Rusted Moss is a twin-stick shooter metroidvania where you sling around the map with your grapple, blasting your way through witches and rusted machine monstrosities alike. This wasteland once harboring mankind has since fallen, and Fae long forgotten now knock on humanity's door...
At the core of the gameplay, players wield a unique grappling hook that functions more like an elastic bungee cord than a traditional grappling tool. Reviewers consistently praise the depth and nuance involved in mastering this system, likening the precision platforming challenges to those found in Celeste. While initially difficult to control, the grappling hook's bungee-like properties allow players to sling themselves through the levels in creative, momentum-driven ways once the mechanic clicks. Reviewers highlight how this opens up a heightened sense of player agency and control over the character's movement.
The game's combat also receives high praise, with reviewers highlighting the tight and responsive shooting mechanics enabled by the 360-degree aiming system. Players can precisely target enemies while in the midst of complex grappling maneuvers, switching between the game's diverse arsenal of weapons, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and situational uses.
The boss encounters in this game are described as tense "cat-and-mouse" chases that take place in large, intricate arenas. These battles require players to masterfully utilize the grappling hook and other movement options to avoid the boss's attacks while finding openings to counterattack. Reviewers praise these boss fights for presenting unique challenges that deviate from the standard "dodge and strike" formula, further emphasizing the game's focus on dynamic, physics-based movement.
The Metroidvania structure of the game allows players to chart their own path through the interconnected environments, driven by their mastery of the grappling hook. Reviewers highlight the sense of rewarding discovery in unlocking new areas and abilities, often through creative sequence breaking - finding unintended routes and shortcuts by pushing the limits of the grappling hook's advanced techniques.
While the game presents a significant challenge, especially in its mastery of the grappling hook, reviewers appreciate the robust set of accessibility options. These allow players of varying skill levels to tailor the experience to their needs, whether through difficulty settings, invincibility modes, or other customization options, ensuring a wider audience can enjoy the core mechanics and exploration.