Hi everyone! Here’s another review that features yet another unique MMORPG in the market. It’s called Rusty Hearts. Rusty Hearts is more of a “beat-em-up” type of MMO with mobs spawning in the dungeons and you will combo your way to defeat them.

As for my usual commentary, we go to the character creation. Unfortunately, in Rusty Hearts, it’s more of a character selection rather than creation. There’s literally no customization for your characters. You just choose one of the four available characters: Frantz, Angela, Tude, and Natasha. This will most likely be a major turn off to many players since it’s not only gender-locked, it’s also character/class-locked. If you want customization though, there is a nice selection available in their cash shop. Cosmetics items can also be acquired through quests, events, or craft.

The main reason for having this kind of character selection, I believe, stems from the game’s story. Unlike all the other MMORPGs with the generic “I am the hero” story where your character is the chosen one to save the world (even if there are hundreds or thousands others), Rusty Hearts gives its players a concrete and unique plot. It’s like playing Final Fantasy or Breath of Fire where you control a distinct character and follow a carefully crafted story. I know that not all players will love this, but for me, I’m very much willing to trade customization for a good story.

One small flaw about this game is replayability. Although there are four characters, you generally just follow one story. So for example, if Tude is not yet in the story at the start, you will have Tude as your avatar, but the conversation will be between Frantz and Angela. So typically, whoever character you choose, you will still get the same flow or story. It might have been better if the story will revolve around which character you choose. You see his side of the story, his point of view, etc. This will give you more reason to rerun the game using different characters.

Enough of the characters and story and we now go to the battle. As mentioned, it’s a beat-em-up type of game where you assign skills to certain hotkeys and do combos using different attacks and skills. It plays something like Grand Chase and Elsword, only that this one is 3D. So basically, the combat is button mashing of “X” for normal attacks, a few skill hits with “A”, “S”, “D”, “F”, “G”, and “H”. Guard with “Z” and dodge with “Ctrl + arrow key”. It’s a nice escape to the usual point-and-click type of MMOs.

Overall, Rusty Hearts has its share of good points and bad points. Character customization was neglected in favor of a more unique and compelling story. Going to dungeons and making combos can also be quite repetitive but is definitely more fun to do and watch than other point-and-click MMOs. Not everyone will like this game. But if you’re into this kind of MMO, then Rusty Hearts does it quite well.

<I got the images from different sources. I would have liked to upload my own screenshots but I can't seem to upload them here>