Rusty Rabbit review
Nitroplus has been a staple of visual novel games for the past decade or so. So when they announced a game outside of their comfort zone, fans were surprised to hear they were developing an action-adventure title. Rusty Rabbit was created by veterans in the anime and game industry. You have Gen Urobuchi, the mind behind the highly acclaimed Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Fate/Zero. On top of that, Takaya Kuroda—best known for voicing Kazuma Kiryu in the Like A Dragon series—takes on the role of the main character in Rusty Rabbit. It’s always great to hear Kiryu’s voice, no matter how badass or how cute a character is, but the latter was something no one saw coming.
Right out of the gate, Rusty Rabbit feels like Sylvanian Families meets Mad Max. The rabbits are gritty, edgy, and at times, downright adorable. This is an alternate Earth where humanity is extinct and rabbits have taken over the world. This new civilisation runs on a steampunk-inspired aesthetic, with rabbits handling the everyday tasks once managed by humans. You play as Stamp, also known as Rusty in his younger days, who is an experienced rust digger. Though retired, Stamp returns to dig at Smokestack Mountain Factory, only to uncover a digging team called BBs. This discovery led Stamp to conduct a personal investigation into his past and family.
The Nitroplus DNA is still strong in this action-adventure title. Its visual novel roots are clear, and narrative remains the driving force that keeps players engaged. The combat is straightforward and easy to pick up, paired with various game mechanics that allow Stamp to interact with other BBs, gather a variety of items to level up or upgrade his robot.
Its linear dungeon exploration takes strong inspiration from Metroidvania design. Some areas are locked behind keycards, requiring players to explore other parts of the map to progress. Not only does the progression feel straightforward, it keeps players wanting to venture further and find out more. Some control schemes feel a bit clunky at times and may take some warming up to, but the sprint, dash, and wall jump mechanics are tight and satisfying, reminiscent of older Mega Man games.
Progression and crafting can be a bit frustrating early on. But like many systems, it improves with time. Crafting is essential to becoming stronger, especially when facing tougher enemies. In some areas, only specific weapons can break certain obstacles, so players need to plan ahead before heading out for another run. Thankfully, the map clearly indicates undiscovered sections. Skill trees are simple and easy to grasp, and leveling up is straightforward—even breaking rocks gives you experience.
As an experienced digger, digging is evidently a core mechanic. It’s both satisfying and addictive, making players want to dig more and more. Players can chip away at blocks individually or hold a button to clear multiple blocks at once. Overall, this is the most crucial part of the game, and it is nice to see that they nailed the fundamentals down flawlessly.
All in all, with great sound design and strong music composition, Rusty Rabbit delivers a fun and quirky experience and narrative. Its straightforward dungeon exploration is occasionally punctuated by more intense gameplay, which adds variety and momentum. Some of the mechanics and UI could be more refined, but overall, that’s easy to overlook given the beautifully crafted environments, excellent voice acting, and a compelling story that drives everything forward.
