Rusted Moss
Grappling Makes THIS Game
Just hanging out.
This is Rusted Moss, a Metroidvania game with a particular focus on one mode of transportation - grappling.
Grappling is the name of the game, and it sounds like a simple concept, but the grappling in this game is physics-based. You can do basic things like swinging around, but the main trick is that your grapple is actually elastic, allowing for insane maneuverability. One example is using the grapple to gain height. Admittedly, grappling can be a little difficult to get used to on a controller, but once you truly master the grapple, no other movement techniques feel as satisfying as this game's grapple. It is one of the first abilities you unlock in the game. Paired with some of the other mobility techniques you get, this game becomes a speedrunner's dream.
Just hanging out with guns.
Of course, there's more to this game than just movement. There's also combat.
You have access to a small but distinct arsenal of different weapons with different properties and handling. In case you get hurt, you can heal yourself, which requires Mana obtained by damaging and killing enemies. The ability to heal fairly easily, combined with your low health pool, keeps combat engaging. You can't just plow through enemies, you have to learn how to dodge, and at times, dodging requires masterful use of your grapple. You also have access to trinkets, which are equippable items that give your character special abilities.
What game with guns is complete without grenades?.
Many of them are passive abilities, but some of them give your character brand new attacks. Some of these trinkets can be bought in the store, but many of them have to be found in the wild. There are also character upgrades in the wild that upgrade your stats. The game is absolutely brutal at times, veering into bullet hell territory, but with diligence, skill, and perhaps a few retries, you can definitely push through. To be fair, the game does recommend using a keyboard and mouse, but I used a controller instead. I guess that means I'm the one to blame, huh?
A pretty expansive world map, with a handy dandy checklist of items!
Rusted Moss's art style is very reminiscent of something like Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight. The pixel art in every area of the game looks extremely distinct, with matching gameplay gimmicks as well. The game's soundtrack features a number of ambient pieces, and most of the soundtrack while exploring the world is quite peaceful, some would say even relaxing. However, when you reach bosses in certain locked arenas, that's when the soundtrack's intensity kicks up.
In terms of replay value, there are a ton of items to collect, and the game also features multiple different endings. I've only unlocked two so far. Furthermore, there's also additional replay value in playing player Workshop Maps. That's right, there's a level editor where you can create your own maps and publish them on Steam Workshop. You can hone your skills in these maps or challenge yourself with some truly brutal community maps. However, there aren't too many maps available on the workshop, but of course, as time progresses, there will be more and more of these maps.
Now, let's talk about the story itself. No major spoilers here. You play as Fern, a changeling seemingly disguised as a human, who has betrayed humanity, and it's your job to bring about the end of the age of man. Admittedly, the story, as it's delivered, doesn't tell you much. You can find lore entries around the world by reading computer terminals. As for what happens in the game, about 90% of it is collecting pieces of Titania, Queen of the Phase. That said, specific plot points themselves are far and few between, but this lends itself well to creating a non-linear experience. In most Metroidvanias, there's a specific intended path that you need to follow, but in Rusted Moss, the game basically opens up in such a way that you can go in any direction you'd like, as long as you know how to use the grapple. This is both a curse and a blessing. While the game gives you a general direction of where you need to go, such as going west, it doesn't tell you exactly where to go, and at times, I would get lost in my own personal experience. It seems like most players' first experiences won't be the same at all. It is worth mentioning that this game is quite easy to sequence break, as I unintentionally managed to delay fighting a specific required boss for quite some time using my superior grappling abilities on my first playthrough.
For those who enjoy high-level movement in video games, Rusted Moss is for you. The entire game is built around your grappling mechanic, so mastering your grapple is a must. But once you've mastered grappling in this game, there's nothing quite like it in any other metroidvania.
This room will end you.
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