Rule of Rose is considered one of the rarest and most expensive PlayStation 2 games on the market. The 2006 survival horror game received an extremely limited print run and is not available on any digital or streaming platforms. It's common to see a complete copy sell for well over $400. Many video game enthusiasts even call it the holy grail of PlayStation 2 collecting. However, an expensive price tag doesn't guarantee the game is a masterpiece.

American gamers are lucky Rule of Rose even released in the U.S. The game was very controversial and ended up getting banned in the United Kingdom due to its disturbing themes involving children.

While shocking, Rule of Rose isn't the exploitative hate piece many people claim it to be. The game does tackle some uncomfortable subjects like childhood trauma, animal cruelty and mental health, but most of it is implied instead of explicitly shown. A lot of Rule of Rose's themes got blown way out of proportion, much like the sex scene in the original Mass Effect.

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Children terrorize Jennifer in PlayStation 2 game, Rule of Rose.

Rule of Rose is set in the 1930s and tells the story of a young woman named Jennifer, who finds herself at an orphanage that is being ruled by a sinister group of children who call themselves the Red Crayon Aristocrat Club. The group torments Jennifer with constant bullying and other vile acts. Jenifer must present the Aristocrat Club with monthly gifts if she wishes to please the malignant clan of children and move up the ranks of the hierarchy. There is an exceedingly deep and confusing underlining story, but for the sake of not spoiling anything, this summary will have to do.

The storytelling in Rule of Rose is simply incredible. Its plot is told in a very artistic fashion that is as beautiful as it is disturbing. It's hard not to feel sorry for Jennifer, as things never end up in her favor. She is constantly berated by the other children, no matter how hard she tries to please them. Rule of Rose is an immensely emotional title that will pull on a player's hard strings more than most other video games.

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Rule of Rose also has an exceptional soundtrack that matches the game's somber tone perfectly. The music consists of mostly orchestral instruments that evoke both fear and sadness from players. Its minimalistic style really captures the chilling essence of the game and complements every scene wonderfully. A 6-track promotional CD came with select pre-ordered copies of the game and have become very sought after by collectors.

Although Rule of Rose has amazing storytelling and a phenomenal soundtrack, it does have one fatal flaw: It has some of the absolute worst combat mechanics ever seen in a video game. Jenifer's attacks rarely hit their mark and often go straight through an enemy without causing any damage. On the rare occasion Jenifer manages to strike an opponent, it barely has an effect.

On the flip side, enemies can kill Jenifer rather easily by landing a few strong blows or by overwhelming her with multiple adversaries. Fighting enemies is beyond frustrating and will induce rage in even the most tranquil gamer. Rule of Rose would be a survival horror masterpiece if it wasn't for its shoddy combat. It holds the game back so much that it nearly ruins the entire experience.

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Rule of Rose is an extremely unique horror title that will take players on an emotional rollercoaster. The game could have been one of the best horror games to come out of the sixth console generation, if it wasn't for its absolutely horrendous combat mechanics.

That being said, it is easy to see why Rule of Rose gained such a large cult following. Its unbelievable storytelling and obscure way of tackling controversial themes put the game in a league of its own. However, while the game is good, it's not $500 good. Hardcore horror fans will be pleased with Rule of Rose, but less devout gamers might end up disappointed.

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