History VideoGame / Rune

It is based on Myth/NorseMythology, and follows the story of Ragnar after his initiation into Odinsblade when an allied village gets attacked. When sailing out to the village, he is attacked by Conrack who betrays his fellow Vikings and sides with Loki in his conquest for power, with his boat being destroyed by the power of the mad trickster god. Ragnar is called by Odin, who saves him from his untimely demise, and swims into an undersea cavern. Ragnar must fight his way through the legions of monsters, dwarves, vikings, and the undead that awaits him if he wishes to exact his vengeance against Conrack.

A sequel titled ''Rune II'', once again developed by Human Head Studios, was released on November 12, 2019 ([[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original). It was the last video game to be developed by Human Head Studios as an independent company; they closed their doors almost immediately after the game's release, and the entire team was relocated to Roundhouse Studios under [=ZeniMax=] Media.

* EmergencyTransformation: [[spoiler:After defeating him in human form, Conrack falls a pool of Loki's that mutates him into a Sark, then he uses his newfound powers to escape and leaves Rangar to die in a pit as monsters keep attacking. The only way to proceed is to transform into one of the EliteMooks too. Loki laughs and mocks Ragnar, saying that Odin would not accept him after he willingly gave his humanity to become on of Loki's monsters.]]

* ExpansionPack: The ''Halls of Valhalla'' standalone expansion pack, which adds more multi-players, character skins, and maps. It also adds the ability to deflect thrown weapons with a well-timed attack.

* LifeMeter: The (red) Health meter.
** ManaMeter: The (yellow) Rune Power meter.

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Throughout the single-player campaign, Ragnar slaughters his way though goblins, the undead, dwarves, Conrack's vikings, feral beasts, and the undead on steroids to claim the head of the guy who murdered his father and fellow vikings.

* SuspendSave: The computer versions of the game gives you the option to quicksave the game at anytime by pressing the F5 key by default and the quick save can be load by using the F9 key.

* BigBad: Conrack, a rogue viking who allied himself with Loki in the name of conquest and power, and he'll kill anyone who dares stand in his way.
* {{BFS}}: The Dwarven Battle Sword, a huge, curved, two-handed sword that makes mincemeat out of your enemies.

* DownerBeginning: After the introductory level/tutorials, a Viking bursts through the training hall to warn Ulf and Ragnar that an allied village under Conrack's attack. The game follows with Jarl and the Vikings setting sail out to help out the village under siege only to run into Conrack along with Sigurd by his side as they betray Odin and then demonstrate their allegiance to Loki by calling his powers to strike down Jarl's longship, while Ragnar watches in horror as his father and allies gets killed off moments before he dies and their ship is reduced to shambles, sinking into the abyss.

* OffWithHisHead: Doable with bladed weapons. This is also the other way to kill zombies.

* UnderwaterRuins: The first main level of the game.

* EmergencyTransformation: [[spoiler:After defeating him in human form, Conrack escapes and leaves you to die in a pit as monsters keep attacking. The only way to proceed is to transform into one of the EliteMooks. Loki laughs, saying that Odin would not accept you after you willingly transformed.]]

* HellHound: Found in the Hel levels in ''Viking Warlord'' and ''Classic'' as huge, demonic dogs with red claws and glowing eyes.

* HisNameReallyIsBarkeep: Ragnar's father, the village Jarl (chieftain), seems to be named Jarl.

* RealTimeWeaponChange: How you switch between your different weapons and weapon classes.

* RiseToTheChallenge: Performed with lava.

** MakeMeWannaShout: The Bone Club's Sonic Blast power adds sonic waves to your attacks.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Rune'' is very similar to ''[[VideoGame/{{Heretic}} Heretic II]]'' in terms of gameplay, but with more of an emphasis on melee combat. Justified, since Human Head Studios is made up of much of the original team that worked on ''Heretic'' and ''VideoGame/{{Hexen}}'' for Raven Software.

* UpdatedRerelease: ''Rune Classic'' adds the new enemies seen the [=PlayStation=] 2 version and streamlined or removed the game's more larger levels.

* AnAxeToGrind: One of three weapons classes.

* BarbarianHero: Ragnar.

* BigBad: Conrack.

* TheLowMiddleAges

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler:After Ragnar finished off Conrack and Loki's plans are foiled, Odin takes Ragnar to Asgard and leads hims into Valhalla where his Viking comrades awaits.]]

* BackFromTheDead: Even though you fallen into the underworld, you get revived by Odin.

* BottomlessMagazines: The Goblin Axe's Ghost Throw power lets you hurl the axe endlessly for a short period of time.

