Frostpunk review

Meh

by Bambei

The only thing you have left is Hope ... One way or another could be described in the Game, but in a positive Sense. Frostpunk is a Build-up and Economic Simulation, where it's primarily not about planning a thriving city with the highest possible Revenue, but a City that survives an eternal Winter that's getting more and more colder. The Principle is simple: In order to generate Heat, a Generator in the City Centre must be supplied with Coal. This can be mined nearby, just as Wood and Steel-needed for Construction. As in the real World, the Generator initially has a fairly low Range, so that only Buildings in the immediate vicinity benefit from the Heat. Around the Generator, the City is expanded roughly. Buildings such as a Hunting Lodge, Medical Stations, food Expenses, etc. are expanding the City step by Step, and the more it expands, the further away they are from the Generator and it gets cold, later effectively extremely cold! But what to do, in such a Situation? -Right, do research! It is possible to research and thus unlock new Buildings or Upgrades for the Generators and Buildings. Also, so-called Steam Towers can be explored, which warm a small Area in a circular way around them-but at the Price of increased coal Consumption. Further Upgrades increase the Range and Heating Capacity of the Generator or Optimize its Coal Consumption. Without Coal, no Heat and thus "gradually" the safe Death of the Inhabitants, because they fall Ill first before they suffer Frostbite, which may only be saved by Amputation. Sick Residents identify as Workers, which means that Workers have to be redistributed to collect enough Coal or other Resources, for example, including Food. Depending on the Severity of the Disease, these recover at different rates, or fall out in the worst Case, because of an Amputation. Frostpunk starts relatively easily: The Temperatures are still quite easy to cope with And the Dissatisfaction of the Inhabitants, for Example due to illness, Lack of food or enacted Laws (more on this) can be managed well. But over Time, Problems are added: There are Revolts and Protests that can lead to residents wanting to move back to London (old Homeland). Everyone gets slightly dissatisfied and action needs to be taken. Whether with a hard Hand or through Faith the Player has to decide for himself, everything has its advantages and Disadvantages. Does the iron Law Govern order, or does faith in God alone help to survive the Criticism? The Player is confronted with increasingly complex Problems. Lack of Raw materials must be compensated for by new Workers, who must once be found with a Spying Squad. Falling Temperatures force one to decide to cancel a planned Research to maintain the Food Supply of the City, or whether to accept higher Coal Consumption and adjust the Heaters. Refugee Waves force you to decide whether to take in all, only the Healthy or none at all, because there may be a lack of Capacity or if you are Lucky Enough to find the rare Steam Cores that allow you to automate and more effectively (and, if necessary, without Workers who are Sick). I can recommend this Game to all those who do not directly value a construction Simulation, but also take into account the social Environment of the City, including the climate conditions. There's a Thumbs up from me. P.S.: I deliberately omitted the Aspect of graphics and the Controls and soundtrack, but who wants to know exactly: Visually and acoustically, the Game is beautifully structured in Terms of what is possible and appropriate. The Control is sometimes a bit opinionated (Road Construction, for Example) and the UI could use a little more Management Options, but even these Little things (including the incomplete German Translation) do not Detract from the Game.