Survival of the Fittest (and Most Toxic)
An unfiltered dive into the lawless lands of Rust
last updated Nov 20, 2023
Rust is a social experiment on steroids, where every dawn could usher in your twilight, thanks to the charming locals.
Welcome to the Jungle
Embarking on the cruel shores of Rust, you’re greeted with the warm embrace of starvation, hypothermia, and locals that make Gordon Ramsay seem like a Care Bear. Every minute is a dance with death as you scramble to gather resources, craft new items, and erect a shelter before someone or something decides you're today's special on the survival menu. But let’s face it, the real predators here are not the wildlife or the elements; it’s the other players, ready to verbally dismantle anyone within a 200-meter radius. Rust’s gameplay is like being thrown into a shark tank wearing bacon swim trunks – exhilarating, dangerous, and mildly hilarious.
Lullabies to Scream By
Audio in Rust is like a beautiful symphony, if that symphony were composed of distant gunshots, the dying gasps of your character, and a rich tapestry of insults hurled from teens who’ve mastered every slur known to humanity. The music is virtually nonexistent, presumably so players can bask in the cacophony of chaos that surrounds them. Footsteps will be your lullaby – and your alert to imminent danger – with the sound design keeping you so on edge, you might actually feel your hair turning white.
A Visual Feast for the Masochistic
On the graphics front, Rust does not disappoint. If your rig can handle it – because let's be frank, running this game on a setup that’s more potato than PC is a lesson in patience and frustration – the visual experience is quite the treat. Sunsets so beautiful you'll almost forget the bloodthirsty murder hobo behind you. Performance can experience more ups and downs than a roller coaster at Six Flags, but hey, that just adds to the 'charm' of the game, right?
The 'C' in Community Stands for 'Chaos'
Let’s address the radioactive elephant in the room – the Rust community. It's a melting pot of industrious builders, tactical geniuses, and people who probably eat cereal with water instead of milk. The in-game interactions are what give Rust its notorious reputation, a social experiment gone wild where you can feel both the highest highs and the lowest lows of human interaction. If you can crack into a solid group of equally masochistic friends, you'll find the experience often rewarding amidst the absolute anarchy.
Bring a Friend or Five
One does not simply walk into Rust and expect to lord over the landscape. Lone wolves might find the learning curve more like a learning cliff, with their monumental efforts crumbling faster than a sandcastle at high tide. To say it’s essential to have buddies in this game is an understatement. Playing with friends not only makes the steep grind bearable; it transforms the experience into something almost magical, like collectively surviving a zombie apocalypse – if the zombies could teabag you
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Facepunch Studios
Release Date
February 08, 2018
The Verdict
Rust is a game that both seduces and infuriates, a blend of ruthless survival and complex player dynamics that can turn even the most tranquil gamer into a keyboard-smashing maniac. It's not just about building bases and gathering resources; it's a social experiment on steroids. If you've got the tenacity of a honey badger and the patience of a saint, or if you're just a glutton for punishment, Rust might just be your type of party. Just remember, it's survival of the fittest out there, and you're the main course.
