Poly Bridge Review

Poly Bridge is a charming little indie game with a ton of leg room for those with creative finger tips. Out there already are in fact Bridge constructing games. Many being pretty fun like Bridge Constructor. The game it self feels a lot like a tablet or android game in terms of interaction, which is not as bad seeing that I can use a mouse rather then firmly pressing my finger down on a smart phone to bring up the grid to bring out stuff such as roads or wood. Poly Bridge is very entry level when it comes to allowing a player to just pick up and play if they understand a little bit of physics and the sheer common sense of balancing out structures.

There are over sixty plus levels to do in the campaign mode. After I wet my whistle with about twenty seven of those I wanted to try out a random level from another community member. A smart idea was to add in an option to access many user created levels or puzzles if you will on Steam’s Workshop. So if you get a little strained from the stock levels, try a few of the custom made levels made by folks like yourself. The controls handle with just your keyboard and mouse, with keyboard using shortcuts such as Z to undo an item you have built so far. The controls in their own right are pretty easy to understand, if you forget a command. You can also just middle click your mouse button can bring up a wheel to navigate bridge parts or undo a goof up you may do along the way. The tools you are given in this game for each task is pretty well thought out as well. You are given a budget to which you can make your bridge. You may go a little bit over budget, but are not granted as many points.

The game itself feels like it is trolling you at points. You think you got just the right format going, everything will hold. Bam, everything lands into the water before your eyes. Leaving a sense of disappointment and frustration. This is what makes many games like this one addicting, you screw up, but go back to the drawing board to just figure out what point is weak and strengthen the structure. What this game has done right is it’s more detailed physics. Allowing mechanisms like draw bridges, and cranes from parts of the bridge to lower, and raise. Weight, density, and even momentum play a part in the terms of your designs. Each puzzle requires you to remember previous learned methods. Then carry those out for more advanced builds to complete the level. All I can really say is the game is freaking fun!

The art design or the graphics are pleasant to look at while on the border lines of what most folks label as “tablet/mobile standards”. If you want a example, its table for when you construct your bridge is in 2D. When the puzzles executes it is in 3rd dimensional. You have several planes at points that contain traffic for cars, vans, or whatever else need to go across. The tricky part is to map out visually, using the grid they provide and even out joints to the structures you build. Another aspect is you are not completely limited to just making a bridge. You can make ramps, cranes, or whatever else your mind can come up with within the budget. I found myself trying to always make a ramp to fire off the station wagon off the darn thing.

The sandbox mode is the games best feature, once they iron out all of the kinks. The game itself is still in an early access build, so many things within this juicy little editor did not work for me. Like saving out creations, like the one you see above that was partially completed until I realized you can not save out the level. Insert sad face here. Everything in the photo is drag-able with your mouse. This is not limited too resizing the ramp, land, and even implanting a hot air balloon. At points it was not easy to click many of the interface. In general sure I could move the objects no problem but when it came to the menu buttons. A whole other story.

Recommended!