Scrap Mechanic is a new multiplayer sandbox game available on Steam Early Access. It takes a familiar approach from Minecraft – like building and constructing – and turns it into an engineering feast for all those who like creating the craziest mechanisms.
It boasts very pleasant graphics, which are reminiscent of The Witness and some exceptionally well designed physics, although they are not completely faultless. For now, the game is limited in terms of choices and story, which should come later, but you can already start learning how to build all kinds of mechanical marvels in this early version of the game.
Customize your world
In the beginning the menu allows you to choose between default male of female characters that can’t be customized at this stage of development. But everything else has more than enough options for you to play with.
As you start creating your own world, you should be aware that the more objects you decide to include in it, the harder it will be for your hardware to process everything. That’s why if you don’t own a particularly strong PC, it is advisable to leave everything as it is.
You start from scratch amidst the wild forests and plains – a world without machines. As a young and talented engineer, you just have to do something about it. This is where you make a decision to start crafting and building.
Everything depends on your imagination and your possibilities are limited only by the tools in your backpack.
There is no real goal to build anything specific, as the only mode available right now is creative mode (the survival mode should be released later). So, everything is dependent on your imagination. The possibilities are limited only by the tools in your backpack.
You can create and save different worlds. You can also join friends or invite them to come and help you with the rest of the contraptions.
The tools of the trade
Your inventory is full of tools, blocks, interactive parts. The best and most used tool is the lift. It can lift any type of objects, including you. The other one is the hammer, which is used to destroy things. This can be really fun in the survival mode, when you will have to deal with interceptors and their vicious machines.
Those two are simple, but there is a tool that makes Scrap Mechanic really interesting – the connect tool. This little thingy allows you to connect different interactive parts for a whole new effect. Without the connect tool, you can’t make your vehicles move or your doors open.
One of the most important interactive parts is the bearing. This part makes everything turn and roll – it brings life to your mechanisms. The bearings and the connect tool are best friends, and you will be using them a lot. However, if you really want to push things forward, then you need to add the controller to the mix.
For more information about how this all works check out this basics building guide for Scrap Mechanic.
What’s possible?
In its current state Scrap Mechanic is a real puzzle game, as you have to figure out what you can build all by yourself, but more importantly – you need to figure out how to build it.
Players who have already had the chance to play Scrap Mechanic managed to create some absolutely incredible things in the game, such as cars, motorbikes, monster trucks, rockets, airplanes, walkers and many other insane creations.
What needs to be done?
Right now the optimization of the game is a real drawback. Whenever you try to set up too many objects in one place, the game starts lagging badly. It would be alright if after deleting the objects the game turned back to normal, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Another matter worth mentioning is a complete lack of undo/redo function, which is essential in this type of game. You can spend hours building something and then realize that the contraption doesn’t work, so you have to start from scratch.
Also, even with all the advanced tools, you may find yourself in the position where you need something more for your mechanisms to work. So, the number of tools should be increased as well.
Conclusion
If you like creative games that can steal all your attention for many hours – then Scrap Mechanic is for you. However, if you don’t have a particularly creative mind, it would be better if you wait until the survival mode arrives.
What do you think about Scrap Mechanic? Can it become another Minecraft? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Published: Mar 13, 2016 10:29 am