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Besiege Console is a game that sits in my most hated category. Physics-based action is often unpredictable and clumsy to play. This leads to frustration, anger, and a quick uninstall. Unfortunately, I cannot cut my experience short when I review a game. Accordingly, I have to put on my big boy pants and suck it up. Luckily, most of my preconceived ideas were wrong and this turned out to be a surprisingly pleasant game.
This physics-based adventure title was developed and published by Spiderling Studios. Moreover, it is a single-player game that is jam-packed with maddening levels. If you love building and destroying stuff, this game is for you. Additionally, if you add medieval equipment and strange locations into the mix, you get a bizarre endeavour that tests your DIY capabilities and patience.
Besiege Console doesn’t tell a story.
The game has an overworld map that must be conquered. Each area has a unique environment and varied obstacles to overcome. However, what it is missing, is a deep and captivating story. This was a shame as Besiege Console could have easily increased its depth in one simple move. Every area could have had an overlord to defeat as you tried to rule a continent. This wasn’t to be, instead, you flit from world to world whilst focusing on your destructive power.
Though the missing plot disappointed me, I loved the action that unfolded. Each level has a special task that must be completed. Furthermore, you are free to design a hulking beast of a siege machine. This was fantastic as you can let your imagination go wild. Moreover, you can test theories and push the envelope when it comes to your destructive prowess.
Get building.
There are 50+ levels of physics-based madness to overcome. During this time, you must add and remove blocks, cannons, grabbers, and other elements to your machine. You are free to create an enormous beast or a streamlined vehicle. Either way, you need to consider the goal of the level and the obstacles you’ll encounter.
The developer has made things easier by adding new items that are relevant to that level. Accordingly, you can’t go too far wrong as you experiment with the tools at hand. I adored creating vehicles with multiple cannons or experimenting with ridiculously tall builds. It didn’t matter what I tried, as I could undo any layer I wished. What was hilarious, though, was when the machine toppled and fell as my planning was ridiculous.
This is where Besiege Console thrives. You are not penalised for your experiments. Instead, it encourages you to be as wild and as crazy as you like! Sometimes things go wrong, but this matters not. Simply erase the poor elements and try something new.
Besiege Console has a basic design.
Visually, Besiege Console will not blow you away. The small levels evolve as the game progresses. However, the level of detail is minimalistic and the colour palette is reasonably bland. Yet, the goals are easy to understand and the free-moving camera helps to navigate each world.
The audio is just as basic. Sadly, the sound effects aren’t as outlandish as I hoped and this was unfortunate. Moreover, the soundtrack isn’t memorable and I was expecting much more. I hoped the developer would include a hearty folksy theme that would match the medieval influences. Sadly, this never materialised and the action suffered as a consequence.
Clunky controls.
Physics-based games are renowned for their challenging control system. This title is no different and controlling your machine is tough. The steering is particularly poor and this makes it hard to slalom past bombs and oncoming troops. Furthermore, climbing rocks can be difficult and depth perception isn’t easy to judge. As such, this adds to the frustration and may put some people off.
50+ levels is a lot of content. If you love the idea of destroying never-ending objects and avoiding enemy projectiles, then this is the game for you. Sadly, though, once you work through each stage, I can’t see a reason to return. Subsequently, replay value and longevity are somewhat limited.
Besiege Console is a good indie game.
Besiege Console hasn’t changed my opinion on this gaming category. I’m still not a fan of physics-based action as the controls drive me mad. Furthermore, there is a sense of luck that generates unnecessary heartache. However, this is a good indie and I appreciate the creative freedom. As such, I liked it despite the frustrations and I recommend buying it here! Can you destroy everything in sight? Pick your parts, study your goals, and build a mean machine.
