Yup, you read that right. In the new platformer “On Rusty Trails,” you play as a cute little guy named Elvis. As Elvis, you must find a new comfy place to stay. As surface level and odd as this sounds, this game delivers a deep plot that you may choose to follow, or you could just play through the levels. Because of this and many other aspects of the game, developer Black Pants Studio has created a completely original and beautiful platformer in an age of virtual reality and massive games.

To start off, the game looks fantastic. The game design may seem dark, but it is contrasted by the lightheartedness of the story and characters in it. This carefully crafted balance creates a positive and light experience as you quest to find your new home. The levels are made up of two types of blocks that you may travel on, blue and red. While Elvis is himself (red), the blue blocks disappear. When he puts on his blue costume, the red ones disappear. This mechanic becomes the core mechanic of the game, as you will have to switch back and forth many times in each level. The character Elvis himself is one you will fall in love with very quickly. He has a very simplistic design, but something about watching his house get destroyed in the beginning makes you feel obligated to find this little guy a new home.

One of the best things about this game is that playing it feels completely new. The movement is fast, you magnetize to blocks so you can walk upside down or on top of them, and you have to constantly switch from red to blue. The levels varied from traditional point A to point B levels, ones where you are caught in wind so you are flying across the scree, and even the occasional boss fight. All of these work extremely well with the mechanics set forth in the game. The only minor complaint I have deals with the frame rate. Sometimes when many blocks around you have to appear/disappear because you switched colors, the frame rate will drop causing you to die. This only happened a few times, and I was able to get passed those areas in a few tries.

On Rusty Trails does something that many current games are afraid to do, and that is to not take itself too seriously. The playful art design contrasts the dark environment and the innocence and lack of negativity from Elvis contrasts the sometimes depressing story elements. Black Pants Studio has created a casual masterpiece, presenting a story that is rich only if you choose to follow it. Not every game needs to change the way games are played with a crazy story and the best graphics ever. I thoroughly enjoyed playing through on Rusty Trails and will certainly go back to it when I want to relax with a smooth platformer.

9/10

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