Rusted Moss (2023)

Reposting this now that the game has its own page. I really liked this game alot and while its learning curve and mechanics may not be for everyone, I hope it gets a bit more attention. It's very likely going to be in my top 5 for this year.

Finished Rusted Moss and I really enjoyed this game. The grapple hook really carries the game here and provides a fresh approach to metroidvania (as far as games I've played recently is concerned). It just felt really good to traverse areas and see just how much you could push the grapple hook's physics and just barely reach that ledge that seems too far away. Like I've mentioned before, however, the physics of the grapple hook can be just as frustrating as they are intuitive. Some of the game's secrets really want you to be extremely precise with angle, trajectory, and momentum to get to them. Bosses and their attacks can become a little overwhelming as the game expects you to constantly be swinging around to dodge and reposition yourself better. Losing control of your momentum will also get you killed alot, especially towards the end of the game. Regardless, I really enjoyed it despite some frustrations. The music is also very good. It mostly consists of somber, melancholic and even haunting tracks, which fit the atmosphere, setting, and story. I often let the game run in the background in between breaks just to listen to the track of whatever area I was in.

Though the game is short, about 6-8 hours, it is a very solid, tight, and contained experience. The game has multiple endings and achievements to encourage multiple playthroughs, but I feel very satisfied with what I got. While I can't give it five stars, four stars doesn't feel right either so I'd put this in between at 4.5.