Rustler does have strengths elsewhere, though. “The missions could feel a little bit dull, with the repetitive ‘go here, kill this person, go there, grab this item’ formula getting tedious fast.” It’s fine, but I just hoped for a bit more from the game. The Grand Theft Auto series brought more creativity and imagination to its missions when it progressed past the original PlayStation years, but Rustler is guilty of being a bit stuck in the mud with its old-school ways. Don’t get me wrong, there are missions which are more enjoyable and that embrace Rustler’s shenanigan-fuelled setup, but they’re always sandwiched between more boring and repetitive tasks. The missions could feel a little bit dull too, with the repetitive ‘go here, kill this person, go there, grab this item’ formula getting tedious fast. You can mostly button mash your way to victory, but there will be times where you’ll wish the combat had a bit more nuance. The game does try to spice things up by giving different attack types as well as blocking and parrying skills, but it never felt natural in-game. I found myself just mashing the attack button and hoping for the best at times, with a lack of accuracy offered when fighting up close. Unfortunately, the combat mechanics of the game felt a bit clumsy, with it difficult to line up attacks when using the melee weapons. “If you’ve played the old-school PlayStation Grand Theft Auto games before, you’ll have a rough idea of what to expect from Rustler… just replace the city with a medieval setting.”Ĭombat sees players using the likes of a crossbow, a sword, a spear, a lance, and so forth… basically, the kind of weapons you’d expect to see on a medieval battlefield. It didn’t bring with it the excitement of the police chases in the Grand Theft Auto series, but it was fine. It’s possible to lose this attention by tearing apart wanted posters or riding through an aptly named ‘Pimp a Horse’ station to lose this heat, so it’s not too hard to keep the law off your back if you’re crafty. It even comes with its own variation of a wanted level, with Rustler’s approach to the law seeing all sorts of guards pursuing you as you commit more crimes. The biggest hook is the medieval setting, with players stealing horses instead of cars as they gallop across fields and towns. Par for the course, as far as open-world adventures go, then. Everything takes place from a top-down perspective and gives players an open-world to play around in, with players able to head straight to mission markers or indulge in some of the game’s side activities. If you’ve played the old-school PlayStation Grand Theft Auto games before, you’ll have a rough idea of what to expect from Rustler… just replace the city with a medieval setting, the cars with horses, and the guns with crossbows and you’ll be on the right track. “The narrative is one of Rustler’s high points, with Guy and Buddy’s absurd antics lending themselves well to the genuinely humorous adventure.” It’s a shame there’s no voice acting on show since it would have added a bit more cinematic flair to the game, but it’ll still keep a smile on your face. Of course, there’s also fart and poo jokes that lower the tone a little, but I’m childish so I could deal with that. It’s all very tongue in cheek and isn’t afraid to break the fourth wall, whilst some genuinely entertaining writing adds plenty of life to each interaction you have in-game. The narrative is one of Rustler’s high points, with Guy and Buddy’s absurd antics lending themselves well to the genuinely humorous adventure. As you can imagine, that doesn’t stop him from trying, which leads him on a journey full of zany shenanigans and, of course, crime. Unfortunately, you have to be a noble to enter the tournament, which is something that Guy certainly isn’t. The prize? The princess’ hand in marriage. As you’d imagine, they get into all sorts of trouble and aren’t afraid to throw their weight around for their boss, but they soon find themselves with grander aspirations when they decide to enter a medieval tournament. Rustler puts players into the role of Guy, a young thug who works alongside his best friend Buddy for the crime lord of his town. Check out a gallery of screenshots down below: Whilst Rustler does have its moments where it shines, it’s also guilty of being a bit bland and cumbersome. Unfortunately, the final product is a bit of a mixed bag. Believe me, I was ALL IN on the concept alone, especially after seeing the game in action. Well, developer Jutsu Games have grabbed the horse by the reins and released Rustler, a classic style crimeathon that sees players taking on the role of a medieval thug. Old-school Grand Theft Auto in medieval times is such a good idea on paper I’m shocked no one has done it before.
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