Review
"Darfall": An atmospheric strategy game with a dark side
by Kim Muntinga
I rule over my own Soviet nation in "Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic"
4.7.2024
Translation: machine translated
In "Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic", you take control of an up-and-coming Soviet republic and lead it from a modest village to a major industrial power. I tested the game and got lost in its complexity.
What can you expect in "Workers & Resources"?
In "Workers & Resources" you take control of a small Soviet republic in the 1960s. Your goal is to develop it into a powerful industrialised nation. You have to plan and manage everything: from the extraction of raw materials to the production of goods and the prosperity of your citizens. You must also utilise international trade to import goods that your republic cannot produce itself.
Complex economic system
.
I still remember my beginnings very well. Without help, I was completely lost in the game at first. The depth and complexity challenged me because there was so much to consider and learn. I quickly became frustrated by my own mistakes. At the same time, the learning curve is very steep. It's so satisfying to build a large production system. And it's even more fun to keep expanding it.
The important thing is that you don't have to play the "realistic mode". You can switch individual aspects and challenges on and off: Activate infinite money, simplify electricity, have houses built directly or dispense with the transport of goods to the shops. Individual requirements can also be weakened. Ultimately, it's up to you how you play the game and how you like it.
This helped me at the beginning to get more and more involved in the game, to get to know and master other aspects of the game.
Example of recycling - disposing of waste, recovering raw materials
An example of the complexity is recycling: Inhabited buildings fill their rubbish bins with mixed waste. I have to deploy rubbish trucks, create a depot for them and a place to dispose of their collections. Strategically, it is advisable to set up central waste bins at various locations and later build a transfer station to centralise waste collection. I can still expand this system through research.
For example, at one of three different university types, I unlock a depot that sifts through the waste to extract valuable building materials. The more I research, the more facilities are unlocked to process the rest and recover various materials. The same applies to waste separation.
In my opinion, these are points that inexperienced players don't necessarily need to tackle straight away. For me, however, they are part of the complete game experience in a way.
Tutorial and campaign
At the beginning of the year, "Workers & Resources" received a major update before the final release. With the patch, the development studio introduced two first missions of the campaign. They also serve as a playful tutorial. You can also learn individual mechanics as normal in the tutorials.
Improvements compared to Early Access
According to the developer, the highlights of the full release version include graphical and quality-of-life improvements, new fitness and entertainment buildings and a revised education system. The connection points in the factories have also been improved to make the transport of resources along the production chains more efficient.
I also noticed numerous improvements from the previous months and years. I have already described the waste system in more detail. Water management was also added last year. As already mentioned, the campaign is also part of this. An active Community continues to offer a nice bonus with helpful mods. I have added numerous buildings and wagons to my game.
Nervous factor: the placement of roads
Unfortunately, the developers have not yet revised one thing: Placing roads and paths is and remains an annoying fiddle. Infrastructure plays a central role in "Workers & Resources". A well-designed road and path network is essential for the smooth transport of goods and resources.
The "Biomes" DLC: New maps for the game
Parallel to the release of the full version, a first DLC with the title "Biomes" was also released. It adds three new biomes to the main game: Desert, Tundra and Tropics. Each of these biomes will come with its own challenges and opportunities.
In the desert, you face limited access to wood and other resources. You need to be prepared for long-distance transport from distant oases and foreign trade. In the tundra, you must prepare for longer and harsher winters, which will affect your agriculture and heat supply. In the tropics, heavy rainfall makes traffic and transport difficult for your nation. You will therefore need to find alternative routes and become inventive.
I've already had a quick look at the maps. They look interesting at first glance. You can select them either with small villages and towns or completely undeveloped. In my opinion, the undeveloped map is more interesting, allowing you to let off steam.
On the Siberia map, I quickly had problems with heating and completely underestimated this issue. Temperatures of -40 to -50 degrees Celsius were not uncommon. You need a good heating infrastructure. I had to reload and go back once myself to fix this bug, as almost my entire population died. Ashes on my head.
"Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic" is available on Steam, GOG and in the Epic Games Store.
In a nutshell
Perhaps the best and most complex city builder
"Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic" now offers a fully comprehensive overall package and in my opinion is one of, if not the strongest city builder game I know at the moment. The new DLC maps round off this overall package and make the game even more fun to play. When I tested the full release version, I immediately lost myself in the game and have since spent another 30 hours in it.
One small point of criticism for me is some of the fiddling, especially when placing roads and other connections. That cost me a few nerves. Too often I couldn't place a desired road because no snap point was displayed.
Pro
- Challenging gameplay through a complex economic system
- High replayability
- active modding community
Contra
- Complexity of the game can overwhelm and deter beginners
- Graphics not state-of-the-art, rather functional
Header image: 3Division
My interests are varied, I just like to enjoy life. Always on the lookout for news about darts, gaming, films and series.
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