Look how they massacred my boy

[Artur]

Let me start by saying that I have Frostpunk on disc, Steam, Epic and GOG. In total, I played about 2k - 2.5k hours, maybe much more (the disk version does not count time). For FP achievements, I created a Steam account. I'm writing this because several people in other discussions regularly accuse complainants of "you definitely didn't understand the game", "you played it wrong", "you probably only played Endless Mode", etc.
I have played the game many times in all ways, on all difficulty levels, modes, maps. And I loved it.

FP2 is a completely different game. You may like it, of course, but in my opinion a sequel should develop the idea and mechanics of its original, not create something completely different. For example, when I bought StarCraft2 I expected an RTS and I got it. If it suddenly turned out to be a 4X game, I would be pissed. And no assurances from the creators about a "change in scale" and "the effect of plot development" would change anything here.

"Larger scale"
It's just an illusion. There is a map on which the city is placed and a map of the surrounding area, as in FP1. The number of inhabitants is not 100, but 10k, but so what? Now, there are not 10 people working in coal mining, but 1,000. An expedition does not require 5 people, but 500. Writing that the game mechanics had to change to reflect this new, "better" scale is simply a lie.

"Building a City"
In FP2 you no longer build a city. You choose tiles on which the game creates a type of district and that's it. You can also add a building to the district. Boring. You don't feel like you built this city... because you didn't. In FP1, city design (especially regarding heating) was an important and fun element of gameplay. He's not here.

"Heating"
The city and districts heat themselves. You only care about the amount of coal (probably later oil or something). As the temperature drops, the demand for heat automatically increases and more raw material is consumed for heating. You have no control over the generator, nodes, radiators. Managing these elements in FP1 was fun and often determined the survival of the city.

"Survival"
Don't count on emotions related to the danger surrounding you. The city gives the impression of an empty shell, which makes the fate of its inhabitants irrelevant. These are just numbers. In FP1 every death was a tragedy, here it's just a statistic. The game has been stripped of survival elements, which greatly affects immersion.

"Immersion"
Playing FP1 made me forget about the rest of the world. Like I was reading a great book. A feeling of cold, hopelessness, a cruel world. It was amazing. I don't experience this in FP2. Empty city, changing numbers, weather and temperature that doesn't really matter. And clicking over and over again on events related to politics and factions. So boring.

"Politics"
Some people wrote that FP1 was already a political game. Nonsense! It was a game of survival. The Book of Laws helped with gameplay, but once you got the hang of the mechanics you could not use it (which added another fun challenge). Of course, refugees, social unrest, conflict between workers and engineers were all great plot elements of the game! But FP1 was still a game focused on survival, not politics. In FP2, factions, votes, laws, etc. require your attention all the time. At first they seem very interesting. Already watching the trailers of this mechanic, I was most curious. Unfortunately, the execution is terrible and simply boring. On the other hand, there are so few things to do in the game that without these factions you would be doing almost nothing.

"All sorts of nonsense"
There are a lot of little stupid things. Heat-based currency. Residents won't build a greenhouse because you don't have abstract currency. It's better to be hungry. People who want to demolish the coal mine even though a storm is approaching and they will freeze to death. Similarly with other raw materials. Expeditions set off from the city every time instead of traveling around locations like in FP1. Maybe the creators wanted to give us a simulator of idiotic inhabitants? Of course, these problems can be dealt with. Satisfying factions is not difficult, and earning Heatstamps becomes a formality. But I'm all about logic. Post-apocalyptic society behaves like a bunch of morons. This spoils the reception of the game.

"Graphics and sound"
Personally, I really like the graphics. Selection of colors, form, style. The game looks beautiful. You can complain about the quality of textures, not very readable in places and small (for me) UI. However, these are unimportant and easy to fix. Kudos to the graphic designers. However, there are very few sounds in the game. I do not know why. When they appear, they are a good fit. Just work on it and it will be great.

"At the end"
I could write much more, but who would read it? There are 3 months left until the premiere. What we see in the beta is generally the product we will receive. There will definitely be some fixes and changes, but the core of the game will definitely remain the same. So if I played the beta, I know what gameplay the entire game will be based on. And I don't like it. I don't know where 11 bit studios read that players want the next part of FP to be a different game. Is it a purely business decision because they think that such mechanics will sell better? I've been waiting for Frostpunk2 for many years. I thought I had finally made it, but I was wrong. Will FP2 be a good game, although so different from the original? Possible. I will return the copy of game and wait for some 50% sale or something. Since it's not real FP anyway, I can wait another year. I don't have the urge. And please don't call me a hater. I have the right to think that this product is poor and does not meet my expectations. Like any other customer, I make decisions with my wallet. I've been sad and disappointed since Monday.

