112 Operator
Overview
Ol' Il Pallino has a confession to make: He’s never played 9-1-1 Operator going into 1-1-2 Operator, so this review most likely won’t be helpful for players who wonder how both games compare. The selling point for 1-1-2 Operator is obviously the feature that allows players to play sandbox games in any city in the world. Campaigns, however, are limited to a handful of cities in Europe and the gray area that is Istanbul, Turkey. Both the sandbox and campaign start with a story of the player becoming an emergency dispatcher managing a single district through a probationary period, and after three shifts, the player presumably does well enough to unlock more regions on the map (the player gets to pick which regions in sandbox mode) and also gains more units and personnel along the way. (New vehicles may be purchased once unlocked. Equipment may also be purchased for police, medical, and fire units to perform specialized tasks or to simply make units more skillful.) As the player progresses, the situations become more hectic, but if the player knows anything about unit and resource management (and you probably do, or else you wouldn’t be reading this review) the player should have no problem staying on top of tasks no matter how overwhelmed the player feels seeing icons appearing on the screen requesting any combination of police, medical, and/or fire units, and all in real time.
– Real player with 273.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Moddable Singleplayer Games.
DISCLAIMER: I backed 112 Operator on Kickstarter, and have been playing since Closed Alpha.
TL;DR: I recommend 112 Operator, especially if you’re a fan of 911 Operator.
Features
All the features and events from 911 Operator and its DLCs are there, e.g. earthquake, blackouts, search request, etc. So what about the new features promised in-this game?
[olist]
- New fire mechanics is one of the highlights of their promotion. Mechanically it works, and it does pose a large challenge to manage this event while considering things like the weather and wind. However, based on experience (on very early build), the mechanics is let down by the often poor pathfinding that the units take. I have had several instances where police units were stuck between the fire or can’t find a proper path to a clear area, thus failing evacuation on the fire’s path. This might’ve been improved in release, but sadly I haven’t been able to see this in action since large area fires occurs very rarely in campaign, and almost never occur in free-game.
– Real player with 34.9 hrs in game
Blockbuster Inc.
A fresh system based game for simulation fans
In Blockbuster Inc. you will take total control of your very own movie studio. You will be able to construct all the facilities, hire and manage all sorts of employees and stars with the aim to produce the most prolific films and Tv. There are 3 pillars of the gameplay:
Freeform construction system
An intuitive and deep construction system allows you to plan, build, decorate, clone and expand your studio with ease. Further link your road system, landscape the lot and create a smooth utility system to get the best out of your employees.
Play through the decades
Each passing decade affects the gameplay and visuals accordingly, from the way your employees and stars dress, the cars they drive, as well as their physical attributes. Random and historic events will spice things up for your studio.
Manage unique employee types
Not every employee is similar, stars like Actors, Directors and Producers require more attention than your average construction worker. Managing employees is fun, thanks to the randomly generated character traits for each employee. Will your main actor be a diva or a smooth operator?
Interactive product process
Control the different phases and parameters for your Films and TV shows, from choosing the sets, outfits, stunts and all sorts of options that tailor your products to your desires.
Our mission?
A one-of-a-kind experience. There has been no other game in the past decade to match the unique experience that Blockbuster Inc. is. That we promise.
Read More: Best Moddable Sandbox Games.
Diesel Brothers: Truck Building Simulator
My first time installing a lift kit and I don’t have a clue where anything goes. Not a clue as to why I can’t something. I figured it out eventually, and it was a loose bolt on the frame preventing me from installing the leaf spring mounts.
Going from delivery area to work area is annoying, the workspace is a hangar. Spring compressor, tyre machine (which auto sets the bead) and work bench are all too far away.
The currency for some reason has the symbol at the end, there should be an option for English (on the left), or ROW, for those who are used to the symbol at the end.
– Real player with 65.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Moddable Immersive Sim Games.
I must say, the game is amazing! There is definitely some things that need to be fixed. Those things will be in this review to be fixed. There is some things I would like to see added too.
Need to be Fixed:
1. tools bouncing: When I drop things, they bounce a lot. For example, the painting tool. When I drop it onto the floor to get another part to paint, the tool jumps around and I almost lose it.
2. Engine Hoist: The hoist works well, but when you put an engine on it, you can’t get the engine off unless you put it in a vehicle. I sold the truck I had it in, and now it is stuck on the hoist. I cannot use the hoist anymore on this specific account due to this.
