Preserve DEMO: Review

[Destructo]

It feels like a kind of over-complicated, unpolished mashup of Terra Nil and Dorfromantik. I get what it's trying to do by taking these games to the next level, but I felt like it does take some time before a player can understand how the systems work. I do like the message and aesthetic that it takes. I think it's pretty good so far. I don't know if I will buy the full version yet. Overall, it's a fairly okay game that provides a nice experience for a bit.

[CascadeHush]

Well if you like those games better play them. You've come here criticising a fine steak dinner because it's not a cheeseburger.

The problem with Dorfromatic was that it was so random that games could be very long (too long) or very short. Also the goals that required you to get a specific number of items in a set were just extremely boring, fiddly and punishing. They were what finally ruined it for me.

The problem with Terra Nil, aside from the game-braking bugs that existed for months, is that you never get to really play. The complexity ramps up so fast you never get to enjoy what you have learned. I never did figure out how to place monorails properly. The stuff at the end where you have to go back and clean up everything is just tedious busywork for a game that isn't pretty or fun enough to justify that kind of pedantry.

Both, in my opinion, are really cool concepts in their fundamental mechanics, but fail in turning those into fun game. A couple of minor tweaks could make those really good games but that's not going to happen now.

Preserve solves both of these issues. It encourages you to play around in each biome for a while, learning it's peculiarities and enjoying it's beauty. It gives you a balanced experience that will generally take about the same amount of time. The RNG serves the game play experience, providing variety rather than punishment.

I think you have completely missed the point of Preserve. But that's fine, you don't have to buy it, that's what demos are for. I'd say for the most part though, nobody cares about your opinion. if a demo you didn't pay for didn't entice you to buy a game, just move on.

[xX10]

Just playing on Classic mode, and getting the top challenges, has been a blast for me. This game is maybe not better than those games, but they are all great. This game is great!

Hitting a new biome makes it new all over again. Loving it!

So much life in this game! I feel like there is a lot to think about and plan for in this game, and on a big map, it gets complicated, but in a fun way. And wonders in this game are even more fun and rewarding than in Civ. :)

It's a GREAT game, that provides A LOT of ENJOYMENT and EXCITMENT for MANY HOURS!

I got over 20 hrs, and I'm not even thru the Savannah biome yet. NO DEMO NEEDED! Demos are for losers. Go get the game, and play it loser. Now you owe it to the devs.