[kylix999]

I read it and I agree, I have 485+ hours in F1, also played all modes many times, even I aplyed Last autumn which I didn't enjoy that much. But all of it does not matter because when I or anyone else express negative opininon about f2 they call us trolls, but they are trolls themselves when in discussion they say that frostpunk one was not city builder. Really I think many of those steam accounts are 11bit employees that try to defend the game. Well actually I am not against that, but it is so obvious. This is their game and their ip, their risk, but as public company listed on stock exchange they should think twice before making such move. For me they can even make frostpunk racing game, no problem, but when You would call it frostpunk 2 it will be for me false advertising. This is why I suggested many times to change the name for example to : Frostpunk 1916, it wil be clear indication that this is different game.

It is nothing wrong that developer has its own vision, first game started with a vision and 3 million people bought it. The problem is that those 3 milion ppl now have their own vision of the game that they are used to. Changing city builder mechanics to civilisation hex/political game is like making need for speed from racing to car mechanic simulator. Imagine new call of duty that will be pistol cleaner simulator. Ohh You trolls this game is still about cars and that still about pistols, what is wrong with You?

If I would own shares of company that behaves like that and hire PR people to sens duch message I would sell those stocks.

But at this point I am ok, it can burn, I don't care that much anymore, this is their gamble. I am only interested with reaction of broader audience. This will be very interesting case. I hop eit will not kill the franchise.

What is the worst for me is that in recent epic store interview 11bit said they knew that ppl will not like that game, this is such absurd way of disconnect with gamers it is hard to believe. Why is that?
In my opinion this is business decision, they think 3 million copies is limit and want to sell 11 million copies like civilisation VI. Also ols fans wil be pushed to pay to win mobile game: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.com2us.frostpunk.android.google.global.normal&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1
Everythig else is just PR campaign on steam reddit and youtube.

The problem with such gamble is that many frostpunk 1 fans will resign, play or refund or play and leave game early. Remember that f1 sold a lot because of word of mouth, I think here we will have a lot of negative word of mouth. But who knows maybe it will sell, because if not it can kill franchise which I didn't want.

I think that other devs should use this situation as opportunity and create spirital successor of the game.
Time to move on.

[𝕮𝖔𝖗𝖛𝖚𝖘]

I agree with Artur (OP).

FP to FP2 is like Darkest Dungeon to DD2, it totally alienated the orginal core fanbase.
They scrub the hamlet and turned into a carriage simulator, but at least DD2 was still the same combat wise. In the end it was a disappointment and mixed reviews reflected it.

I'm getting the same feeling with FP2, even the UI looks bland and soulless compared to the orginal Frostpunk, looks like a windows 11 task bar lol. Overall I don't think that FP2 is a bad game, but my joy for it went from 8 to 4 really fast.

[kylix999]

F1 to F2 is like change from chair to electric chair

[Bombermans]

I agree with the OP

[Easy, bro]

I think you right that it's a business decision. Right on point. Have around 200 hours in FP1. Firstly pirated it, and then bought every thing in steam. For me, main thing with fp1 is connection with city i build. I try my best to do right thing to save everybody and i have tools for that: build order, recourse management, time management, kids to mines :D

FP2 not bad, it's lost the spirit of connection with people in my city. It's a croud that i need to manage, and tools for croud management actually create a barrier for me to connect with my survivors.

So i play infection free zone for now.

[Hikuran]

I totally agree with OP, this game is gradually turning, from a resource-management game to political exhibitionism.

[kylix999]

Let it go guys, not worth it. Enjoy the decay, maybe other dev will make f1 clone

[Nemo Nomo]

I for one like the new game so far, and I very much liked FP1. I applaud the devs for trying something new while keeping, in my view, the heart and soul of the first game.

[Swervy]

incredible review and agree 100%

[MetroidPrime87]

I could not have said it better myself, I agree with you 100%

[Devilss]

Agree with OP ngl. Massive letdown... was looking forward to FP2 but I could not be bothered to play any more of this Civ wannabe clone game angle they went for.

[MetroidPrime87]

Originally posted by kylix999:

Let it go guys, not worth it. Enjoy the decay, maybe other dev will make f1 clone

We have to speak up so when they make Frostpunk 3 they make a game like the one we all loved

[kylix999]

Originally posted by MetroidPrime87:

Originally posted by kylix999:

Let it go guys, not worth it. Enjoy the decay, maybe other dev will make f1 clone

We have to speak up so when they make Frostpunk 3 they make a game like the one we all loved

In recent epic games 11bit interview they stated some ppl will not like this game, so this is intentional, this proves it is business decission

[Grimulkin]

Agree with OP

[The_Mad_Pooper]

The have already stated in their videos that FP2 wasnt supposed to be just a sequel. Why would they make FP 1 again... The only thing that is the same is the setting. Now it's like doing a Crusader Kings into EU4 play through.