– Real player with 62.1 hrs in game
The Bus
Review of the release version
Not perfect yet, but you shouldn’t expect that as it’s still in the early state of Early Access.
Generally I really do enjoy this new City Bus Simulator.
What you are getting right now is the TXL line, a 1:1 scale recreation of that part of Berlin, the Scania Citywide in two variants, and some in Game line editors.
Doesn’t sound like much, but the main key is that lots of new things are going to be added during this Early Access, especially looking forward to the Map Modding Tools.
– Real player with 99.2 hrs in game
As a community, we are giving constructive feedback to the developers. And they don’t seem to know or listen about the physics. This game should not be called a simulator. Because the only game that should be called that way is OMSI 2. As for now, the game should work a lot on the driving physics, before it can be a joy for me as an OMSI driver, to enjoy this game. For now I would only recommend this game to Euro truck and American truck driver. I also used to play euro truck simulator 2, and since I play OMSI 2, I can tell what a simulator is and what not when looking at the physics. I’ve also raced a lot in Rfactor and other simulation games. Based on this experience I can tell this game is not a simulator. It is more like a Berlin sight seeing game for now. I hope this review helps you to decide to buy the game or not.
– Real player with 23.4 hrs in game
Zombie Cure Lab
Mindless hordes of zombies roam the earth. Humanity has fled underground. Now after years of research brave scientists dare to leave everything behind to retake the world. Build a lab in the wilderness and do what it takes to achieve your designation: Find the cure. Save humanity!
Plan ahead, layout rooms and furnish them with objects and machinery to set up your lab. Expand it to match the needs of your growing population. Comfy beds, diverse food and all kinds of skill training are essential to keep up the morale within the apocalypse. Provide shelter, defense and treatment chambers to buy time for your scientists and set them up with everything they need to heal the zombies.
Gather basic resources to construct and grow. Process, refine, cook and manage your resources to sustain your lab and its inhabitants. Prioritize jobs within your lab to maximize efficiency, plan ahead to foresee upcoming trouble and create your zombie curing masterpiece!
Your scientists will come up with new technologies and research points. New upgrades will allow you to harvest high tier materials and allow you to build late game tech science equipment. Unlock new machines and perks in the techtree and progress through all four tech tiers in order to finalize the cure.
Zombie healing is what it is all about, but first you need to catch zombies with your fancy freezing guns. Escort your well preserved ice block zombies to the treatment chamber. Here zombie-human hybrids - the ’humbies’ - will emerge and become new friends willing to help you out. But beware the humbie, if he’s in a bad mood he might be hard to predict and start rampaging your lab. Keep them in shape at all times to scale up your workforce and UNDO the apocalypse!
Recipe for Disaster
The game has been in E.A. for 10 days at the time of writing this review. After completing the campaign, I am sorry to say it’s a thumbs down.
It’s not because of some bugs (like the WASD keys not responding), some weird pathfinding (like your employees using the back door and running all around the building to sweep the front steps) or some data base missmatch (like the patrons who both love pork loin and hate pork loin) but because the core game mechanics are shallow.
In short:
- The recipe/culinary creation part and the expectation/feedback from patrons is a joke.
– Real player with 49.4 hrs in game
I feel like this game is a good precedent of a very shallow Early Access game. I literally played all 5 scenarios and tutorials 3 times including the bonuses. There are many things wrong with the game:
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Constant UI glitches (like so many)
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There is only 1 disaster that happens 2-4 times a day (fire)
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AI is too basic
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UI/UX overall is terrible (when viewing menu there is always a window that you cannot close on the right hand side and gets in the way of seeing your full menu/prices). Constant spam of messages in game you cannot turn off to0. I don’t want to know if Osama is making bad food every single time.
– Real player with 31.8 hrs in game
Shop Tycoon: Prepare your wallet
This is a perfect game to play in short sessions or while you are listening to music/working as it has a progresion curve perfectly balanced on every gameplay mechanic that it has implemented which leaves you with different options when it comes to decide how you want to play the game.
You can play for 20 minutes and start some automatization so you can just play relaxed with a slower progresion, you can play being 100% into the game for a faster grow of your bussines, you can focus for some minutes and get a lot of the game elements automatizated and just watch and click sometimes if you want.
– Real player with 6.5 hrs in game
I didn’t realize I was playing the game for as long as I did which is a plus however I’m still confused on how much money I have while playing. I feel like what it says I have isn’t what I really have cause buying things is impossible. Enjoying the game though.
