Rustler Reviews
Rustler is an original attempt to take the player to the old top-down games, but due to technical problems it does not have a happy ending.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Rustler brings classic Grand Theft Auto to a twisted version of the European Middle Ages, but its reliance on other media for laughs and a finicky release build makes it a title worth trying only for those nostalgic for the vintage entries of a now-juggernaut series.
Rustler attempts to take us back to classic top-down GTA action in a neat medieval setting but poor performance, shoddy controls, weak humour and a dull, short campaign hold it back from reaching its potential. There are glimmers of good stuff here, a few fun pop culture references, those beat-boxing bards and a good-looking world to stomp around in, but the game underneath is just so underwhelming and uninspired and, in the end, it all feels like a big step back from its most obvious inspirations.
The idea of a Medieval take on the Grand Theft Auto formula is undoubtedly intriguing. That’s why it’s such a shame that Rustler falls short of realizing its full potential. From its unsatisfying combat to the rinse-and-repeat missions, it doesn’t take long before the game starts to wear out its welcome. Add to that near game-breaking technical issues, and you have a title that’s pretty hard to recommend to all but the most desperate fans of the genre. Still, if you’re looking for an unapologetically old-school throwback to the GTA games of old, you might just find some fun to be had with Rustler.
Rustler is not a bad game. The writing and setting can be fun and entertaining, but the shoddy controls and janky mechanics make for an unsatisfying experience. I enjoyed the game but couldn't really bear to play much of it one sitting.
‘Disappointing’ is the best word to describe Rustler. It takes the original Grand Theft Auto template, plops it within a medieval world, then delivers ho-hum missions. Add to that an overall lack of polish, some mechanics that don’t entertain quite like they should, and the absence of voice acting, and you have a small open world adventure that never quite delivers on its promise. Still, chances are you’ll get some fun out of it if you pick it up. Just perhaps not as much as its introductory FMV would suggest.
Rustler is a game that does a little of both but doesn’t commit to either idea enough to make an interesting experience. This indecision to commit hampers the game’s enjoyability and leaves players with a confused understanding of what the game wants to be. This compounded by a lack of black representation while directly referencing black culture everywhere, makes this game difficult to recommend.
As such Rustler is not quite the retro callback to early sandbox games that players may have hoped for. It's an enjoyable fun diversion for a little sharp burst of low brow humor, but in the long term it's unlikely to keep players engaged. Combined with a wide variety of technical issues, Rustler feels like something of a missed opportunity.
While Rustler manages to live up to everything it says on the tin, namely Grand Theft Auto with horses, there's not much in its delivery that leaves any sort of memorable experience. Relying almost entirely on its humour, Rustler tries to steal your fancy with crass jokes and pop culture references. However, it never quite manages to stand out as anything more than a basic sandbox romp, with all the repetitive fetch quests in tow. Couple that with some lacklustre mechanics, and what you've got is a fairly disappointing GTA clone.
With a bit more thought and consideration towards the controls, combat and structure, and less reliance on fart and poo gags, Rustler could have been a riot.
Rustler’s take on a top down sandbox rarely misses the mark with its crass humor but lackluster melee and oft tedious story missions make this open world hard to recommend.
Rustler is a game that I was really hoping for would be some stupid fun, and for the most part it nails that first part. There are some moments that made me chuckle, especially with the Monty Python stuff, but majority of it fell short. I just wish the overall gameplay had some more depth and the mission structure had more fun. There are some decent ideas here, I just feel like I was watching a comedian flop on stage and I was getting bored.
Billing itself as a medieval Grand Theft Auto (this is GTA2, mind you, don't get too excited), Rustler is obviously trying to grab itself some attention, but that unfortunately also puts some expectations on it to try to meet...
Rustler does not try to hide where its main source of inspiration comes from, and it does a great job at parodying the world's number one reference in terms of open world games. With a stunning looking environment too, Rustler finds itself a good place in the Nintendo Switch library. Not all is smooth, though, and performance issues end up making the experience more frustrating than it should be, especially in more intense moments. With that said, this is a fun game that deserves its chance.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
This could be a candidate for Game Pass in the future. All in all, if the Polish studio had a little more resources, it would be able to squeeze something more out of Rustler.
Review in Polish | Read full review
An homage to the original GTA games, Rustler is a fun medieval twist on what made those 90’s smash hit games so enjoyable. Unfortunately, many aspects of GTA 1 & 2 that have aged poorly also rear their ugly head here which makes Rustler feel dated and clunky in comparison to its modern day peers.
Rustler is not great game, but crazy open-world is funny and still much better than awful GTA The Trilogy.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Rustler is a medieval crime-game that's fun to mess around in, but not for long
Rustler advertises itself as a parody of Grand Theft Auto with its subtitle as Grand Theft Horse. It does quite an excellent job of giving players that nostalgic vibe through its top-down style action-adventure game like the old Grand Theft Auto games. The world is gorgeous, and the music it comes along with to accompany you with your adventure.
If you can look past the minor annoyances, overall length, and you enjoy the old school Grand Theft Auto games you may find enjoyment in Rustler.