I, Ragnar the Mighty, will lift the sword from my enemy, still dripping with the marauder's transgression. I will add it to the arsenal of my wrath, over fifteen weapons chiseled sharp with anger.

My quest for vengeance will take me from the cold heights of the Frost Giants to the hot underbelly of the earth, the home of the Goblins. I will pass through the crooked passages of the Dwarves, with their strange machines, and into the mountain fortress of Thorstadt. My battle will rage in more than thirty levels of trial and adversity.

My bones are real. Each swing of the axe affects my body whole. If my arm is cut, it is my arm that will bleed.

My movements are precise and fluid. I am a warrior. But I am also mortal.

The Nordic creatures of this land are crawling from the shadow of evil and coming for me. If I am to evade their jaws, I must be more cunning than they. It is melee combat they prefer, close enough to smell the fear I must control. Even if I see my life spilling from my body, my hand will remain steady on my blade.

I will test my mettle in Deathmatch. I will raise my axe against legions of warriors. I will go it alone or with others in Team Deathmatch. I will fight until I am red with my own blood. I will be a silent terror that will find you and take you down.

"For people who like Vikings and melee combat, this is your game." -SHUGASHACK

"Step aside Lara, Ragnar is coming to town." -Xtreme Network

"Rune is the most beautiful Unreal-based game yet." -3D Action Planet

"Best action game." -Games Weekly chooses Best Action Game of E3 2000

"Fans of gore, melee-based combat or Viking folklore will want to keep an eye on this one." -PC.VGF

"Nordic fun: snow beasts, crude melee weaponry, ice gods, and dwarves." -Spin

Prepare yourself for Rune, a brutal new third person action/adventure game built on the engine that powered Unreal Tournament and steeped in the infamy of Norse mythology and Viking lore.

• Whirlwind third-person melee action.
• Over 30 single-player levels and over 15 different weapons.
• Unique multiplayer environments including deathmatch, team deathmatch, and unique new melee-based levels.

Source:

Back of Box/Inside Cover - Windows (US)

In a climactic battle between the gods of heaven and the monsters who dwelt deep in the earth, it was assumed that Loki would fulfill his fate and take up sides against the Asgardians. Of course, Loki was the bane of fate, and he had other plans ...

Rune is Human Head's third-person perspective game of intense action and adventure steeped in a blend of Norse mythology and high fantasy. Players will have to use their brains as well as their massive brawn to survive as they explore the fully 3D game world fighting off fantastic creatures from both Norse legend with an array of swords, axes and magical devices.

Source:

lokigames.com - Linux product page

Hack and slay your way into legend as Ragnar a Viking warrior chosen by the gods to defend the Viking nation from the evil plans of the god Loki. Throw back a mug of ale and flex your axe wielding muscles in this the redesigned version of Rune for the PS2, brought to you by Take 2. Go berserk through forty different locations, and decapitate your way through twenty-five levels of mythological mayhem! Battle all new monsters like the Hellhounds and Frost Giants and batter your friends into submission with their own severed limbs in gladiator multi-player mode. A world of homicidal fantasy all realised within the Unreal Tournament engine.

Source:

uk.playstation.com

The player assumes the role of Ragnar the Viking, mightiest warrior of a bygone age. In a land where might makes right, it is Ragnar who doles out justice on the blade of his massive battle-axe. The goal is to reach the ultimate confrontation with the Sark Amen, the shadowy warrior-masters of the netherworld.

Features

• Dramatic story carries player across several environments, from the darkest caves to the highest Nordic mountains
• 15 weapons, including a battle ax, 2 handed sword, magical weapons, throwing axes and war hammers.
• Enemies from a host of different races including Dark Vikings, underground creatures, fish, goblins and a mysterious super race.
• Gorgeous open environments and grandiose scenes.
• Torches used to light dim areas can also be used as weapons to set fire to your enemies

Developer

Humanhead Studios

Rating

MA15+

Available Now

from Global Star Software for PlayStation®2 Worldwide.

Source:

www.take2games.com.au - PlayStation 2

"nothing short of stunning"gamerush.com

"The creatures of this land are crawling from the shadows of evil and coming for me. If I am to evade their jaws, I must be more cunning than they. They want mêlée combat, close enough to smell my fear. I will fight until I am red with my own blood. I will be a silent terror that will find you and take you down."

Prepare yourself for Rune™, a brutal new third person action/adventure steeped in the infamy of Norse mythology and Viking lore.

• WHIRLWIND THIRD-PERSON MÊLÉE ACTION
• OVER 40 SINGLE-PLAYER LEVELS
• OVER 15 DIFFERENT WEAPONS
• UNIQUE MULTIPLAYER ENVIRONMENTS

www.runegame.com

Source:

Back of Case - Windows (UK)

*### Wikinger fürchten nur zwei Dinge:

den Zorn der Götter und ihre eigenen Stammesgenossen.

In einem brillanten Fantasy-Actionspiel voller Mythen und Legenden des berüchtigten Nordvolkes stellen Sie sich den wilden Horden – mit riesigen Schwertern oder gewaltigen Äxten.

Und nicht nur die Dunklen Wikinger werden Ihre Wege kreuzen – auch kampfwütige Zwerge und schreckliche Ungeheuer, die die Unterwelt bevölkern, trachten Ihnen nach dem Leben.

• rasante 3D-Action basierend auf der Unreral-Tournament-Engine, die für Rune erweitert wurde
• über 25 Einzelspieler-Levels mit anspruchsvollem Leveldesign mit kniffligen Rätseln
• über 15 Waffen – von Schwertern, Schilden, Äxten bis zu Keulen, die alle zur Beschwörung göttlicher Kräfte verwendet werden können
• gefährliche Gegner wie Goblins, Zwerge, Schneemonster, Dunkle Wikinger und legendäre Gottheiten der nordischen Mythologie
• abwechslungsreiche Multiplayer-Modi (mit Deathmatch und Team Deathmatch)*

Source:

Print advertisement - PC Player 11/2000

Rune, das ist ein optisch schönes, krachendes Stirb langsam auf die nordische Art.“

Daniel Ch. Kreiss / PC Games: 83%

„So habe ich mir einen Wikinger-Helden vorgestellt.“

Petra Schmitz / GameStar: 85%

GameStar für besondere Atmosphäre

„Optisch berauschend, schnell im Ablauf und kinderleicht zu steuern.“

Achim Schad / Gameszone: 85%

Gameszone award

„Kein Spiel für Zartbesaitete.“

Thomas Werner / PC Player: 83%

„Blutig, brachial, nordisch und stimmungsvoll.“

Robert Schmidt / Gamesmania: 86%

Gamesmania.de award of excellence

„Rune ist ganz klar das Actionhighlight des Jahres.“

Kai / Gamez.de: 90%

Gamez award

Source:

Print advertisement - PC Player 01/2001

RUNE VIKING WARLORD

Before Camouflage, Warriors Didn't Hide...

ENTER the world of Ragnar, a Viking warrior from a time long past.
As a hero handpicked by the gods to defend the Viking nation from the evil god Loki, your task is to dole out justice on the bloodstained edge of your massive battle-axe. You have been charged with stopping the shadowy warlords from wiping out the Viking bloodline.

Choose from 15 unique axes, hammers and swords to hack, bash and slice your enemies through over 40 vast and picturesque environments.

... Before Guns, Men Had Balls.

Source:

Back of Case - PlayStation 2 (UK)