Rust vs Castle of Heart: Retold

• Perspective: First-Person
• Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer Only
• Platforms: PC (Windows, macOS), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Core Concept: Unforgiving, player-driven PvP survival with deep base building and raiding.
• Full Release: 2018-02-08
• Unique Feature: The server 'wipe' cycle, which regularly resets progress and creates a fresh start, fostering a unique and highly replayable gameplay loop.

• Perspective: 2.5D Side-Scroller
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Slavic Mythology
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 (TBA)
• Unique Feature: A unique curse mechanic that acts as a timer, where the player's health constantly depletes and must be replenished through aggressive combat, creating a timed-runner feel.

• Horse: Horses can be found in the wild and claimed by players. They serve as a primary mode of transportation and can be equipped with horseshoes and saddlebags for increased stamina and storage.
  Equine
• Clan Mates: Rust is fundamentally a social game. Your most important companions are other human players you team up with. A well-coordinated clan can dominate a server through numbers, strategy, and shared resources.
  Human (Player)

• Scrap: Found by breaking barrels and looting monuments. Scrap is the most important resource in the game, used for researching blueprints, crafting components, and trading at NPC outposts.
• Components: Found in crates and barrels. Items like Gears, Metal Pipes, and Rifle Bodies are essential components required to craft advanced weapons and items.

• Crystals of Mokosh: Four hidden gems are scattered throughout each of the game's 20 levels. Collecting them extends Svaran's maximum health.
• Stone Hearts: Floating pickups found throughout levels and dropped by enemies. These are essential for replenishing Svaran's constantly draining life bar.

• Survival
• PvP
• Base Building
• Crafting
• Post-Apocalyptic
• Sandbox
• Player Interaction
• Betrayal

• Dark Fantasy
• Slavic Mythology
• Action Platformer
• 2.5D
• Indie
• Curse

• Primitive Weapons: Melee, Bows
  Early-game weapons crafted from wood, stone, and bone. Includes spears, the Hunting Bow, and the Crossbow. Essential for initial survival and hunting.
• Mid-Tier Firearms: Pistols, SMGs, Shotguns
  The first firearms players can craft at a Tier 2 Workbench. Includes the Revolver, Semi-Automatic Pistol, Thompson SMG, and Pump Shotgun.
• High-Tier Firearms: Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles
  The most powerful weapons in the game, requiring a Tier 3 Workbench to craft. Includes the iconic Assault Rifle (AK), LR-300, and the L96 Sniper Rifle.
• Explosives: Raiding Tools
  Essential for raiding enemy bases. Includes Satchel Charges, Timed Explosive Charges (C4), and Rockets, which require large amounts of Sulfur to craft.

• Sword: Primary Melee
  Svaran's main weapon for close-quarters hack-and-slash combat.
• Secondary Melee Weapons: Torches, Hatchets
  A variety of melee weapons that can be picked up and used for a limited time. Svaran drops his secondary weapon if his first health bar is depleted.
• Secondary Ranged Weapons: Javelins, Crossbows
  Ranged weapon options that can be found in the levels for engaging enemies from a distance.

• Primitive Armor: Early-game armor crafted from wood and bone. Offers minimal protection but is cheap to produce.
• Road Sign & Metal Armor: The standard mid-to-late game armor. The Road Sign Jacket and Kilt offer a good balance of protection and mobility. The Metal Facemask and Chestplate provide the best projectile protection but are expensive and slow the player down.
• Hazmat Suit: A unique, one-piece suit that provides excellent protection against radiation, allowing players to loot high-tier monuments. It offers only moderate protection against projectiles and cannot be worn with other armor.

• Knight's Armor: Svaran wears a suit of armor, but there is no traditional armor system with defensive stats. His durability is determined by his health bar, which is extended by collecting Crystals of Mokosh.

• Cosmetic Skins: Players can buy and trade a massive variety of cosmetic skins for nearly every item in the game, including weapons, armor, clothing, doors, and deployable items. These skins are applied to an item and do not change its stats.

Progression is based on in-level pickups and collectibles. Players can find dozens of different melee and ranged secondary weapons throughout the levels. Collecting the four 'Crystals of Mokosh' hidden in each level will extend Svaran's maximum life bar. There is no traditional skill tree; progression is tied to player skill and health upgrades.

The game is a linear 2.5D platformer. Players will travel across 20 levels set within four distinct, Slavic-inspired landscapes. Most levels have been completely rebuilt for the Retold version, featuring new animations and more detailed environments.

• Modular Cars: Ground Vehicle
  Players can find rusted car chassis on the road and repair them using modular engine parts. Cars can be customized with different modules, including armored cockpits, storage, and passenger seats.
• Minicopter & Scrap Transport Helicopter: Air Vehicle
  Small, agile helicopters that can be found and fueled. They are the fastest way to travel and are highly sought-after for scouting and transporting small teams.
• Boats: Watercraft
  Motorboats and RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats) that spawn along the coast. They are essential for traversing the ocean, reaching offshore monuments like the Oil Rigs, and for piracy.

