Rusted Moss

very mixed bag, but i wouldn't have anything to criticize if i didn't like the game. on one hand the base story is pretty good and the controls are fine throughout the base map, on the other hand the bonus levels have incredibly captivating designs and characters that immediately make the flaws of the movement apparent. the experience for the main story felt really well put together and thoughtful, with weapons and mechanics being introduced at a gradual but steady pace that feels rewarding. the writing itself is incredibly charming when taken in small pieces and moving when pieced together, making the smaller parkour challenges for lore tidbits feel rewarding. the soundtrack makes for nice ambience, although admittedly it can be a little hard to hear at times. smaller details like fern's idle animations also really add to the game's feel, and have actually been helpful reminders for drinking on at least one occasion. the environments vary wildly, and all but one of the ones i've found so far feel like they mesh together to give a little bit of insight into the surrounding world. the art style itself isn't the most "out there" but it doesn't have to be, and the devs make REALLY good use of the simpler style with a more complex aesthetic. gunplay can be a bit clunky at times, with some weapons feeling a bit pointless, but all-in-all each weapon still has a use throughout the base game with some tapering off later on. the map itself is also a treat to explore, and while there are some hidden and more complex routes they aren't "punch around for an invisible wall" annoying to find and can make for a pretty fun challenge. with that said, the bonus levels are incredibly fun mechanical tests at their best and tedious timesinks at their worst. and with more mechanics being introduced, certain flaws can start peeking through. slopes have incredibly odd interactions when you're at speed (sometimes maintaining momentum and other times killing it) and the grappling hook spawns inside your character, making some shots with it much more finnicky. horizontal propulsion with the rocket launcher makes certain areas go by a lot faster but it doesn't mesh well with the grappling hook's bungee cord nature (oddly enough) making it less consistent to make certain jumps compared to just superjumping with the rocket launcher and slingshotting off the bottom of some terrain. certain mechanics aren't explained until the bonus areas (like scouting), which in itself wasn't all too detrimental to the experience but was certainly frustrating. i imagine it was probably a dlc thing. iirc shotgun momentum boosts aren't really mentioned until the final segment of the base game for how useful they are. outside of the movement, the mechanics of enemies and bosses throughout the game range from fun difficulty bumps to outright frustrating. most of the base bosses are enjoyable and feel well thought out, but the minibosses *cough* pestilence *cough* can feel like they punish you for using your movement tools. the sniper evasion segments on the mountain can feel horrid to go through at times, compared to the larger enemy evasion segments feeling exhilarating. overall it's a really fun game that has some physics quirks and the occasional annoyance, but is absolutely worth giving a shot. the bonus levels aren't for everyone, but the stories that go alongside them make it feel rewarding. 8.5/10 and would be a solid 9 if some of the quirks are ironed out pertaining to parkour consistency. 10/10 if i get to marry froy