* TheBerserker: Ragnar can go into [[SuperMode Berserk]] mode after slaying many enemies at once before the Bloodlust meter depletes or picking up a Rune of Strength. Once full, any damage he takes goes to his Bloodlust meter instead.

* ChunkySalsaRule: If it's splattered in pieces, it's boned.

* CameBackStrong: [[spoiler:After Ragnar hacked up Conrack for betraying and kill his Viking comrades, Conrack's dip into Loki's blood turns him into a hulking monster.]]
* CameraLockOn: It is possible to lock-on to an enemy by pressing a button that will focus your sights on a target.

* DuelToTheDeath: [[spoiler: Ragnar defeats Conrack in a One on One sword battle, and knocks him into the acid of Loki's venom. It doesn't stick.]]
* EmergencyTransformation: [[spoiler:Conrack escaped, and he leaves you to die in a pit as monsters keep attacking. The only way to proceed is to transform into one of the EliteMooks. Loki laughs, saying that Odin would not accept you after you willingly transformed.]]

* EvilLaugh: Loki.

* GameBreakingBug: There's an issue with the game crashing in the Rune Extended mod's Halls of the Dishonored level due a missing wall-breaking sound effect. The only way around this is to mute the game, break the walls in the hallway area, save the game, and restart with sounds enabled.

* GodMode: The computer version of the game has a God Mode cheat that can be activated though console command but also requires using the "cheatplease" code to enable cheat codes for it to work. Once activated, the player is invincible against enemy attacks, traps, and bottomless pits, however the player can still be killed if they're crush by a heavy object such as boulders or a collapsing building. The [=PlayStation=] 2 port also has a God Mode code that can be entered in the pause menu.

* HellHound: Found in the Hel levels of in ''Viking Warlords'' and ''Classic'' as huge, demonic dogs with red claws and glowing eyes.

* InASingleBound: The sarks you deal with near the end of the game are capable of jump at great heights and uses this to sneak up the player. [[spoiler:After becoming one himself, Rangar possesses the ability to jump twice as high than he could before.]]
* ItsAWonderfulFailure: [[spoiler:If you fail to stop Conrack and his minions from destroying the last runestone in your village (or break it yourself) in the final level, you're treated to a cutscene where Ragnar is bound in Loki's den along with some text stating Loki will be freed and Ragnarok is coming, then you're kicked back to the title screen.]]

* PuzzleBoss: The Dark Dwarf cannot be beaten by brute force thanks to the PowerArmor he's using to amplify his strength with rune stones. [[spoiler:Instead, Ragnar must open up portals and overload the Dark Dwarf with power so he'll explode.]]

* SetAMookToKillAMook: The Viking Broad Sword has the Ally power, and (almost) anything it strikes turns an enemy against each other. It is possible to have enemies to fight each other to without this power if you can get them attack one another.

** CharmPerson: The Viking Axe's Ally power makes whoever you hit with it fight for you temporarily. The Viking Broadsword has this power instead in ''Rune Classic''.
** DishingOutDirt: Dwarven Battle Sword's Avalanche power causes you to hurl huge boulders against your enemies. The Dwarven Work Hammer also has Earth Attack, where slamming the hammer causes three earth blasts to run across the ground.

** LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: The Viking Short Sword's Magic Shield power creates an invulnerable shield for a limited time. ''Rune Classic'' gives this power to the Viking Axe instead.

** OneHitKill: The Dwarven Battle Axe's Super Damage does to your enemies when it's activated.
** ShockAndAwe: The Dwarven Work Sword's Lightning power temporarily adds electricity to your attacks and lets you shoot balls of lightning with each swing.
** SwordBeam: The Goblin Axe's Unlimited Throw power causes illusionary axes to fly out whenever you perform an attack.

* SuspendSave: The computer versions of the game gives you the option to quick save the game at anytime by pressing the F5 key by default and the quick save can be load by using the F9 key.

* TheBadGuyWins: happens if you destroy the last runestone instead of defeating Conrack in the last level we get to see Loki laughing and Ragnar being crucified inside his lair and the texts states that Loki will soon be freed and unleash Ragnarok.

* ToHellAndBack: Performed twice. First was fighting the way out of Hel and back to the surface. The second time, Ragnar needs to re-enter Hel, although the exit trip is much faster.

* UpdatedRerelease: ''Rune Classic'' adds the new enemies seen the [=PlayStation=] 2 version and steamlined or removed the game's more larger levels.

* YouKilledMyFather: Conrack killed Ragnar's father (and his fellow vikings), and he won't rest until he claims Conrack's head.

