Turmoil

You can’t spell Turmoil with “oil”. That’s very appropriate, as oil is very much the name of the game. Turmoil revolves around seeking, drilling and selling off the fossil fuel in order to make profit. You can become the Heisenberg of Oil Barons by implementing management and business skills in order to grow your exponential fortune. It’s a simple enough premise for a game, so how does the game play experience hold up?

The Nitty-Gritty

For some reason I’ve always been a little less enthusiastic about games that are only playable on computers or iOS software than those belonging to a family of game consoles, be it the PlayStation, Xbox or whatever the new Nintendo device is that’s made its way into our homes. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a huge fan of using the keyboard, mouse or track pad to control my commands, or I just don’t like the interface when trying to play through complicated games.

What works in Turmoil’s favour is that it’s the opposite of complicated. Its sheer simplicity is both a blessing and a curse; there’s enough repetitiveness that you can feel mesmerised by its highly accessible design, or within twenty minutes you feel like the game has gone nowhere and you want to quit. It very much depends on your mood. For me, it was a little bit of both.

What I Liked

I found the actual design and graphics of the game quite appealing. Unlike many other games, like for example Oil Tycoon, the developers didn’t opt for hyper-realistic 3D models. Turmoil opts for simple, 2D graphics that are clear and sharp without looking too amateur, whilst boasting some great colour schemes and tones. Above all else, I think this is a lovely looking game, where a lot of its charm comes from how modest the graphics are.

What Needs Improving

What I honestly wasn’t too fussed on was the content itself. I’m a fan of simplicity and a straightforward narrative, but even for me, this felt a little too repetitive. No matter what goes on around it, the main aim of the game is obtaining and selling oil. You will find your management skills tested and your ability to identify good deals, but there is very little variation in-between. There’s not really any distinguishable levels or advancements as such; sometimes you have to upgrade your equipment to find oil that’s deeper in the ground, or an unexpected rock or debris is in your way that makes it a little harder to get to the prize.

The Bottom Line

Turmoil is a lovely looking game and a solid soundtrack, but there’s very little going on in the way of advancement or narrative. If you’re looking for something plot based or rigorously challenging, this simply is not it. However, if you just want something simple and casual to relax with after a busy day at work, this fits the bill. It may be repetitive, but at least Turmoil doesn’t reach for a level of ambition that it knows it can’t obtain. It knows what it is and makes no apologies for it, which, if nothing else, is something I can respect.

Pros:

• Great looking graphics and interface
• Decent soundtrack
• Easy, flowing game play

Cons:

• Highly repetitive
• Lack of real story or purpose
• Not a lot to keep you returning
• Only one real goal or aim to complete

6/10