preview The sequel to this acclaimed game with 93% positive reviews is coming this summer and will make you suffer like never before
Six years after a challenging and exciting episode, Frostpunk returns this summer with a second episode that will captivate us.
The bitter cold is about to hit us this summer. The 11-bit teams invited us to Warsaw behind closed doors to present us the story mode of Frostpunk 2 for two short hours. An experience that is presented to us even more demanding and difficult than ever; But ” You don’t like Frostpunk because it’s easy », remind us very well the developers before inviting us to participate in their new icy epic.
The human condition at the centre of experience
30 years after the great storm, Frostland now faces a challenge even greater than the cold: human nature. Still overwhelmed by eternal frost, the Earth leaves you in the grip of an exhausted people but still with the fierce will to defend their beliefs. It is no longer a question of considering expanses of snow as a blank canvas to be shaped, but of regaining control of a city already established, where a handful of angry new factions coexist, born from the ranks of the Frostlanders and the New Londoners , two pre-established groups. Currency “The city must survive!” was deleted and replaced by the words “The city must not fall“. A new approach presented as “risky“ by the developers of 11 Bits, who refused to stick to the same formula of the first episode. A decision that we consider to be very wise on our part. This potentially opens the door to more powerful moral decisions and greater depth of action.an aspect of Frostpunk that is particularly perfectable. During our construction work, the scripted interventions of the villagers have already become more numerous than ever before and bring more life into this universe from above by sharing their laments with us. Our first steps were also challenged by the discovery of strange symbols in the city, perhaps enough to draw the beginning of a common thread.
In Frostland, internal conflict is inevitable and you will have to make choices while facing the consequences of very difficult moral decisions. A challenge that comes with a currently quite demanding voting system. Behind closed doors, in the council building you previously built, you must constantly develop the laws of a metropolis in constant growth, divided into several categories. Here you will decide whether to put children in coal or increase the productivity of workers by immoral means. Subtlety that has its charm: It is systematically possible to influence the vote of the group of your choice by promising them a reward that they must complete within the allotted time. The mechanic seems central to the experience and has been very entertaining so far. and yet outlines the possibility that he will run out of steam over time.
Finally, Frostpunk 2 presents a steampunk universe that is more sublime than ever. The art direction is simply heavenly, the lighting effects on the city, the animations and the artwork of the characters are an absolute feast for the eyes. And of course the soundtrack, once again signed by Piotr Musiał, to our greatest delight, envelops the world in an atmosphere of crazy density and palpable gloom. Pure happiness on this level.
No districts in Frostpunk 2
In Frostpunk 2, the foundations are already laid, with the central furnace – our arch-nemesis from the first part – even fading into the background of your concerns. Now it’s about building on a whole new scale by creating entire districts that serve different purposes : The work, technology or residential districts must be built on the most suitable plot of land that you have previously thawed for little money. Main interest: Your research center, where you can work on the development of your city, with the support or opposition of certain factions, by looking for more or less ethical improvements.
Let us never forget that a hasty decision can always have terrible consequences and you will have to pay a high price for your mistakes. Here too, numerous survival parameters must be taken into account in order to alleviate the indelible suffering of your citizens: hunger, cold, but also diseases due to pollution that you must know how to alleviate. Frostpunk 2 is still hard to master and a real pleasure. 11 Bits once again demonstrates the rare intelligence in developing mechanics that work perfectly together. We now hope that the adventure will be renewed with random events or sections of truly gripping scenarios.
Shipping is also done; a part that seems essential for the renewal of a global system that is quickly reaching its limits and that was already missing in the first episode. Because once again, the fear of falling into an automated pattern – without any reflection on moral decisions – is visible in the first hours of play and threatens the lifespan of the game. The whole excitement of this experience lies in the sweet moments of satisfaction that come after long sessions of ultimately victorious trial and error. After that, there is a risk that the game will become less hectic as you understand the universe perfectly.
No impressions
More beautiful than ever, Frostpunk 2 already captivates us with its simply magnificent soundtrack and artistic direction. With yet another reformulation for the better (at least we hope), 11 Bits puts the human condition at the heart of our challenges and offers a more stimulating experience on moral issues with a rather addictive voting system. The game is even more challenging and that is what makes this post-apocalyptic saga so charming. It remains to be seen where its limits lie. Unfortunately, once the basic mechanics are mastered, the adventure risks running out of steam.
Editorial opinion
Promising
