Currently, the word oil is frowned upon. Whether you are an environmentalist, a homeowner, or a motorist, this black gold is costing you a fortune. Sadly, though, people are getting rich and the demand will never dwindle. However, I’m not here to discuss the heart-wrenching increase in fuel prices. No, I’m here to talk about Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon. You now have the chance to run your own platform and make your fortune at the same time.
Developed by A2 Software and published by Manager Games S.A, this is a Voxel simulation title. Like its peers, it has familiar mechanics, hectic gameplay, and rewarding outcomes. It is easy to pick up, challenging to master, but so bloody addictive that it hurts. You control every aspect of your drilling rig while preventing an array of quick time events from ruining your progress. Sadly, though, it isn’t an innovator, but it is fun and interesting nonetheless.
Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon demands you dive right in.
A2 Software has created a user-friendly title that utilises every familiar mechanic. As such, you can dive straight into the action with no concern. However, the developers aren’t that cruel, as they offer an in-depth tutorial to help you get started. Once you get through that, you must tackle each of the stages in order. There is an array of environments to work through, and each has unique problems to overcome. Furthermore, there is a limitation of how far you can develop your tech and the amount of equipment you can buy.
Now, this may seem restrictive, but it’s not. Fortunately, the limitations prevent the action from becoming overwhelming. What’s more, you don’t want to waste precious space or resources on unnecessary technology. Even though you couldn’t select everything at each stage, my creativity was never stifled. I loved the balanced approach from the developers, as it ensured the action flowed nicely.
Campaign or Sandbox.
As mentioned, you have an array of stages to work through. Each has quests and in order to progress, you must obtain at least one of the three stars. You will have to upgrade your rig, defeat pirates, prevent people from drowning, sell goods and more. Whatever the objective is, it is never as straightforward as it appears. Subsequently, each level requires a methodical approach, a meticulous eye for detail, and a fair bit of luck.
If you tire of the campaign, you can lose yourself in Sandbox mode. This never-ending option allows you to build the oil drilling empire of your dreams. Moreover, there are no restrictions placed upon you and you are free to do as you will. What’s more, you’ll still experience freakish events that will keep you on your toes. Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon offers the perfect blend of focused and free gameplay. Consequently, this was an excellent decision from the developer and fans will be kept busy for hours.
Is that it?
Obviously, the action revolves around the business of selling oil, but it isn’t that simple. No, you have many plates to spin at once if you wish to succeed. You must plan where to place buildings, hire staff, maintain happiness, and maintain cash flow. At times, it is painfully hectic, and one minor error can undermine hours of hard work.
Buildings.
You must contemplate where to place resource gathering buildings, staff facilities, and miscellaneous items. Dumping buildings willy-nilly is not advised, as this will impact morale, and will upset staff. Furthermore, there is a risk of fire and no one wants their employees to burn to death. Sadly, every building that produces resources also creates noise! This affects your employees and has to be considered. After all, no one wants to eat, sleep, or relax next to a chemical plant.
It was a brilliant way to make you plan your layout, but damn, it makes it much harder. As you begin, you’ll make mistakes, waste resources, and learn from your errors. Quickly, though, you understand what works and you’ll build a well-oiled (pun intended) machine.
Staff.
The bane of any business is the staff. These moaning cash-grabbing fools are never happy! They always want more, and they eat into your handsome profit margin. However, without a content roster of workers, you’ll never get oil. Therefore, you must balance profit and satisfaction very carefully. You must improve entertainment facilities, lodgings, kitchens, and more if you wish to succeed.
Sadly, though, this isn’t all you have to contend with! Employees have certain skills, and therefore you must hire the right person for the correct job. It can be a nightmare getting a fully competent team while keeping them all happy. Your brilliant operation can be undermined by unhappy or incompetent staff. Subsequently, keeping these cash leeches happy is a priority!
Cash flow and development.
Like every other simulation title, Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon demands you focus on cash flow and development. If you ignore either of these key elements, you’ll fail! Therefore, you must balance the books and improve every element of your oil rig.
Cash flow on paper is easy to maintain as you simply sell everything you extract from the Earth. However, things are never as simple as they appear. As you progress, every resource is used to create more advanced products. These make more money when sold, but cost a lot to get set up. Moreover, the more facilities you have, the more people you hire, and this is expensive. Annoyingly, it’s a juggling act that gets more complex the deep you go.
To add to this, you must research new tech to complete every task. This unlocks new items and improved equipment, but it costs money and resources. You have to weigh up every aspect of your plan before you invest heavily. Consequently, it’s a bit of a headache to get right and will test your patience and skill.
Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon looks great.
Now, I understand why people dislike Voxel games. I, however, love the simplicity and style. There is something endearing about the garish colours and blocky imagery. What’s more, its basic approach works really well with the genre. The developers have kept the levels of detail to a minimum and this was the right thing to do. With so much going on, it could have been messy. Luckily, the simple style allows you to focus on running your business. Alongside this, this excellent UI prevents the screen from becoming cluttered.
Unlike the graphics, the audio didn’t impress me. Yes, it’s serviceable and fun, but I expected more. Sadly, there is no interaction with your employees and this makes it feel shallow. Consequently, it would have been nice to hear some form of conversation to add to the realism. First, they are an emotional bunch, so why not show it? Second, it was easy to overlook your team, so some distinct audio would have helped massively.
Excellent controls.
Simulation titles aren’t always easy to pick up and play. Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon, on the other hand, is user-friendly and simple to master. Helped by its fantastic tutorial, you’ll have the basics accomplished in under 20 minutes. A2 Software has done an excellent job with its responsive controls. If you are new to the genre, this is a great way to get started.
Its simplicity made it easy and moreish. Subsequently, I invested hours without knowing it. You’ll try and fail each stage repeatedly, but this matters not. Each attempt is a learning curve and you’ll enjoy trying out new things. Furthermore, thanks to the Sandbox mode, you could keep playing this forevermore. This being said, I would still like more content to be added. If the base game is enhanced or multiplayer gameplay is incorporated, then this will be an epic title.
Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon is a wonderful indie game.
This won’t be a tough sell for a fan of the genre. It’s easy to love everything that Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon offers. Yes, it’s not as in-depth as some of its peers, but its QTEs and stage-specific challenges make it fun. Consequently, it’s a wonderful indie game worthy of your time. I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you improve the fortune of every oil rig? Invest in your people, the facilities, and your partners, and make a fortune from the black gold.
