead}} Those unfamiliar with Suzuki's works were equally unimpressed. Jeremy Dunham of IGN said, "The lowest rung on the ladder of Dreamcast survival horror games, The Ring: Terror's Realm is just an average jaunt into the dark side,"{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/23/the-ring-terrors-realm|title=The Ring: Terror's Realm|last=Dunham|first=Jeremy|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=August 22, 2000|accessdate=December 11, 2013}} while a contributor to the PlanetDreamcast website (a part of GameSpy) declared it "hands-down the worst thing I've ever experienced on the Dreamcast."{{cite web|url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/thering/|title=The Ring: Terror's Realm|author=Mad Carl|website=PlanetDreamcast|publisher=IGN Entertainment|date=October 24, 2000|accessdate=December 11, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701200022/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/thering/|archivedate=July 1, 2008|url-status=dead}} GameSpot concluded in the review of the Japanese import that "Die-hard survival-horror fans might possibly get a quick fix from this game, but even that's questionable. You'd really be better off playing through Code Veronica again."{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-ring-terrors-realm-review/1900-2602488/|title=The Ring: Terror's Realm Review [JP Import]|last=Shoemaker|first=Brad|website=GameSpot|publisher=Red Ventures|date=July 12, 2000|accessdate=December 11, 2013}} Jim Preston of NextGen said of the game, "If it were a hamster, we would bury it in a shoebox in the backyard."
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/dreamcast/ring-terrors-realm}}
{{The Ring}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ring: Terror's Realm, The}}
Category:2000s horror video games
Category:Asmik Ace Entertainment games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Survival horror video games