– Real player with 4.2 hrs in game
Together in Battle
Together in Battle is a strategy RPG and team management roguelite with vibrant procedurally generated characters and emergent relationship-building. Uncover a sinister conspiracy; fight deep turn-based tactical battles; deal with random events; watch your characters grow together.
Premise
You’ve arrived in the island kingdom of Dese with a secret mission to enter the gladiatorial games and find loyal fighters. Hunted by an imperial praetor, you must maintain a low profile even as you find yourself drawn into intrigues that will decide the fate of Dese itself.
Recruit and manage charming characters. Stay stocked on food, make payroll, and keep your characters practicing. But beware: they have feelings! Let their friends to fall in battle, and they may become depressed. Let morale fall too low, and you’ll risk resentment and desertion. Keep them happy, however, and they will grow close to one another, form fond memories, give nicknames–even share their special combat skills! With skill and patience, you will emerge victorious…together in battle.
An evolution of the lauded Telepath Tactics combat engine
With a deterministic core that never wastes your time, combat in Together in Battle nonetheless features dizzying tactical depth:
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Backstabbing: strike from behind to avoid counterattacks and score a huge damage bonus!
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Elevation: claim the high ground to boost your effectiveness and hinder the enemy’s!
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Knockbacks galore: shove and throw enemies into water, lava, and chasms; off of cliffs; or into each other!
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Destructible environments: bust down doors, blow up walls, hack through bushes, chop through barricades! If you can see it, you can smash it.
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Create new structures on the battlefield: build your own bridges and barricades; freeze water to form ice bridges; set traps for enemies to wander into; place explosives to detonate at an opportune moment.
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Defensive terrain: take up position in tall grass to gain a defense boost–or hack it down to deny that same advantage to the enemy.
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Extreme turn flexibility: move a character, move a second character, then return to finish the first character’s turn. An unlimited undo stack lets you redo it all if you don’t like where everyone ended up!
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Clever AI: face enemies that use the terrain to their advantage, take advantage of weak positioning, and compete with you for dropped items.
Tons of content!
You won’t see everything Together in Battle has to offer in a single playthrough–every game offers a new experience. TiB includes:
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6 playable species
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24 base classes with branching promotions for a total of 72 distinct character classes
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multi-classing
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more than 150 skills
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dozens of random events and side quests
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hundreds of thousands of possible procedurally generated weapons and pieces of armor, including unique and personal weapons
Deep procedurally generated characters
Every character you recruit has distinct traits, personal histories, beliefs, hobbies, and secrets. You’ll never get the same character twice.
These differences matter: a baker will use food to produce cookies and cakes you can eat or sell; a jokester will do funny impressions to boost morale; a hunter will boost your stocks with wild game; a blacksmith will repair the group’s weapons. Dancers are nimble; sailors are good swimmers. Some characters are prone to depression; some, to self-doubt. Some self-soothe with long walks or prayer; others undertake long-term projects like growing vegetables, crafting dolls, or writing novels. Learn what makes each character tick as they grow and form powerful bonds of friendship!
A campaign creation suite
Together in Battle comes with a campaign creation suite to let you build your own full-fledged SRPG campaigns!
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Build characters in the character creator!
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Sculpt battlefields and place armies in the map editor!
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Compose cut scenes in the cut scene editor!
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Write branching dialogue trees for both battles and cut scenes using the dialogue editor!
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Create new skills for your characters to use in the skill editor!
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Craft new items and equipment for players to loot in the item editor!
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Need ideas? Let the game roll up full-fledged characters and battles for you to edit (or simply use as-is)!
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Construct your own scripts, then assign them to items and skills for whatever custom effects you can dream up!
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Mod support for custom music, sound effects, character classes, AI profiles, and more!
Actor Tycoon 2
I have enjoyed this game a lot, but please please please add more stuff to do otherwise replay value goes down. I am having a blast playing this game and loved the first one, but I really would like more to do.
– Real player with 13.6 hrs in game
The game has virtually no content and very quickly becomes repetitive. While there are a bunch of different countries they all play pretty much the same and the handful of events in game have no real impact on anything. If you’re just looking for something mindless to play while you’re listening to a podcast it kind of works but I wouldn’t pay more than 2-3 bucks for it.
– Real player with 8.9 hrs in game
Stardeus
Stardeus is a sci-fi colony management simulator with aspects of automation, base building and space exploration.
Visit https://stardeusgame.com for more information about the features and current state of development.
