What is it?

Rusty Hearts is a partially isometric, free-to-play multiplayer game with a Castlevania-esque styling. You battle your way through tons of creepy dungeons with your friends and earn ridiculous loot. Since it's free-to-play, the game does have a few microtransactions. However, Perfect World doesn't want to alienate non-paying customers.

Why is it cool?

Unlike a lot of free-to-play games that completely break the balance between paying and non-paying players with exclusive -- and expensive -- items, Rusty Hearts relegates its paid content to extra costumes and healing items. You don't have to give Perfect World money for health, but if you need to take a small supply with you before going into a difficult dungeon, paying a little isn't a bad idea.

But the important fact here is that you don't have to pay to get healing items. You simply get them faster than you would if you searched for them in dungeons.

The moment I wanted to give them all my money.

The art style in this game is beautifully nostalgic. It draws upon Castlevania and the interests of Gothic Lolitas everywhere as it paints a gleefully chaotic setting full of cellars, castles, and lots of lace.

Couple that design with the easily mastered controls and Rusty Hearts turns into a satisfying -- and sometimes ridiculous -- romp through a variety of spooky locales. I was so hooked on beating people up with gigantic weapons that I didn't want the demo to end. I had to kill one more monster and pick up more loot!

During the preview session, the developers also revealed that they were considering bringing Rusty Hearts to Xbox Live. 

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