The Crust

The Crust is a sci-fi base builder game and the potential that this game has is through the freaking roof! As I write this, the game is in rather early access as a matter of fact, I have been playing it for a couple of weeks and there have not been any substantial updates, but that could have changed by the time you read this. The thing with early access games is that you have to accept that things may not be perfect. That is the case here, however, despite the bugs, I am having a great time with this game.

That’s No Moon!

They do say that The Crust is a narrative driven game, but so far in the early access build that I have played, the game is not super story driven just yet. However, I can say that the premise on offer here is really cool. We are basically the person in charge of building a base on the moon and mining its valuable resources. However, the story does take a turn as we can trade with Earth and there are different factions on Earth, and depending on how we trade with them, we can alter the political climate down there. This is something that I think is very cool indeed!

Now That Is One Big Operation!

If you have played any kind of base building/management style of game before, The Crust is going to feel right at home for you. Of course, you start off with modest resources, but you eventually will build up to having these big mining operations where you send people out to explore the secrets of the moon. A huge part of the fun is that you can automate stuff, eventually building up to having massive conveyor belts and drones doing much of the work for you, but you still have to keep an eye on them. There are also three different skill trees that you can dive into, each one pushing you in a distinct direction. I think the building, mining, and managing stuff here is great and I look forward to seeing how they expand it.

People Are A Resource

While I have it in my head it was Negan from The Walking Dead who said that, I am sure someone must have said it before him! The Crust has you managing a huge operation on the moon and of course, you cannot do that on your own! That means you need to hire a bunch of people and with that comes managing your people too. You need to make sure that they are appropriately fed and housed as you do not want an unhappy workforce or even worse, a dead workforce on your hands, that would screw up your whole operation and of course, it would suck for those people who have died too.

About That Early Access Thing

So far I think that The Crust is showing a ton of potential and I have had a blast with it. However, there have been a few times where the fact this is a game that is in early access has not been lost on me. The thing I had trouble with was my drones that would like to get stuck or locked up and I would have to restart the game. There are many people mad about having to restart their game multiple times, but to be fair, it is an early access game. Do not get me wrong, I got pretty far, had a good thing going and then BAM, game locked up on me, I do not know why, but the only workaround was to start again.

Pros:

• I love the sci-fi story and setting so far
• The base building is very addictive and I like the progression
• The skill tree gives you a lot to think about
• Managing your people provides some interesting problems to solve

Cons:

• The game is very technically unstable as I write this
• I hope that the story continues being as interesting as the set up is

The Crust is a moon colonization simulation with realistic and stylish graphics, where the player builds a high-tech settlement under the cover of stars. Manage new developments, interplanetary logistics, space-city design code, and macroeconomics.

Gameplay:

• The player is the owner of a giant corporation. Try to build the best space infrastructure in the universe and prepare the planet for new settlers
• Build complex systems from components to meet the needs of astronauts and tourists
• Enjoy imposing views from above and to the side