Netease Games’ Rusty Rabbit is getting released this April 17, and I was fortunate enough to get my hands on it. While the game definitely isn’t for everyone, we’re in for a ride with a title that has the potential to be another cult classic like Hollow Knight!
What’s Rusty Rabbit?
Rusty Rabbit is a Metroidvania game—or a type of action-adventure game or platformer—that focuses on nonlinear progression. It’s the kind of game where all sections of a map are utilized, with backtracking being key and the gameplay experience improving over time. If you’ve played a Metroid game or a Castlevania title, you’ll know the experience you’re getting into.
In Rusty Rabbit, you play as Stamp, the titular rusty rabbit himself, piloting his rust bucket of a mech. Don’t let the cute or rusty exterior fool you, though, as he’s a veteran in the desolate ice lands of Mount Chimney. On his quest to save his daughter, he traverses a world long-abandoned by humanity after another ice age, with new friends he meets along the way tagging along and helping progress the mech’s development.
What makes it unique?
I need to get this out of the way from the get-go: imagine being greeted by the Creation of Adam mid-game. It was from this moment on that I had faith in Rusty Rabbit, and why I had to push through even during a slow introductory period. The way Rusty Rabbit presented itself through multiple art styles, emphasizing emotion, whether stoic, melancholic, or comedic added a certain flair. It’s not being pretty for the sake of being pretty, but purposefully direct, yet indirect in its storytelling.
Another aspect that adds to Rusty Rabbit’s uniqueness is how it layered RPG elements on top of its already impressive Metroidvania base. Having a perk or skill tree as expansive as the one above showed how much the game had to offer and guided me toward how the experience was supposed to go. Should I hunt, should I fight, or should I just wander around? There were parts of the game I glossed over due to being a giant word dump, but the need to interact with other NPCs suddenly became a priority rather than just a chore.
Also, it’s kinda funny to me how I’m writing this during Easter, when bunnies are a theme and religion is at its peak. Truly an RPG moment.
The Rabbit is a Tortoise
While I have nothing but praise for Rusty Rabbit’s storytelling and gameplay elements, one aspect that definitely could’ve been worked on was its pacing—and PC optimization as well. The initial segment of the game was too much of a chore at times, with me questioning why everything was moving so slowly. The dialogue was definitely inspired, but it felt more like a full monologue — but maybe that’s just me.
Gameplay was also at a standstill at times, with lag spikes occurring over and over again, but for some reason, it stopped after the random dungeon got unlocked. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, though, all it needed was time—and it did avalanche into a fun experience.
Pros
🐇 A unique take on the Metroidvania genre with abundant movement tech and deep lore
🐇 Mostly voice-acted experience, with even overworld NPCs being voice-acted too!
🐇 Adorable character design reminiscent of Sylvanian Families, and cool mecha to go with it
Cons
❌ Atrociously long introductory section that takes hours to go through
❌ Clunky movement and combat hindered by perk advancement and story progression
❌ Gacha grinding for better equipment makes the grind tedious early on
❌ PC performance issues, with lag spikes early on even with lower settings
Initial Verdict (6 hours in): 8/10 – While I personally enjoyed the game the more I got into it, it’s still hindered by a horrendously long intro section. If you have the patience to grind it out, though, you’re in for a wild ride! Definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you want a challenge or want something to scratch that Silk Song itch, Rusty Rabbit is the game for you!
Check out the first part of my gameplay with our stream over on YouTube!