• Svaran: Playable Protagonist
  A noble Slavic warrior who is cursed and turned to stone. He must fight against time to defeat the evil sorcerer and save his beloved.
• Mira: Key NPC
  A priestess and Svaran's betrothed. Her tear brings Svaran back to life, and her rescue is his primary goal.
• The Sorcerer: Antagonist
  The main villain of the game. A servant of the evil god Chernobog who cursed Svaran and rules the land with dark magic.

• Player-Driven Objectives
  Rust does not have developer-created missions or quests. All objectives are set by the players themselves. Common goals include building a secure base, progressing through the tech tree to craft high-tier weapons, raiding a powerful rival clan, or controlling key monuments on the map.

• Q: Can you play Rust solo?
  A: Yes, but it is extremely challenging. The game is designed around player interaction and PvP, and solo players are at a significant disadvantage against organized groups (clans).
• Q: How do I change my character's appearance?
  A: You cannot. Your character's physical appearance (gender, race, etc.) is randomly generated and permanently tied to your game account (e.g., your Steam ID). The only way to change it is to use a different account.
• Q: What is a 'wipe'?
  A: A wipe is a server reset. On a set schedule (usually weekly or monthly), all player-built structures are removed, and everyone starts fresh with a rock and a torch. This ensures a level playing field and keeps the game from becoming stagnant.
• Q: Is Rust pay-to-win?
  A: No. The game is a one-time purchase. All paid content is purely cosmetic (skins) or optional (DLC with themed items like instruments) and provides no gameplay advantage.

• Q: What is Castle of Heart: Retold?
  A: It is a complete remake and definitive version of the 2018 Nintendo Switch exclusive action platformer, Castle of Heart. It features massively improved graphics, rebalanced combat, and a reimagined story.
• Q: What is the 'curse' mechanic?
  A: The protagonist, Svaran, is cursed to turn to stone. This translates into a unique gameplay mechanic where his health constantly drains like a timer. He must stay aggressive, killing enemies or finding pickups to replenish his health and survive.
• Q: Is it a hard game?
  A: Yes, it is designed to be a challenging 2.5D action platformer, similar in feel to classic games like Super Ghouls and Ghosts. Precision platforming and strategic combat are required.
• Q: What's new in the 'Retold' version?
  A: Almost everything has been enhanced. Most levels are rebuilt, graphics and lighting are overhauled, controls are more responsive, combat is rebalanced to be more tactical, and every line of dialogue and every cutscene has been remade.

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Rust. This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Facepunch Studios, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As a long-running and continuously updated survival game, its requirements have evolved and are notably CPU and RAM intensive. Laptop and future-generation GPU listings are extrapolated based on performance benchmarks.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance. Rust is notoriously demanding on the CPU, especially on high-population servers. A laptop with strong single-core CPU performance and a robust cooling system is critical for a stable framerate.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: While Rust is often CPU-bound, a sufficient TGP is important to prevent the GPU from throttling during intense moments with many player-built structures and environmental effects.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game can put a heavy, sustained load on the CPU. A high-performance cooling solution is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance, which is critical for PvP encounters.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Strong single-thread CPU performance is critical for Rust. A laptop with high CPU power limits is key to maintaining a high minimum framerate and reducing stutters when loading in assets and other players.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize system latency, providing a tangible advantage in a game where split-second reactions are vital for survival.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Rust has official support for NVIDIA DLSS. AMD FSR is not natively integrated, but players can use driver-level solutions. Given the game's demanding nature, using DLSS on supported hardware is highly recommended to boost performance.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Performance is heavily impacted by settings like Shadow Quality, Draw Distance, and the number of player-built objects being rendered. The game is often CPU-bound, so lowering graphical settings may not always increase framerates if the CPU is the bottleneck.
• Game Name: Rust

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. These specifications are for the rebuilt 'Retold' version and are relatively modest.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will be excellent on modern hardware. Most gaming laptops from the last few years will run the game at high settings without issue.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.
• Game Name: Castle of Heart: Retold

• Upscaling Tech: Rust has official support for NVIDIA DLSS. AMD FSR is not natively integrated, but players can use driver-level solutions. Given the game's demanding nature, using DLSS on supported hardware is highly recommended to boost performance.
• Key Settings Impact: Performance is heavily impacted by settings like Shadow Quality, Draw Distance, and the number of player-built objects being rendered. The game is often CPU-bound, so lowering graphical settings may not always increase framerates if the CPU is the bottleneck.

• G P U T G P: While Rust is often CPU-bound, a sufficient TGP is important to prevent the GPU from throttling during intense moments with many player-built structures and environmental effects.
• Cooling Thermals: The game can put a heavy, sustained load on the CPU. A high-performance cooling solution is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance, which is critical for PvP encounters.
• C P U Power Limits: Strong single-thread CPU performance is critical for Rust. A laptop with high CPU power limits is key to maintaining a high minimum framerate and reducing stutters when loading in assets and other players.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize system latency, providing a tangible advantage in a game where split-second reactions are vital for survival.

• G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.