SteamWorld Construct is the most recent title within the SteamWorld sequence, marking the sixth entry. The franchise is understood for the various gameplay of every iteration, throwing tower protection, platforming, technique, and deck-building into the combination alongside the best way. SteamWorld Construct continues this custom, introducing us to a simulation title for the primary time within the sequence.
As with earlier entries, SteamWorld Construct follows the adventures of steam-powered robots in a post-apocalyptic world. This time round, we’re working with Jack Clutchsprocket and his daughter, Astrid. This robotic household is trapped on a dying planet. Their solely likelihood of escape is discovering an historical technological artifact that’s buried deep underground.
Full disclosure: I’m not an enormous fan of simulation video games. But I’ve all the time loved earlier SteamWorld titles. Might this entry be a strategy to introduce followers of the IP into a brand new style? I used to be cautious getting in, despite the fact that I anticipated top quality from the builders. It’s protected to say that I used to be not let down.
Simulation titles could be sophisticated, and whereas there are a number of choices in SteamWorld Construct, I recognize the tutorial that explains all of it. Because it eased me into constructing residences, factories, shops, and extra, I didn’t really feel overwhelmed. This is a crucial strategy to hold gamers of all talent ranges and engaged.
It’s additionally shortly apparent how tremendous satisfying it’s to construct homes and watch your little robo-workers trundle about finishing up their enterprise. The sequence is understood for its allure, and this continues in SteamWorld Construct. When your city is sad about one thing, it’s not solely easy to repair, however I need to repair it shortly! I don’t just like the considered my villagers being sad.
The controls are intuitive. You swap between the edit and think about modes with a easy faucet of the Y button. In edit mode, your instruments are neatly lined up in classes on the backside, permitting you to scroll by means of and choose one with the A button. The grid-based format of the land itself reveals you precisely the place buildings could be positioned, with an apparent purple/blue colour system to indicate when one thing can/can’t be constructed there.
Just a few management quirks may very well be improved, like the best way you enter mines. To take action, you must maintain the R shoulder button and press down on the D-pad to enter, then R and up on the D-pad to get out once more. It’s not precisely troublesome, however it’s not notably intuitive, both. A easy “enter mine?” field whenever you click on on the mine may need been simpler. Having stated that, you may enter the mine at any level, and it masses shortly.
Fortunately, as your city turns into larger and extra sophisticated, you may zoom out and in to see what’s taking place. The factor is aesthetically pleasing, with shiny and colourful visuals that hold issues light-hearted regardless of the specter of robo-extinction. Issues aren’t as sharp as they may very well be whenever you zoom in, nonetheless the great efficiency compensates for this lack of element. And also you’ll be zoomed out more often than not anyway.
The opposite foremost characteristic of SteamWorld Construct is the variance in gameplay. Sure, a number of your time is spent constructing and upgrading your city, encouraging increasingly more robots to maneuver in. However that’s solely half the story. There’s additionally an in-depth mining factor, which adjustments up the gameplay sufficient to maintain issues from rising stale.
When you’re within the mine, you might have several types of robots to work with. These little guys are, naturally sufficient, the miners, they usually dig up all types of things to assist the city above. It expands quickly, with heaps to do. Other than the apparent mining, there are shelters to construct, particular constructions to cease the ceiling from caving in, and even a fight factor. In some unspecified time in the future, you’ll come beneath assault from varied creatures, and also you’ll must defend your self by some means. This shift in gameplay compliments the sim facet, making a enjoyable outing throughout.
General, SteamWorld Construct is one other nice entry on this long-running sequence. I really like that the builders change up the style every time (SteamWorld Dig 2 apart), conserving us all on our toes. This newest outing inspired me to provide simulations one other go, taking a sequence I get pleasure from and introducing me to a style I’m not often keen on. The stress-free model, and intuitive and assorted gameplay make this an accessible and attention-grabbing title for all gamers.