On Rusty Trails

On Rusty Trails has put together a rather simple yet cunningly effective game. It may not bring anything wholly new to the table, but the elements are all so well-connected and wonderfully implemented that it stands above.

88%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

optimization, stability

89% User Score Based on 130 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

On Rusty Trails is a single player survival platformer game. It was developed by Johannes Spohr and was released on June 13, 2016. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "On Rusty Trails," play as a shape-shifting robot named Elvis in a world suspicious of appearances. Adapt your look to manipulate the environment, solve puzzles, and avoid hazards in this comic-styled platformer adventure. Run up walls, across ceilings, and through lava streams in a visually dynamic world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 130 reviews

gameplay30 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features a unique mechanic of switching between colors to interact with the environment, providing interesting challenges.
The art style and overall design are charming, creating an engaging atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
Controls are tight and fluid, making the platforming feel satisfying and enjoyable, with a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating.

The final boss is frustrating and poorly designed, often relying on luck rather than skill, which detracts from the overall experience.
Many levels feel repetitive and lack distinctiveness, leading to a sense of monotony throughout the game.
There are several graphical glitches and performance issues that can disrupt immersion and gameplay.

gameplay
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique core mechanic of switching between red and blue surfaces, which offers interesting challenges and a smooth platforming experience. While the mechanics are generally solid and intuitive, some players feel that the game lacks innovation and could benefit from introducing more diverse mechanics throughout its runtime. Overall, the platforming is engaging and cleverly designed, though it may not stand out in a competitive genre filled with exceptional titles.
- “The gameplay consists of short but very clever and satisfying platforming challenges which keep the player interested and eager to learn.”
- “Movement feels as fluid as Super Meat Boy, and the core mechanic of switching suits is used fantastically well and serves to drive both the story and the oddly poignant social commentary.”
- “Gameplay is very fluid and fair, controls are excellent.”
- “While On Rusty Trails offers a well thought out story and unique aesthetic, the gameplay leaves far too much to be desired in an extremely competitive platformer genre.”
- “I was disappointed that more mechanics weren't introduced.”
- “The final boss fight is absolute trash and goes against the game's basic mechanics.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The game's story is characterized as minimal yet charming, often conveyed through environmental storytelling and stylish comic panels. Players follow a quirky narrative involving a red triangle character seeking insurance after a meteor destroys his home, with themes of social commentary subtly woven into the level design. While some reviews note the plot's simplicity, the unique aesthetic and engaging storytelling elements provide a satisfying backdrop to the gameplay.
- “I like the way the story is told both through cutscenes and through the environment.”
- “The story and world were interesting and unique enough to be a nice wrapper to justify the gameplay and your actions.”
- “Movement feels as fluid as Super Meat Boy, and the core mechanic of switching suits is used fantastically well and serves to drive both the story and the oddly poignant social commentary.”
- “The story is minimal, but fine for what it is, and so the only problem I have with the game are its two boss fights.”
- “Charming and nicely crafted, but unspectacular platformer with some neat ideas slightly devalued by its overly politically correct story told via comic panels to get some German tax money.”
- “The story is also very barebones, told through panels spread through the levels (very stylish ones!) and some hidden rooms.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and charming art style, contributing to an enjoyable visual experience. However, some users reported graphical glitches, such as text issues and odd fade effects, which detracted from the overall presentation. While the visuals are considered beautiful, they are described as more stylistic than technically impressive, with a mixed reception regarding performance.
- “Graphics are wonderful.”
- “This is a very pretty game, the sounds and visuals are great.”
- “The art style is also amazing.”
- “Also, there were multiple graphical glitches like the text turning black, or the fade to black being the Steam logo.”
- “Just a mediocre platformer with a stylish art style.”
- “- While on Rusty Trails offers a well thought out story and unique aesthetic; the gameplay leaves far too much to be desired in an extremely competitive platformer genre.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its distinct style and quality, while others find it subtle and not particularly impressive. While many appreciate the unique and ambient soundtrack typical of the developer's previous works, a few players opted to mute it in favor of their own music. Overall, the music is seen as a charming aspect that complements the game's visuals, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- “Great controls, great look, great music.”
- “Music was great and strange, typical of black pants games.”
- “What made this stand out for me especially is the quality of the soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack here is more subtle and ambient, but never impressive.”
- “I just muted the soundtrack and had my own music playing.”
- “Music can be atonal, not to my tastes.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance drops and issues with graphics settings and fullscreen mode. However, many have noted that performance improves over time, leading to a generally smoother experience after initial struggles.
- “Since then, everything runs smoothly.”
- “On my rig, the performance sometimes tanked.”
- “The optimization of the game seems to be a little questionable while the options and fullscreen didn't work.”
- “While performance dipped and I struggled with input dropping on certain levels, I never was too frustrated.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, including multiple graphical glitches such as text turning black and inappropriate fade-to-black transitions featuring the Steam logo. These problems detract from the overall user experience.
- “There were multiple graphical glitches, such as the text turning black and the fade to black displaying the Steam logo.”
- “I encountered several stability issues, including frequent crashes and graphical glitches.”
- “The game suffers from numerous stability problems, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers very little replayability, with users consistently noting a lack of incentives to revisit the experience after completion.
- “Very little replayability.”
- “Very little replayability.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its appealing and immersive environment, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “It has a nice environment and atmosphere.”