* DuelToTheDeath: [[spoilers: Ragnar defeats Conrack in a One on One sword battle, and knocks him into the acid of Loki's venom. It doesn't stick.]]

''Rune'' is a {{third|PersonShooter}}-person HackAndSlash game developed by Human Head Studios and published by Gathering of Developers, released in 2000 for [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windows]] and [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]]. The game uses a modified version of the [[UsefulNotes/GameEngine Unreal Engine]] to utilize third-person melee combat instead of first-person gunfights.

A sequel titled ''VideoGame/RuneII'', once again developed by Human Head Studios, was released on November 12, 2019 ([[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original). It was the last video game to be developed by Human Head Studios as an independent company; they closed their doors almost immediately after the game's release, and the entire team was relocated to Roundhouse Studios under [=ZeniMax=] Media.

A sequel titled ''VideoGame/RuneII'', once again developed by Human Head Studios, has been released on November 12, 2019 ([[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original). It was the last video game to be developed by Human Head Studios as an independent company; they closed their doors almost immediately after the game's release, and the entire team was relocated to Roundhouse Studios under [=ZeniMax=] Media.

A sequel titled ''VideoGame/RuneII'', once again developed by Human Head Studios, has been released in 2019, [[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original. It was the last video game to be developed by Human Head Studios as an independent company; they closed their doors almost immediately after the game's released, and the entire team was relocated to Roundhouse Studios under [=ZeniMax=] Media.

A sequel titled ''VideoGame/RuneII'', once again developed by Human Head Studios, has been released in 2019, [[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original.

A sequel titled ''VideoGame/RuneII'' has been announced, once again developed by Human Head Studios and to be released [[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original.

''Rune'' is a {{third|PersonShooter}}-person HackAndSlash game developed by Human Head Studios and published by Gathering of Developers, released in 2000 for [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windows]] and [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]]. The game uses a modified version of the [[GameEngine Unreal Engine]] to utilize third-person melee combat instead of first-person gunfights.

A sequel titled ''VideoGame/RuneII'', has been announced, once again developed by Human Head Studios and to be released [[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original.

A reboot of the game, simply titled ''[[RecycledTitle Rune]]'', has been announced, once again developed by Human Head Studios and to be released [[SequelGap nineteen years]] after the original. Retroactively, the 2000 ''Rune'' is renamed ''Rune Classic'' in digital storefronts to avoid confusion.

It is based on Myth/NorseMythology, and follows the story of Ragnar after his initiation into Odinsblade when an allied village gets attacked. When sailing out to the village, he is attacked by Conrack who betrays his fellow Vikings and sides with Loki in his conquest for power, with his boat being destroyed by the power of the mad trickster god. Ragnar was called by Odin, who saves him from his untimely demise, and swims into an undersea cavern. Ragnar must fight his way through the legions of monsters, dwarves, vikings, and the undead that awaits him if he wishes to exact his vengeance against Conrack.

A standalone expansion pack, ''Rune: Halls of Valhalla'', was released in 2001 that features new multi-player modes, new characters, and new maps. The game was later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, subtitled ''Viking Warlords'', followed by a Linux port by Loki Software in the same year, as well as a series of pen and paper role-playing games by Atlas Games. ''Rune Gold'', a compilation re-release of the original game and expansion pack, was also released at the time. Another re-release, ''Rune Classic'', was released digitally via UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} in 2012 and on Website/GOGDotCom in 2013 with the extra enemies from the [=PlayStation=] 2 version, streamlined levels, and the game's soundtrack as a bonus.

A sequel to the game, "Rune: Ragnarok" [[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/08/28/developer-human-head-announces-rune-ragnarok-for-pc.aspx was recently announced]], once again developed by Human Head Studios, to be released [[SequelGap over seventeen years]] after the original.

* InASingleBound: The sarks you deal with near the end of the game are capable of jump at great heights and uses this try sneak up the player. [[spoiler:After becoming one himself, Rangar possesses the ability to jump twice as high than he could before.]]

* GameBreakingBug: There's an issue with the game crushing in the Rune Extended mod's Halls of the Dishonored level due a missing wall-breaking sound effect. The only way around this is to mute the game, break the walls in the hallway area, save the game, and restart with sounds enabled.

'''''Rune''''' is a {{third|PersonShooter}}-person HackAndSlash game developed by Human Head Studios and published by Gathering of Developers, released in 2000 for [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windows]] and [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]]. The game uses a modified version of the [[GameEngine Unreal Engine]] to utilize third-person melee combat instead of first-person gunfights.

There was also a TabletopRPG based on the video game, designed by Creator/RobinLaws and bearing the same title. It is notable for being one of the few truly competitive function pen-and-paper RPG designs.