Over the years there have been a number of video games inspired by modern GTA games or the older installments in the series, and while a handful still managed to become successful, there aren't many that have tackled the experience on next-gen consoles. That's precisely what the new title from Jutsu Games aims to do, and Rustler is unique at that because it is inspired by GTA 1 and 2, but with a medieval makeover. Rustler is described as "Grand Theft Horse," and it delivers a very distinctive world that's inspired by medieval times, but with a touch of humor and plenty of historically inaccurate representation.
In Rustler, players will be able to walk down the street and use crosswalks, and there will be many traffic lights and parking lots for horses, but that's not all. There are even police sirens mounted on horses, which the knight cops will activate while chasing those players who commit a crime or two - but there is no punishing retaliation from the game if the rustlers get caught. After all, life is not worth much in the Middle Ages. There's a lot more for Rustler to offer for those who are willing to embrace the medieval equivalent of Grand Theft Auto, but one of the main things it does right is its approach to next-gen consoles and the experiences they can provide. Game Rant participated in a preview event with Rustler's developers where more details on the game were shared.
Rustler on Next-Gen Consoles, and How it Could Affect GTA 6
The so-called next-gen consoles have been a great addition to the industry since they were released last year, and both Sony's PS5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X/S have each their own selling points. They are known for the graphics that more recent video games can achieve, but then there are other features that truly make games shine in terms of performance, with loading times being cut by SSD-based loading and also with FPS being more stable. Rustler takes advantage of all these improvements over the previous generation of consoles, and it also builds the end experience on other outstanding characteristics, such as the PS5's DualSense controller.
For starters, the controllers vibrate whenever the players choose to mount on their horse (or someone else's, being rustlers), and the vibration changes dynamically based on the intensity and speed of the horse's gallop, providing haptic feedback on the actions performed. Rustler wouldn't be a GTA-style game without a fair share of combat, and that is where haptic feedback comes in as well. Enemy hits feel different based on the side they came in and the distance from the opponent, according to the developer.
Then, one of the weapons that can be acquired and used in Rustler is the crossbow, which applies resistance to the trigger that is used to hold the bolts and reload the weapon. Another noteworthy addition for Rustler is that the sirens of the medieval police have 3D audio, meaning the closer they are the louder they will be, and then the sound will also change based on the police's position in space around the main character.
With all this in mind, it's easy to see how much work was put into Rustler, and this also paves the way for other GTA-inspired games and future installments of the GTA series itself. There's a lot here that could end up being part of GTA 6, especially because it will undoubtedly still feature police chasing players and gunfights.
Rustler is in Early Access on Steam, and will release for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on August 31.