Flooded is a title that I knew very little about until it hit my desk. Furthermore, the idea of a reversed city builder not only confused me, but it put me off. Now, this very short-sighted stance soon faded away as I battled lashings of floodwater whilst attempting to stay alive. Additionally, its straightforward gameplay loop and occasional hurdles and bumps in the road add enough variety to keep you entertained.
This apocalyptic simulation title was developed by Artificial Disasters and published by Forever Entertainment. Moreover, there is a sense of drama and tension whenever you tackle each stage. The impending doom and the never-ending floodwaters keep you on your toes. What’s more, the procedurally generated action and the ever-shifting quests will test your patience. However, it is this continual fluid approach that makes it so challenging and moreish.
Flooded has a light-hearted story.
Though Flooded focuses on death, destruction, and despair, the story has a morbid sense of humour. The light-hearted nature and the colourful characters will make you smile and chuckle. On top of this, the random nature of each stage and the drip-fed mechanics will pique your interest throughout. Alongside this, there are 3 game modes to focus your attention and a simple learning curve to tackle.
You control a group of miners who must work their asses off if they wish to survive. Their little island is slowly fading away, and they must gather resources, build new structures, and build artificial layers of land if they wish to survive. Matters are made worse as natural disasters and asshat pirates test your resolve. Luckily, though, these are minor moments and the action allows you to focus on the task at hand without being unbearably cruel.
Wonderfully basic.
I didn’t expect to like this game as much as I do. The simplicity combined with the cruel sacrificial elements brings a wry smile to your face. Alongside this, there is enough variety to prevent the action from becoming stale. Whether you have to mine a certain number of resources, build a specific building, or upgrade an array of properties, the game keeps you busy.
Whilst you are focusing on the task at hand, the tidal clock is forever ticking. As such, the inevitable happens and the outer layer of your island is lost to the deep blue. Sadly, any buildings that lay on these tiles will be lost as well. Accordingly, you must plan your city building wisely or lose your valuable assets in no time at all.
It is this sense of loss versus gain that makes Flooded so addictive. You have to make tough decisions if you wish to progress across each era and make it to the other side. Moreover, the random nature of each task is hard to keep on top of. Consequently, you will experience plenty of lows as you attempt to stem the inevitable sense of failure.
Flooded lacks finesse.
Graphics don’t make a game. Flooded has taken this idea to the next level as it is very simple visually. The stage design and assets lack detail and the colour palette is simple and easy on the eye. Moreover, the UI is clean and this helps you when the shit hits the fan. The top-down perspective helps you to navigate the more complicated stages and the basic cinematic breaks up the rudimentary approach. Though this won’t blow you away, it works particularly well and the refined design suits the doom and gloom nature of the theme.
The audio is just as straightforward. The simple soundtrack is complemented by some excellent ambient noises. Additionally, the basic sound effects are effective but underwhelming. Normally, I’d find this disappointing and annoying. However, Flooded gets the balance right and the audio creates a sense of drama and despair.
Excellent controls.
I believe that this was designed for a mouse and keyboard. Yet, it is a pleasure to play on a gamepad as the layout is intuitive. On top of this, the tutorial is excellent, and the inputs are responsive. Though it takes a little time to get used to everything, once you get the idea, you will play it without any worries.
Flooded has no right to be as addictive as it is! This excellent title mixes things up nicely as the procedurally generated action and 3 game modes keep you busy. Moreover, each mission doesn’t monopolise your time and this makes it an ideal casual experience.
Flooded is a gem of a game.
I fear that many gamers will overlook Flooded. Its basic presentation and weird ideas will put many players off. Yet, if you give this a chance, you will enjoy an addictive and strategic simulation game. On top of this, the gentle learning curve and procedurally generated nature of the gameplay ensures that no attempt is ever the same. Subsequently, I love it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you survive the never-ending tidal waters? Gather your resources, build to your heart’s content, and hope that luck is on your side.
