Developer: 11 bit studios
Publisher: 11 bit studios
Reviewed on: Xbox One X
Code Received.
I reviewed Frostpunk when it first launched on PC last year. At the time I enjoyed most of it’s mechanics, but had issues with it’s content and presentation of its themes. Since then the game has received many updates, adding new modes and scenarios. Frostpunk: Console Edition launches in step with it’s PC counterpart. It’s gameplay and controls have also been perfectly mapped to a gamepad, making it one of the best real-time city management games currently available on consoles.
Real time strategy games are always tricky on consoles. Typically, their fast pace requires equally fast reaction time, and the ability to micromanage many units or structures. Fortunately, Frostpunk is deliberately slow-paced and takes place on a very small scale compared to other RTS games. This makes it ideal for a gamepad, which doesn’t offer the same speed and precision as a mouse and keyboard. You never have to select tiny individual units, and decisions are made in minutes, not seconds. This already makes it a pretty good fit for a gamepad and the big screen.
Once you get accustomed to the controls they put a lot at your fingertips. While the tutorials flow a little too slowly (I was told about the quick actions menu hours after discovering it myself), there’s logic to how the controller is mapped out. Not long after starting my first city I was already hitting shortcut buttons from memory and getting to what I needed efficiently. There may be frustrating moments when the selection reticle keeps snapping to the wrong thing, and laying out streets can be a hassle (it is on PC too), but the controls grew on me.
The game still has a disappointing dissonance between you and your citizens. 11 bit’s previous game, This War of Mine, had you form intimate relationships with the handful of people you were responsible for, and Frostpunk tries to pull on the same emotional heartstrings. However, Frostpunk puts you in charge of dozens of people that you never get to know particularly well. While that gripe of mine carries over from the original release, the lack of content complaint does not. Frostpunk: Console Edition not only has the original scripted main story mode, but also features three other scenarios to play through. Each scenario provides you with a unique starting situation and goal to reach. They aren’t as long as the main story, but offer very specific challenges. There is also an endless play mode where you can build the city of your dreams.
Real time strategy games have an uneven track record on consoles. Furthermore, PC ports typically fare worse than games designed for a gamepad from the ground up. However, the unique pace and format of Frostpunk combined with a smartly mapped gamepad make Frostpunk: Console Edition a stand out port. In fact, after playing a half dozen hours on my Xbox while relaxed on my couch, listening to the great soundtrack, I can safely say this is now my preferred way to play Frostpunk. I may even leave it running on Christmas morning in lieu of “A Christmas Story” reruns.
