When I first started Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure, I expected a laid back classic bubble shooter that is so common within the mobile and PC gaming space. Although this game matches this description in some respect, Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure exceeds this assumption in many ways.
Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure is a classic puzzle bubble shooting video game. That you would find on a traditional arcade PC collection or mobile device. This particular puzzle genre involves a targeted in-game cannon to shoot bubbles to form bubble chains and combinations. To remove all bubbles on the screen to complete a level. Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure’s gameplay is no exception to this. Having the player shoot bubbles out of a cannon to create chains of three bubbles of the same colour. This chain removes the bubbles, with the end goal being to remove all bubbles from your player’s screen. If you fail to do this, you lose and have to start over again. This classic gameplay mechanic encapsulates in a simple story mode. That involves the player completing levels to defeat the games’ main boss and several mini-bosses throughout the game.
Unfortunately, this is the game in a nutshell. Besides the classic endless modes and other modes such as challenge mode and battle mode, adding a considerable amount of replayability. Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure doesn’t reinvent the wheel to add anything new to this already saturated bubble shooting genre of puzzle games. It takes from its predecessors a classic gameplay mechanic and style without adding anything new to the genre in a refreshing way. However, although this game doesn’t reinvent or add anything new to the genre, it is by no means a bad game. By comparison, it far exceeds its competitors and predecessors within the bubble shooting puzzle shooting genre in many ways.
Firstly, Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure has a brilliant soundtrack. The soundtrack is a standout throughout the game’s different levels, playing classic retro vibes in an upbeat and charming way. For many players, Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure’s soundtrack will take them back to the traditional days of retro gaming and the symbolic soundtracks of this era of video games.
It was a real treat to hear such a well put together, nostalgic soundtrack. That not only plays on the feels of bygone eras of gaming but immerses you in Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure. On top of that, the soundtrack has a ton of variety, and shine’s during boss battle sequences. The game’s art style is also incredibly appealing. It takes a retro look with a mixture that makes each level feel like the next chapter in the game’s story. It is lovely and further makes this game stand out within the puzzle shooting genre.
What is also a standout, and perhaps a positive and a negative is the game’s difficulty. When I first started Rusty Spout’s Rescue Adventure, I expected a slow but steady increase in difficulty. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. Rusty Spout’s Rescue Adventure, quickly gets the player involved in the bubble popping action, taking no time to ramp up the difficulty to a very challenging level. The game separates into groups of ten levels with a boss at the end of each set. For each set of ten you get three lives, lose all three, and you start from the very beginning of that level set. With this in mind, the game is brutally challenging and shows no mercy for new players to the genre.
I frequently found myself, getting to the final boss and messing up a particular combination leading to another climb of the same ten levels. However, although I sound like this was a painful experience, I enjoyed it. The game is genuinely fun and addictive, and it kept me coming back for more. I didn’t find it too frustrating. Nor did it make me lose interest in the game, much to the game and the developer’s credit.
Although some new to the genre may find its difficulty frustrating, making it an unappealing entry point to the genre. Experienced puzzle game enthusiasts will enjoy this game and how difficult it is. However, it is worth noting, especially on the Xbox versions of this game, that the shooting mechanic is very slow in positioning and moving the bubble cannon. Whether this game needs to have better optimisation for consoles or this move was a strategic choice by the developers. More speed would be ideal for easing new players’ difficulty.
All in all, Rusty Spout’s Rescue Adventure is a great little bubble puzzle shooter. Although, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel within its genre and is notably tricky. Making it a challenging entry point for new players into the puzzle bubble popping scene. It is a fun and addictive puzzle game with a charming soundtrack and art style and a difficulty level that will appeal to experienced puzzle gamers.
